Biomass and Bioenergy

Dr. Reza Nekovei is a Professor and Ph.D. program coordinator for Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He has been conducting research in the field of Micro/Nano scale integrated circuit design, including the modeling of circuits and materials for nano-electronic and photovoltaics devices which manifested in four patents. Additionally, he has many years of experience in developing graduate and undergraduate engineering programs. Dr. Nekovei was a senior Fulbright grantee at Bucharest Polytechnic University. He has been the recipient of multiple distinguished teaching and outstanding research awards and is a member of IEEE and Etta Kappa Nu honor society.

Micro/Nano scale integrated circuit design, including the modeling of circuits and materials for nano-electronic and photovoltaics devices which manifested in four patents

Kornél L. Kovács received his PhD and DSc from Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He became a full professor at the Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged in 1996 and served as department chair for 16 years. He was also the Dean of Biosciences for 12 years, currently Professor Emeritus. Altogether he spent 4.5 years as visiting scientist in the USA (University of California at Berkeley and University of Georgia) and 1.5 years in France (CEA-CENG Grenoble). His main scientific interest is to understand the anaerobic microbial communities and to engineer the community for more efficient performance. In 2004 he was elected as President of the Hungarian Biogas Association, re-elected 3 times. He published more than 300 publications in scientific journals and is a co-author of 8 patents.

protein purification and biochemistry, molecular biology, hydrogenase enzyme, metalloproteins, enzymology and physiology of photosynthetic, thermophylic, and anaerobic bacteria biological energy conversion: methanogenesis, hydrogen and methanol production, environmental biotechnology: biodegradation of wastes and pollution, decomposition of hazardous materials, biopolymers

Dr. Jacco van Haveren has been with Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Centre for over 25 years in several positions. He is currently Programme Manager Biobased Chemicals and Biofuels. He is the co-author of over 40 peer-reviewed publications and more than 25 patent applications.

Biobased Chemicals and Biofuels Programme

Dr. Said Elshahat Abdallah is working as a Professor of Agricultural Process Engineering, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. He was born on January 6, 1972. He obtained his Ph. D. degree in Technical Sciences in November 2005 from the Faculty of Design, Don State Technical University, Russia. He prepared many scientific literatures such as Engineering of Food Factories and Dairy Plants, Engineering Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer, introduction to agricultural process engineering, Instrumentation, Properties and Testing of Engineering Materials, Fitting of Curves and Differential Equations and Differentiation & Integration, etc… He published more than thirty research articles in international peer reviewed journals. He supervised, has done and examined about twenty M. Sc. and Ph. D. dissertations. He participated in several either local or international conferences on the topics of Agricultural Process Engineering. He contributed in the attendance of many meetings, workshops and training courses. He was awarded: Food Engineer of the Year Award – 2010; Excellence Award in International Scientific Publication – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; Arab Papers Published on Agriculture – 2012; Egypt 25 Foundation Award – 2012; Who's Who in the World – 2013, 2014 and 2015; 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century – 2013; Top 100 Engineers– 2013; International Biographical Center Man of The Year– 2013; Cambridge Certificate for Outstanding Engineering Achievement – 2013 and Cambridge Certificate for Outstanding Educational Achievement – 2013. He served as: Editor-in-Chief; Associate Editor; Editorial Board Member; Food Expert; Reviewer, etc… in more than five hundred international peer-reviewed journals.

Agricultural Process Engineering; Postharvest Technology; Bioengineering; Food & Dairy Engineering; Agro-Industrial Waste Management; Process and Bioprocess Engineering; Thermal & Non-Thermal Process Engineering; Agricultural Production Engineering; Postharvest operations Engineering; Composting and Vermicomposting Process; Non-Conventional Forages Processing; Farm Wastes Bioconversion; By-Products Recycling Engineering.

Dr. Eng. Bayu Indrawan, researcher, technology innovator, expert on waste management and renewable energy, has been working intensively in energy and environment sector since 2003. He was invited to chair several international events, workshop, sessions and also deliver keynote speaker / invited lectures in several international conferences. He was also invited to attend several prestigious professional international program, e.g. International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on 2014 by U.S. Department of State. He received a Doctoral Degree (Dr. Eng.) in Environmental Science and Technology (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan) with focus on waste to energy technology supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology – Japan with fully funded scholarships. He obtained double bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering (University of Sriwijaya, Indonesia) and Economics (University of IBA, Indonesia), and also master degree in Electrical Engineering (University of Indonesia) with minor in renewable energy. As one of youngest doctoral graduates from Indonesia, he is a member of Waste-to-Energy Research & Technology Council, Japan Institute of Energy, and The International Solid Waste Association. He is the founder and director of Center of Waste Management Indonesia, the first of its kind research center in Indonesia with the intention of serving the community and all stakeholders by helping its environment to become greener and cleaner through research, development and implementation of integrated and sustainable waste management system based on technology. He also served as lecturer in University of Indonesia and Surya University, a pioneer of research based university in Indonesia. He is the technology innovator of hydrothermal waste treatment technology, the first commercial scale of integrated municipal solid waste treatment technology in Indonesia, located in Summarecon Serpong, Tangerang. He also developed and implemented pilot and commercial scale of plastic waste to oil by pyrolysis technology in Indonesia.

waste management and renewable energy

Abdeen Mustafa Omer (BSc, MSc, PhD) is an Associate Researcher at Energy Research Institute (ERI). He obtained both his PhD degree in the Built Environment and Master of Philosophy degree in Renewable Energy Technologies from the University of Nottingham. He is qualified Mechanical Engineer with a proven track record within the water industry and renewable energy technologies. He has been graduated from University of El Menoufia, Egypt, BSc in Mechanical Engineering. His previous experience involved being a member of the research team at the National Council for Research/Energy Research Institute in Sudan and working director of research and development for National Water Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Sudan. He has been listed in the book WHO'S WHO in the World 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010. He has published over 300 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 200 review articles, 7 books and 150 chapters in books.

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment Renewable Energy Technologies Energy Research

Professor Yogesh Chandra Sharma, Professor of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, India. He is Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), UK, and a Fellow (Elected), of the Biotech. Research Society of India (FBRS). Areas of interest, Adsorption and diffusion, Water remediation, renewable energy, biodiesel production, synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production, author of four books, more than 150 research papers.

Renewable Energy and Bio-fuels Development and characterization of heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of biodiesel Synthesis and application of nanoadsorbents Synthesis of efficient activated carbons for water remediation Macrophytes for Uptake of Metallic Species from industrial effluents

Lt Col Monish Ahuja (Retd) is currently the Managing Director of Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Private Limited (PRESPL). He is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune. He is holding the following degrees in education proficiency: • Post Graduate (M.Tech) in Nuclear Technology from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 2006. • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Mechanical Engineering from JNU in 2002, • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) from JNU in 1994. In a short span with the understanding of the Biomass IPPs and biomass supply chain management, he set up the first of its kind biomass fuel aggregation and supply company Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Private Limited (PRESPL). The company has grown from a start up to INR 18 Crores Turnover Company in 5xYears time and having closed its first round of PE investment from Zurich based Impact PE- responsAbility in 2013. This is a big force multiplier to support biomass IPPs, process industry boilers, cogeneration plants and other industry using biomass as a feedstock.

Lt Col Monish Ahuja (Retd) is known in the Biomass fraternity as a dedicated and knowledgeable leader. He has been advocating the barriers faced by Biomass Project Developers at various seminars and forums and has been instrumental in impressing MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources, India) towards the cause of biomass power plants.

Layla holds a PhD degree from the University of Birmingham, UK, Colleges of Life and Environmental Sciences. Currently, she is an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology, College of Science at University of Basrah, Iraq. Previously she taught at Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture. Layla has more than 30 years of academic experience in the field of environmental chemistry and analytical chemistry. She has published many papers in reputable journals and participated in international conferences; Dioxin 2015, Sao Paulo - Brazil, POPs 2016, Birmingham - UK, and BFR 2017, York - UK.

The main specialism includes analysis of trace levels of organic and inorganic pollutants in both biotic and abiotic samples. She has the particular interest in human exposure, fate and behaviour of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and emerging contaminants focusing on the main factors affecting human exposure assessments of brominated flame retardants via indoor dust ingestion. Layla is also interested in the environmental levels and human exposure of heavy metals and trace elements.

Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah obtained his BTech (Hons) degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1995. He served in several industries as quality and production engineers for nearly 4 years prior to the commencement of his study at master level in 1998. He received his MSc in the year 2000 in the field of Chemical Process Technology. Four years later, he received his doctorate degree in the field of chemical engineering, specializing in catalysis and reaction engineering. His PhD study was supported by the National Science Fellowship provided by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia. Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah is a registered chemist with the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry and has so far published a number of research papers in refereed international and local journals. He also actively engaged in several consultancy works on environmental engineering projects with local industries. His current research areas are catalysis, wastewater engineering and renewable fuels. Presently, there are 8 post-graduate students completing their MSc or PhD thesis under his supervision. Among awards won by him are the Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Best Thesis Award 2004 and Gold Award at the Malaysian Institute of Higher Learning Research and Development Exhibition 2005. He is also actively involved in community services as the trainer for the Malaysian’s National Service Program.

Catalysis Reaction engineering Microporous and mesoporous materials Wastewater engineering Environmental engineering

Magda Constantí has completed her PhD from the University of Barcelona, Spain, and postdoctoral studies from University of California at Los Angeles, USA. Currently, she is an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University Rovira I Virgili, Spain. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering areas. She has been the principal investigator of several research projects related to microbiology applied to solve environmental issues.

Biomass bioconversion to value-added chemicals. Bioproduction of hydrogen. Molecular identification of environmental bacteria, Molecular microbiology studies of MTBE and ETBE biodegradation. Bioremediation of uranium. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles.