Talk by Prof. Dr. Piero Colonna (TU Delft) on June 24th at 11.00 h

external pageProf. Dr. Piero Colonna (TU Delft)call_made will give a talk with the title "Thermal Energy Harvesting - the Path to Tapping into a Large CO2-free European Power Source"  as part of our EPSE Seminar Series. It will take place on June 24th, 2022 from 11.00-12.00 h at the ETH Zurich main building, auditorium HG D 3.2.

Abstract
In this talk, Piero will present the results of a white paper titled "Thermal Energy Harvesting - the Path to Tapping into a Large CO2-free European Power Source" by the Knowledge Center on Organic Rankine Cycle technology.

There is an unimaginably huge resource for the generation of carbon-free electricity in Europe and in the world: thermal energy that is squandered by all industrial processes, and all kinds of thermal engines. The technology to make use of it is available and the options for converting it into electricity will be briefly illustrated. However, this unbearable waste is inherently connected with a much more general behavioural change which is primary and must be at the foundation of any attempt to mitigate global climate change: humanity must cease to throw away and dissipate…everything, including thermal energy.

The results of an analysis of the European scenario are presented together with several actions aimed at behavioural change that are being undertaken at policy making level and in order to raise public awareness. The main message, especially to young engineers, is that technology can and must support action, but it just cannot be the solution of the problem. Engineers can and should contribute to the political discourse at all levels, from the very local to the continental and global. It will be argued that in this respect Europe is possibly uniquely positioned to steer forceful decisions and to show the virtuous path to the rest of the world.

Recording
In case you missed the talk of Prof. Colonna or would like to watch it again: https://video.ethz.ch/events/2022/colonna.html