Professor Mallick will give a presentation on implementing solar energy resources.

Renewable energy expert to take part in key discussion at Houses of Parliament

A University of Exeter expert will take part in a round-table discussion at the Houses of Parliament designed to explore how Bolivia can better develop its renewable energy resources.

Professor Tapas Mallick will join a select group of leading academics and a Bolivian Ministerial delegation at the specially convened event, held on Friday June 10.

The meeting, which will centre on ways in which to develop renewable energy resources in the South American country, will be led by Graham Stuart MP and will include Bolivia’s Minister of Development Planning, Rene Orellana Halkyer, and the Minister for Hydrocarbons and Energy, Luis Alberto Sanchez.

As part of the discussion, Professor Mallick will give a presentation on implementing solar energy resources, and their potential to help bridge the rural-urban divide.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Professor Mallick said: “I am delighted to take part in this important discussion, and to have the opportunity to help determine how renewable energy sources can be used to bridge the rural-urban energy divide and help improve the lives of people in Bolivia.

“Here in the UK, as of Feb 2016, we have solar power installation of 9.2GW having an ambitious plans to produce 22GW (gigawatts) of applied solar energy by 2020 – the equivalent of five times more than is produced by the largest power station in the country.

“Technological development is crucial to both the reliability and stability of solar energy in the future, not just here but on a global scale. The development of renewable energy resources in Bolivia is a key priority for the Government, and I hope this is just the first step in providing crucial assistance in their quest to achieve this goal in the future.”

Professor Mallick is Chair of the Clean Technologies group based at the Environment and Sustainability Institute, at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall. His research focuses on advanced solar energy engineering and heat transfer for renewable energy systems.

Date: 10 June 2016