From 16 to 19 March 2017, Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore will play host to Make the Future Singapore – the Asian instalment of a global festival ideas. Energy, and everything surrounding our low-carbon future will be the focus of the four-day event.
Make the Future will feature the Shell Eco-marathon Asia, a long-standing student competition to build the world’s most energy-efficient cars. There will be exhibitions, activities and forum discussions centred around Asia’s energy challenges.
So how does one even begin to conjure ideas to solve the world’s energy woes? How do we contribute in our own little ways?
You’ll be able to see all this and be inspired by bright energy ideas at the festival. Through virtual reality and experiential zones, no less.
Our Energy Future
The interactive zones include Our Energy Future consisting of Zorb energy generators; Singapore Energy Meter and Energy Theatre.
At these zones, you’ll get to explore what is happening now in the world, and what the future of energy may look like. From renewable energy, to natural gas and low-carbon technologies. You’ll also be able to participate in interactive zones that showcase future of energy, mobility and innovation by Shell and other partners.
On the Move
One of the things I’m exciting about is Shell Eco-marathon Asia (SEMA 2017). It’s a unique competition where student teams around the world design and build the ultimate energy-efficient vehicle.
The competition attracts thousands of engineers and students across the globe, in the quest to go the farthest on the least amount of fuel.
Additionally, I’ll have the opportunity to catch saltwater cars, yes you read that right.
Also, Shell will showcase its Shell Concept Car – an ultra-efficient concept city car jointly developed with Geo Technology and Gordon Murray Design. The concept car clocked a fuel efficiency of 38km/litre, and uses 34% less energy over its lifetime compared to a typical petrol-powered car.
Other sparks of genius include using rotating wind turbines erected alongside motorways to harvest the energy of moving air created by passing traffic. Imagine that! Solar panels are then fixed to the top of each turbine to create a renewable energy generator. Filters are added to absorb traffic emissions. This idea is being developed as an energy generator for deprived rural areas of Pakistan.
Shell Eco-marathon Asia
At this year’s Make the Future, the Shell Eco-marathon takes place in Singapore for the very first time, the 8th time in Asia. More than 100 teams, including eight student teams from Malaysia will be pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency.
Here’s a list of participating teams from Malaysia.
SEMA 2017 will also see the participation of the inaugural Drivers’ World Championship Asia, a race format in which the best teams in the region will vie for a place in the Grand Final in London.
It’s interesting to note that Malaysia isn’t a stranger to the Shell Eco-marathon. In fact, Malaysian teams swept four top awards at the eco-marathon last year. University Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, and University of Malaya picked up awards in the Hydrogen category; while Monash University Malaysia and University Teknologi Mara won the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and Urbanconcept categories respectively.
Live, Work, Play
If you’ve ever wondered, how do I use less energy? How do I contribute to a smaller carbon footprint? How do I recycle energy? Then this zone will give you some ideas.
One of the highlights is Pavegen. Imagine harnessing energy from your footsteps to power a city like Singapore. In this showcase you take part in a football target challenge. You charge up a timer by running on a Pavegen tile then take shots at a target, scoring as many points as you can before the timer ends. The Pavegen solution is being installed at various football locations worldwide, including transport hubs and shopping centres.
GravityLight is an innovative device that generates light from gravity. It’s an on-demand and instant solution, improving the quality of life for the world’s poorest communities.
https://youtu.be/1i4Xs2dZadY
Next, Bright Ideas Challenges. You’ll be able to catch the 15 finalist entries for the Bright Ideas Challenge 2017, and how these ideas can produce more energy with less CO2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iVfCZEMH8
Being a coffee drinker, I’m also intrigued by the idea of Bio-bean – the 2013 Shell. LiveWire Innovation Award winner. The solution recycles used coffee grounds and transforms them into advanced carbon-neutral biofuels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNK-b_cwVbg
All this and more
Make the Future Singapore takes place from 16-19 March 2017 at Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore. I’m delighted that Shell has extended an invitation to me, and I’ll be bringing you updates from the festival.
The festival is open to public, so if you’re in the Lion City during these dates, do pay a visit.
For more information, visit www.shell.com.sg/makethefuturesg
Follow me at vernonchan.com/tag/makethefuture2017, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
#MaketheFuture #shellecomarathon #SEMA2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mymUXKxtPP8
