Electrical sector is the key to successful transition to net zero, leading academic to tell construction industry leaders at SELECT President\u2019s Lunch<\/p>\n
Professor Sean Smith of University of Edinburgh to stress importance of education and skills at annual sector event, sponsored by Electrium<\/p>\n
The electrical sector is the \u201ckeystone\u201d to the ongoing transition to net zero, one of the foremost experts in construction innovation will this week tell guests of SELECT, Scotland\u2019s largest construction trade association.<\/p>\n
In a keynote speech to the campaigning body\u2019s annual flagship event, leading academic Professor Sean Smith, of the University of Edinburgh\u2019s School of Engineering, will highlight the significance of the industry\u2019s role in the step change towards renewables.<\/p>\n
Professor Smith, Chair of Future Construction at the School of Engineering and Director of the Centre for Future Infrastructure at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, will stress the opportunities ahead for the future workforce and the importance of the role of schools and the education sector in encouraging it.<\/p>\n
The two-time recipient of the Queen\u2019s Anniverary Prize for his teams\u2019 impact on sustainability, low carbon construction growth and society will make his comments at the third SELECT President\u2019s Lunch, sponsored by Electrium, at the voco\u00ae Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Friday September 27.<\/p>\n
Professor Smith, who has won a number of key awards and nominations for the positive impact of applied research for industry, society and the environment, will say that the electrical industry has a significant role not just in Scotland but beyond.<\/p>\n
He will tell the assembled guests, including senior decision-makers from across the construction industry: \u201cThe change in the generation of primary energy towards renewables by so many countries at the same time is unprecedented.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are great opportunities ahead for our future workforce and the importance of schools and the education sector to help the pathway into working in this sector cannot be understated. This applies to both large- and small-scale electrical works, from major electrical infrastructure to the installation of low carbon heating systems and EV charging points.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe critical and \u2018keystone\u2019 role of the electrical sector will support the net zero transition across both transport and buildings \u2013 our two largest emissions sectors, accounting for 47% of all emissions.<\/p>\n
\u201cElectricians will have a major responsibility in underpinning pro-active health and safety approaches and certified work, which supports trust and engagement for the wide range of clients they will work for and with, in the net zero journey and transition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Smith has previously said that one of his greatest hopes would be for net zero outcomes in all countries to be accelerated or supported where societies collectively and internationally move into a carbon-negative approach.<\/p>\n
He has said this could perhaps be facilitated through the formation of multiple net zero acceleration centres around the world funded by philanthropic partners in countries, all exchanging knowledge, data and to solve and deliver major impactful solutions.<\/p>\n
SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson, who will introduce the event, said: \u201cWe are pleased that a figure of Professor Smith\u2019s prominence will be able to join us as we reflect on the vital role of our industry in a time of such historical change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe message is clear that the future is electric and it is very gratifying to see that so many young people want to play their part in the transition to net zero.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn apprenticeship in the electrical industry in Scotland is seen not just a path to a professional and highly-rewarding career, but as a means of making a contribution to a greener and more sustainable society.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur future heating and energy demands will be met by technology such as solar panels, battery storage and electric heating, which means that electricians will play an ever-increasing role in all our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event will also be addressed by SELECT President Mike Stark who will present the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to a senior figure from the construction industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Electrical sector is the key to successful transition to net zero, leading academic to tell construction industry leaders at SELECT President\u2019s Lunch Professor Sean Smith of University of Edinburgh to stress importance of education and skills at annual sector event, sponsored by Electrium The electrical sector is the \u201ckeystone\u201d to the ongoing transition to net […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21722,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sean-Smith.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21721"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21723,"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21721\/revisions\/21723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewnews.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}