The Chamber of Engineers will be holding its 20th annual conference with the theme ‘Energy: The Alternatives 2011’ at the Hotel Corinthia San Gorg, St Julian’s, on Thursday.

The conference will focus on alternatives to the well-known technologies, going beyond the renewable energies that have been tackled time and time again.

It will delve into the non-conventional renewable energy technologies that can be taken advantage of, the market opportunities for such technologies and how the local renewable energy scene is evolving.

Manfred Weissenbacher from the University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy will deliver the keynote speech entitled ‘Energy security or climate concerns: What drives the current boom in renewable energy?’

Prof. Weissenbacher aims to show that both energy supply risks and pronounced climate change must be avoided, and how this creates opportun-ities for alternative energy technologies.

The conference will also be addressed among others by the Minister for Resources George Pullicino, Chamber of Engineers president Saviour Baldacchino, and personnel from Enemalta Corporation and energy sector entrepreneurs.

Topics to be dealt with are developments in photovoltaic technology, heat pumps, wind turbines, wave energy and energy security.

For further information call Marcelle Abela on 2133 4858 or e-mail info@coe.org.mt.