TNEP Research Associates

David Pointing - Senior Reseach Associate
Inspiring and managing the implementation of sustainable energy technologies into user communities.

“Providing communities around the world with appropriate and sustainable energy sources is a great challenge. Fortunately, many possible options and technologies have and are being developed. However, as there are so many options, we must ensure that energy users can understand what is possible and access suitable solutions.

This requires a strengthening of the connections between communities and technical solutions – an ideal area for contributions by young engineers who have both technical and social skills.

I see young engineers as sustainable energy change agents - ambassadors and enablers of sustainable technologies and processes who really engage with user communities”

David Pointing is a young Australian engineer who works locally and internationally in two interesting fields:

(1) developing and applying innovative engineering solutions for activities and communities in the polar regions of the world (the Arctic and Antarctic), and

(2) enabling the transfer of sustainable energy technologies and concepts into small and remote communities around the world by serving as a ‘change agent’ at the inerface between novel energy technologies and user communities.

David began collaborating with TNEPin 2005 due to shared interests in the transfer of sustainability-related skills and solutions to ‘real world’ communities.

His first major initiative with TNEP will be a book examining the potential for the communities of scientists who live and work in the pristine Antarctic environment to use sustainable energy technologies and reduce their need to take millions of litres of fossil fuels (diesel) to Antarctica each year.

The book will be based on his PhD research, which developed practical strategies and recommendations for the Australian Antarctic community to improve their access to technologies such as wind and solar power and novel methods for storing renewable energy such as the generation of hydrogen. David’s PhD will be completed in 2006, based at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) with funding from the Tasmanian government (Department of Economic Development) and the university.

David’s academic background prior to his PhD includes a degree in Materials engineering (B.MatEng, Honours, UNSW, 1998) and, after a few years of work as a field engineer, an interesting multi-discipline degree focusing on Antarctica and the scientific, engineering and the law and policy issues that relate to the region and international community (B. Antarctic Studies, Honours, UTAS, 2001).

He also has a diverse range of practical career experiences that include the development of biomedical components, applied research in the Australian steel and pipeline industries, field experience as a ‘logging while drilling’ engineer in the international oil industry (mainly deployed in the Middle East), development of energy efficient modular buildings for Antarctica communities, and teaching and lecturing within his areas of expertise.

David has travelled extensively, and has close collaborations with research organisations in Scandinavia who have specific skills in the development and implementation of sustainable energy systems and polar communities.