Roberto Weiser, masterʼs student awarded on the International Students Energy Summit: “Citizens must demand policies promoting the use of renewable energies”
After completing the baccalaureate in sciences in 2008, Roberto Weiser (Venezuela, 1990) studied Electronic Engineering at Plymouth University, where he received the Babcock Marine Engineering Award for the second best final project. After having worked as a volunteer at WindAid, in Peru, where he produced and installed wind turbines for some months, he came to Barcelona to study the masterʼs degree in Renewable and Sustainable Energy of the UB. While he was studying the masterʼs degree, he made a placement at Small Technologies as R&D electronic engineering. He collaborated in the development of a device to generate electricity from sea motion. Last June, he participated in the International Student Energy Summit and he received the third prize on the competition organised by this prestigious international summit.
After completing the baccalaureate in sciences in 2008, Roberto Weiser (Venezuela, 1990) studied Electronic Engineering at Plymouth University, where he received the Babcock Marine Engineering Award for the second best final project. After having worked as a volunteer at WindAid, in Peru, where he produced and installed wind turbines for some months, he came to Barcelona to study the masterʼs degree in Renewable and Sustainable Energy of the UB. While he was studying the masterʼs degree, he made a placement at Small Technologies as R&D electronic engineering. He collaborated in the development of a device to generate electricity from sea motion. Last June, he participated in the International Student Energy Summit and he received the third prize on the competition organised by this prestigious international summit.
Why did you choose Barcelona, and particularly the UB, to study?
After staying seven years in the UK, I was ready for a change. I wanted to move to a country more similar to my origin country. A place that made me feel at home. Since I began my studies, I have always been interested in renewable energies, so I decided to specialized myself by studying a masterʼs degree. First, I considered Italy and Portugal, but as they do not offer masterʼs degrees in English, I decided to come to Spain, where I had found four universities where it was possible to study a masterʼs degree in renewable energies. After having analysed these four options, I chose the UB because I really liked its programme, the price was affordable, enrolment process was efficient and it gave me the opportunity to live in Barcelona, a beautiful city full of culture and good quality of life.
What are your personal objectives and interests as a student of the masterʼs degree in Renewable and Sustainable Energy?
As a masterʼs student, my main goal is to get specific knowledge that could be directly applied to industry; in other words, I want to learn aspects that allow me building a career as energy professional.
Last June, you represented the UB on the International Students Energy Summit, which took place in Bali, and you received the third prize. What was the challenge?
The competition included the design of the energy system, the development of an urban plan and the analysis of its socio-economic consequences for a fictitious tropical island in the South Pacific with a population of 500 inhabitants. The first day we had to design a solution and hand a report in five hours. Then, we had to expose the proposal in front of a panel and, after that, we were assigned a stand in which we had to convince delegates to vote your proposal. Finally, three shortlisted proposals were announced and each team pronounced a brief discourse in front of 600 people.
Our solution consisted in using a geothermal power plant to satisfy basic needs and combined it with a hydroelectric power station to meet extra demands. Hydroelectric systems are reversible, so water can be stored in the reservoir when there is a surplus of geothermic energy and use it during drought periods.
What are your future plans in the field of alternative energies?
Now, I am looking for a job in the power generation and distribution industry because I want to get some training as a professional. Then, I would like to come back to Latin America and set up my own renewable energy company.
What is the future of alternative energy sources?
New power sources have come to stay. The world has set up the change but it is not taking place at the speed it should occur. Citizens must demand leaders to develop policies promoting the use of renewable energies.