Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

As the world races towards net--zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy and energy infrastructure will evolve to meet globally rising demands while working to produce fewer GHGs. The net zero destination will define the `future energy' system required sustain the global society; with `future energy' referring to the suite of engineering technologies that will work synergistically to meet energy demand and reduce carbon emissions. Prince Edward Island (PEI) is striving to become Canada's first net zero province by the year 2040, and is considering numerous pillars in its net zero strategy, including electrification, renewable energy, hydrogen, biomass and biofuels, and small modular reactors. A challenge encountered by Government is that there is a lack of knowledge on the merit of each of these technologies within the specific geographic, economic, environmental, and social landscape of PEI. While future energy plans are underway, there is little discussion of the "future of future energy". Conversations focus on the destination, 'net zero', with little consideration for sustainability of energy supplies or the waste and pollutant emissions associated with these new forms of `future energy'. While it is critical to race towards net zero, it is essential to think beyond net zero and examine the sustainability of energy systems by giving holistic considerations to environmental, social, and economic impacts. The objective of the proposed research program is to discover the "Future of Future Energy" by examining key engineering technologies acting as pillars for achieving net zero. Each pillar will be critically evaluated for sustainability impacts and results will be used to model and forecast risks to environmental, ecological, and human health. Each pillar will undergo a regionally-focused life cycle assessment (LCA). Background information will be collected through in-depth literature reviews and analysis software, such as SimaPro, will be used to generate LCAs. Outputs will identify anticipated pollutants and wastes that will then be used as the basis for modelling and forecasting future environmental, ecological, and human health risks using modelling programs such as AERMOD, EcoRisk, and IRAP-H. The impacts of the Future of Future Energy research program are three--fold. First, regionally focused life cycle assessments (LCAs) will provide an original, reputable, and sound basis upon which regulators and policy makers can make educated decisions about the most appropriate future energy technologies for PEI and how they should be implemented. Second, modelling and forecasting will provide novel projections for sustainability risks to environmental, ecological, and human health resulting from implementation of "future energy" technologies. Finally, forecasting will identify technological gaps and opportunities for prospective research and development, laying a solid foundation for future discovery.