Grant: Canada First Research Excellence Fund

The University of Alberta (UofA) has used its long, successful history of selective and strategic investments in research activities to position itself among the very best institutions in the world at advancing knowledge, developing technological solutions, improving environmental performance, and creating social and economic impact in Canada and globally. The UofA dominates energy-related research in Canada, and has a unique breadth of talent, resources, connections to industry and academia, and international partners. It also has strengths in areas that are needed to transition towards sustainable sources of energy and has demonstrated leadership in the economic, social, and human drivers of current and future energy systems. CFREF presents the UofA with the opportunity to become the global leader in the responsible development of future energy systems. The proposed Future Energy Systems Research Institute (FESRI) will drive this opportunity by integrating the efforts of the extraordinary existing teams in energy research at the UofA, expanding interdisciplinary collaborations in key areas, and by addressing energy production as a system, rather than a series of discontinuous challenges. Made-in-Canada solutions—innovations in key application areas such as unconventional oil, smart electrical grids, and advanced materials for renewable energy—can be exported internationally. FESRI will recruit and train the next-generation leaders who will provide the vision and innovation to responsibly develop Canada’s hydrocarbon resources and enable a smooth transition to a lower carbon energy economy.