Grant: Advancing Climate Change Science in Canada

Heating and cooling of buildings is responsible for 15% of the total energy use and 11% of GHG emissions in Canada. With no harmful materials, no moving parts, and negligible electrical power input, sorption heat transformers (SHTs) is an emerging technology capable of providing sustainable cooling, heating, and thermal energy storage for buildings. We propose a ground-breaking approach to develop a scalable, modular SHT. The program aims to develop: i) new consolidated sorbent composites; ii) a novel refrigerant mixture with saturation pressure close to atmospheric pressure; iii) innovative heat exchangers fabricated through advanced manufacturing methods, e.g., 3D printing; and iv) a market-ready SHT prototype module. The SHT has tremendous potential for creating intellectual property and commercialization. It is a flexible technology capable of providing 100% renewable cooling and heating all-year round [utilizing solar, ambient, or urban/industrial low-grade heat] reducing up to 2 tCO2 emission/year/single-family house. Feasibility and efficiency of the SHT will also be tested in district energy network through the collaboration with the City of Surrey, BC. This program is an expansion of an ongoing collaboration between Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of Victoria (UVic), and CanmetENERGY-Ottawa (CE-O), a leading federal research organization in clean energy. The program is structured to strengthen Canada's research ecosystem through conducting innovative research in partnership with CE-O and participation in international projects enhancing the stand and impact of Canadian climate change research. Moreover, by forming and expanding interdisciplinary research focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability, the program will strengthen the capacity of SFU and UVic to support the objectives of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, and will facilitate the development of science-informed policy in the energy and building sectors.