Grant: Alliance Grants

In Canada, 81% of energy use contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis. Urgent action is needed to transition to a cleaner, zero-carbon energy system by 2050. Accordingly, our energy systems are expected to undergo a dramatic transformation with the electricity system poised for exponential growth over the next 25 years. This will result in a significantly larger economic scale for the electricity system, potentially becoming more than five times its current size. To achieve this transition, substantial investment in infrastructure and technological advancements is required. Given the associated high costs, immediate action is crucial to accelerate this shift at a lower cost. This presents an enormous opportunity for research, innovation and commercialization, leading to job creation and economic prosperity while moving to a cleaner and more sustainable future. We have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a clean energy system with zero-carbon emissions by 2050, incorporating green hydrogen with clean electricity. The collaboration will be the basis for new methods, products, and enhanced understanding, enabling Canada to shift to a new energy paradigm for sourcing, transportation, delivery, and consumption. This research aims to develop frameworks for future energy systems, considering cybersecurity and machine intelligence related to distributed energy resources (DERs) and component-level challenges, including DERs, hydrogen technologies, electric transportation, and other related areas. It will be followed by the creation of specific metrics. Expected outcome is the best future hydrogen-electricity based synergistic energy system that is efficient, technologically-advanced, and cost-effective, serving Canada for decades to come.