Research partnerships are key to Canada’s net-zero economic future

Canada and 140 other countries have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Research and collaboration are critical to achieving these targets while meeting the global need for affordable and reliable energy. It’s an ambitious goal, but at the University of Alberta, we understand energy, and we understand innovation. After more than a century of energy breakthroughs, we have learned the key to success: when you bring together the right people, you push the boundaries of innovation. The University of Alberta has launched a major research project to develop and scale the technologies Canada will need to meet its net-zero target: Canadian Net-Zero Energy Solutions (CANZES). This Alberta-based project brings together academia, industry, and government to advance the solutions that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and diversify the economy. Rather than tackling these challenges through isolated projects, CANZES prioritizes partnerships and seeks comprehensive, integrated solutions in complementary areas. This initiative advances research in five key areas: 1) hydrogen; 2) carbon capture, utilization and storage; 3) critical minerals; 4) resilient electrical grids for sustainable energy and zero-emissions vehicles; and, 5) land and water reclamation. These collective efforts foster the innovations that will address environmental, technological, economic, and social challenges while meeting Canada’s net-zero emissions goals. Bill Flanagan is president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta. Handout photograph Every advance can move us closer to a net-zero future, but success requires a sustained and co-ordinated effort from all levels of government, industry partners, and academic leaders.Alberta’s long record of energy research and innovation makes it the ideal setting to move forward emerging energy opportunities. Dr. Amit Kumar is opening Canada up to the global hydrogen market—predicted to be at $1.9-trillion by 2050—by blending hydrogen with natural gas without any costly changes to existing infrastructure. At the same time, Dr. Dan Alessi is addressing the lithium supply gap by extracting the valuable metal from oilfield brines, and Dr. Ryan Li’s work will strengthen Canada’s grid against the effects of climate change such as blackouts caused by floods or wildfires. With more than $100-million in initial partner commitments and growing, CANZES is responding to industry demands for affordable, scalable, and practical solutions to speed up the shift to net-zero energy solutions and processes. The U of A has a strong history of turning research into real-world solutions, helping to launch more than 125 companies in the past five years. Combined with strong industry partnerships and close ties with Alberta Innovates, PrairiesCan, and Mitacs, the university is uniquely positioned to apply the innovations emerging from CANZES to real-world challenges. Our industry partners—including Capital Power, TOTALEnergies, and EPCOR—have already made significant financial commitments to CANZES. With their support—and the support of federal and provincial funding—we can pursue collaborative research, workshops, professional development, student internships, and technology initiatives. However, achieving the ambitious goals of CANZES requires continued financial support from federal and provincial governments, alongside industry and nonprofit partners. With this backing, CANZES can continue to build on Canada’s existing innovation ecosystem, train new talent, and scale technologies from lab prototypes to fully realized solutions. This includes the development of hydrogen fuel cells, materials for CO2 and direct air capture, lithium-ion batteries, remote electric power microgrids, renewable energy and battery storage, clean fuels, and nature-based solutions for land and water remediation and reclamation. CANZES helps make these net-zero solutions accessible to companies and communities that might otherwise hesitate to invest due to high upfront costs. Securing a sustainable future demands collaboration, expertise, and sustained funding. By backing these projects, Canada can move faster to become a world leader in the race to net zero, ensuring that our economic growth, environmetal stewardship, and innovation will together create lasting benefits for generations. Bill Flanagan became the 14th president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta in July 2020. Born and raised in Alberta, he has been recognized for his transformative and entrepreneurial leadership. As soon as he was appointed, Flanagan launched the largest and most ambitious program of academic and administrative restructuring ever undertaken by a Canadian university. With a vision for the University of Alberta for Tomorrow, he set the goal of turning the university’s acute financial pressures into a strategic transformation, repositioning the U of A for long-term success. The Hill Times

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Research partnerships are key to Canada’s net-zero economic future

When you bring together the right people, you push the boundaries of innovation.

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