Integrated energy systems key to low-carbon future at home and abroad

Every year, British Columbia welcomes thousands of German tourists who embrace our province‘s great outdoors. In late April, the University of British Columbia (UBC) welcomed a special German visitor, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was even more interested in climate innovation than the view of the snow-capped mountains from our Vancouver campus. Canada and Germany have a strong connection when it comes to the green economy, forming a mutually-beneficial relationship when it comes to exploring opportunities. In March 2021, Canada and Germany signed a co-operation agreement to explore hydrogen development. In August 2022, a joint declaration was signed committing to collaboration in the export of clean Canadian hydrogen to Germany. And on April 25, UBC welcomed Steinmeier to its campus to see the Faculty of Applied Science’s Smart Hydrogen Energy District (SHED). What the German and Canadian delegation discovered on this recent visit, west of the Rockies, was that the UBC Faculty of Applied Science is a world leader in climate action research, and the place to do research with Germany. I am optimistic it is a message that will resonate across the Atlantic. Here at home, it is a message that we continue to amplify, hoping that it can generate support for research and innovation. Instead of perpetuating a zero-sum narrative, new technologies and business models can enable clean growth in a low-carbon economy. Dr. Walter Mérida is the associate dean of research and industrial partnerships at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Walter Mérida In 2021, with support from governments and stakeholders, we broke ground on our $24-million SHED. The SHED connects technology and people, benefiting the environment, communities and the economy. SHED will be fully complete in 2024, and includes, among other things, intelligent charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (where battery power from parked cars powers campus infrastructure), a hydrogen vehicle refuelling station, a water electrolyzer to create hydrogen, and 5G digital technologies to monitor and optimize the operation of an entire city block. Here, we can convert solar and hydro-electricity into hydrogen fuel for a variety of uses (cars, trucks, space heating, etc.). Using secure digital technologies, we are transforming passive assets like vehicles and buildings into active participants in city-scale energy transactions. With UBC’s campus as a ‘living lab’, we are forming partnerships to bring that approach to life elsewhere. Based on our learnings and research, we have had recent success bringing this vision to Alberta, working with the province and utility company ATCO on a pilot plant to produce hydrogen from methane thermal cracking. This innovation can produce hydrogen using natural gas, without using water, while reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.I truly believe we can transition from an economy dependent on carbon to one that effectively harnesses green energy—and green opportunity—as a catalyst for positive change. Not only that, here at UBC we have the evidence that this can work and is working. It isn’t conceptual—it is happening. Our work is not a solution in search of a problem. We know the problem—climate change—and while there is no single solution, we have developed a model that is working and is scalable. We need partners, advocates, and thought-leaders ready to take the leap with us, here and abroad. We need a commitment from the federal government, and co-operation with international partners, to bring this technology and model to life on a broader scale to tackle our collective climate emergency. The visit from Steinmeier's visit was a welcome boost in bringing West Coast climate innovation to the attention of not only Germany, but to Canada as well. Dr. Walter Mérida is the associate dean of research and industrial partnerships at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science. The Hill Times

Integrated energy systems key to low-carbon future at home and abroad

We know the problem—climate change—and while there is no single solution, we at the University of British Columbia have developed a model that is working and is scalable.

As supporters celebrate the Liberals’ ‘return to nuclear,’ critics decry ‘dangerous’ distraction

Politics This Morning: Steinmeier heads north

Politics This Morning: high-level party insiders to appear before House Affairs Committee on China’s attempted interference in Canada’s elections; Trudeau to meet with Artemis II Crew members

As supporters celebrate the Liberals’ ‘return to nuclear,’ critics decry ‘dangerous’ distraction

How can Ontario achieve net zero, with greater energy reliability and resilience? Roadmap to a clean energy future

Broadening access to digital services for Canadians through secure verification and authentication

Canadian news is in trouble: we can’t afford to let tech giants make its financial difficulties worse

Canada changed forever 40 years ago when Mulroney was elected party leader at Ottawa convention

This World Milk Day, thank a Canadian dairy farmer

All we have to worry about is ‘generative AI’ killing millions of white-collar jobs

Even high-wage temporary foreign workers are at risk of exploitation

Photo of the Day

Canada must be a leader in the race to net zero

Success of the Stephenville project is an important test case for Canada

Empty hydrogen strategies in transportation sector: a plan without projects

Canada will stop being global hydrogen leader without rapid federal follow-through right now

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Advertise

subscribe

get help

Integrated energy systems key to low-carbon future at home and abroad

We know the problem—climate change—and while there is no single solution, we at the University of British Columbia have developed a model that is working and is scalable.

Get The Weekend Point of View Newsletter