About
Interdisciplinary approach
CANZES brings together five research themes in a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, providing a path forward to solving some of the greatest climate and energy challenges Canada faces as we advance our net-zero emissions goals. Our approach responds to significant industry demand – in ß÷ßäÉçÇø and beyond – to find affordable, scalable and readily implementable ways to move toward the production and use of more sustainable energy technologies and processes.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen will play a key role in Canada’s energy leadership and global decarbonization. The U of A has a comprehensive, credible and robust hydrogen research program and is well-positioned to develop the key advances in production, transportation, storage, and utilization needed for the expansion of hydrogen energy.
Lead: Amit Kumar
Carbon Capture, Utilization + Storage
Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), essential with blue hydrogen, offer an additional critical solution toward reducing CO2 emissions and the commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. U of A expertise in point-source and direct air capture, geological storage and CO2 utilization will be essential for developing next-generation technologies to support blue hydrogen production and hard-to-abate industries.
Lead: Arvind Rajendran
Critical Minerals
Critical minerals are essential for batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogen and other fuel cells, nuclear power generators and other technologies that will power a low-carbon economy. With a long history of research in coal, mineral and oil sands processing, the U of A is uniquely positioned to contribute new knowledge and solutions in the exploration, extraction, processing, manufacturing and recycling of critical minerals, particularly lithium, vanadium, titanium, copper, zinc, nickel, platinum group elements (PGE) and rare earth element (REE) minerals.
Co-Leads: Qi Liu
Resilient Electrical Grids for Sustainable Energy + Zero Emissions Vehicles
Resilient and flexible electric grids are key to integrating renewable energy, energy storage, and today’s industrial, commercial and residential loads – including in remote and Indigenous communities. Researchers at the U of A are developing technological advances that contribute to a new generation of electric grids that are both more resilient to disturbances and more economically competitive.
Lead: Ryan Li
Land + Water Reclamation
As energy systems evolve, new tools will be required to measure and address the environmental impacts of both new and legacy technologies. At the U of A, work in this area provides rapid accurate and cost-effective monitoring, mitigation, remediation and reclamation technologies and processes.
Lead: M. Anne Naeth