Climate Positive Energy research day addresses EV demand, skills

Research, partnerships, and the need for continued climate action was in focus during the third annual Research Day from Climate Positive Energy, an Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) at U of T. Over 100 guests attended the sold-out event, including students, researchers, startups, and industry. 

Professor David Sinton, CPE’s Academic Director, kicked off the day by sharing the ISI’s multi-disciplinary, tri-campus focus. “When you think about climate change, it’s an engineering, scientific, economic, and policy challenge. And when you think of organizations, universities are best suited to address this challenge. CPE unites U of T departments, to tackle this challenge, together.” 

“CPE’s model is focused on 3 pillars: academic excellence in our research; partnering with industry to solve real-world problems; and working with government to achieve mutual goals,” Sinton added. 

CPE’s Executive Director, Shatha Qaqish-Clavering, reflected on the initiative’s recent accomplishments thanks to this collaborative approach. These milestones include leading a number of panel discussions at COP28 in Dubai, launching the Climate Finance Accelerator with U of T’s Roman School of Management, partnering with Singapore Management University on a new research funding opportunity for faculty, partnering with Northwestern University on a research hub focused on decarbonization, and working with the Canada Games Council to help sporting organizations reduce emissions.  

Given the number of climate related events that have occurred in recent months – both in Canada and abroad – the discussions emerging from CPE’s conference were particularly timely. The event covered many topics, but five themes emerged: 
 

• Sustainability intersects with and impacts every industry. Siemens Canda’s President and CEO, Faisal Kazi, spoke about buildings of the future. With 40% of global GHG emissions coming from buildings, he noted that smart systems could help reduce energy consumption and costs. As another example, Fiona Miller, a professor of Health Policy in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, shared the work she is doing to help health systems become more sustainable. Nelson Lee, a professor in the same department, discussed how climate change is accelerating the spread of infectious diseases. Since climate change has such far-reaching impacts, an all-hands-on-deck approach is needed, with researchers from all disciplines and government collaborating.  
   

• Consumer education is key to EV adoption. Transportation was another area of focus at CPE’s event as transport accounts for 22% of national emissions. Khandker Nurul Habib, a professor in the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, shared the issues that can hinder a consumer from buying an EV. This includes upfront costs and concerns about range and the availability of charging infrastructure. As Plug’n Drive’s President and CEO Cara Clairman explained, most Canadians drive 60 kilometres or less per day, highlighting the opportunity to educate consumers on the benefits of owning an EV and common misperceptions. Another concern centres on whether lithium-ion batteries are ending up in landfills. Gisele Azimi, a professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, spoke to the research her lab is undertaking in recycling electronic waste. By extracting valuable metals from batteries that reached the end of their useful lifespan, this research could help reduce the cost of EV batteries and cars.  

• Demand for electricity will continue to grow. Ontario’s independent energy regulator estimates demand for electricity will increase two to three times current levels due to electrification and population growth. The introduction of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and bidirectional (or vehicle-to-grid) charging to the grid will bring about new complexities. To address these challenges, Ali Hooshyar, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, led the development of CPE’s Grid Modernization Centre. In July, the ISI received $10 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and Natural Resources Canada to support this new facility – the first of its kind in Canada. With 50 partners on board, the Centre will provide Ontario SMEs with the state-of-the-art equipment and expertise needed to test and commercialize green technologies before they are integrated with the grid. The Centre will also tackle regulatory and policy challenges impeding the adoption of green technologies. In the coming months, CPE will launch a website for partners and students interested in getting involved with the new Centre. 
   

• Green skills are relevant to all industries. Hugo Cordeau, a doctoral candidate in Economics at U of T, noted the economy of tomorrow is a green one and almost every job is a climate job – remarks that are echoed by a recent report by LinkedIn. Cordeau participated in a panel with five students who previously received a scholarship from CPE to support their research. In addition to sharing their unique projects with attendees – ranging from research on plastic pollution to the socio-ecological effects of trees – the students shared their career aspirations. They emphasized that being part of CPE’s network provided them with opportunities to network and build their knowledge and skills. As third-year undergraduate student Diego Arreola Fernandez explained, whether you’re an engineering, science, or public policy student, there’s a place for everyone with CPE. 
   

• Youth and community engagement is critical. Grace Nosek, a postdoctoral fellow at UTSC, spoke to the prevalence of climate anxiety among youth and climate action as a way to empower young people. In 2023, CPE partnered with the City of Toronto’s Environment and Climate Division to develop a city-wide youth engagement strategy. The research and consultations led by the project team culminated in a report expected to be released at the end of the year. The report will go before Toronto City Council and inform the City’s next TransformTO Net Zero Strategy. Since communities are often stuck with the tab when a natural disaster occurs, several panelists noted the importance of engaging communities as mitigation strategies are being developed. 

“Looking ahead, you can expect continued engagement and action from our researchers and partners, who are helping everyone at all levels to reach net-zero by 2050 and ensure an equitable energy transition,” Shatha Qaqish-Clavering added.  

“We look forward to gathering these researchers and experts for continued workshops and sessions as we unite our multi-disciplinary strengths to address the great climate challenge.” 

(Story by Catrina Kronfli; photo Liz Beddall for Climate Positive Energy)