Renewable energy provides exciting opportunities for a world looking to move away from reliance on fossil fuels. Not only does it promise an ongoing supply of energy, but also a cleaner planet and new jobs. Learn more about the most promising clean energy possibilities as UCalgary researchers David Wood, Viola Birss and Mishka Lysack discuss the latest developments in the generation, storage and adoption of renewables. See the full webinar recording at: http://go.ucalgary.ca/2017-06-08RenewableEnergyWebinar_LPRegistration.html

1. Are we ready to flip the switch on
clean energy?
David Wood
Professor, Schulich School of Engineering
Viola Birss
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Mishka Lysack
Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Work
June 8, 2017

2. Viola Birss
 World leader in the area of
electrochemistry at
surfaces and interfaces,
and in nanomaterials
development for a wide
range of clean energy
applications
 Professor in UCalgary's
Department of Chemistry

3. Mishka Lysack
 Research focuses on the
connections between a
healthy environment,
renewable energy and a
sustainable economy, as
well as links between
community, social health
and well-being
 Associate professor in
UCalgary's Faculty of
Social Work

4. David Wood
 Professor of renewable
energy since 2010
 Director of the Wind
Energy Institute of
Canada
 Main research in wind
turbine aerodynamics
 Other research in solar
and wind resource
assessment, RE for
developing countries

5. http://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/electricity_generation.pdf

6. Electricity generation in Canada
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/energy/pdf/EnergyFactBook_2016_
17_En.pdf

7. Electricity prices
https://www.hydro.mb.ca/regulato
ry_affairs/energy_rates/electricity/
utility_rate_comp.shtml#analysis
https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-
guides/average-electricity-prices-kwh.html
Canada has nearly the
cheapest electricity in
the world and the
greatest fraction from
renewable energy
Price in US c/kilowatt-
hour

8. Wind energy
 Currently the cheapest form of renewable energy
 Main problems are:
• Intermittent production
• Bird and bat deaths
• Noise
 Research areas:
• Improving efficiency and cost effectiveness as wind turbines
get larger
• Control and protection at high winds
• Asset management of wind farms
• Integrating renewable energy with storage

9. http://www.city-data.com/forum/green-living/2540299-rationalizations-wind-turbines-
beautiful-vs-whats-7.html
Wind energy

10. Renewable energy in developing
countries
10
A small hydro power system in Nepal Wind solar
village
electrification
system
Research areas and tasks:
• Improve efficiency, reduce
cost
• Capacity building through
teaching and technology
exchange

11. Electrochemical technologies for clean
energy conversion and storage
11

12. Large-Scale Storage of Electricity is a Challenge

13. Electrochemical
Electrical energy storage systems
Pumped Hydro
Compressed Air
Flywheels
Secondary Batteries
Flow Batteries
H2, CO, CO2
(Fuel Cells/Electrolysis)
Capacitors
Superconducting
Magnetic Coils
Heat Storage
Mechanical Electrical
Chemical Thermal
• Our main focus is on electrochemical technologies & capacitors
• Fuel cells cleanly convert fuels to electricity (no particulates, SOx, NOx)
• Electrolysis cells have unique advantages, as they can use CO2

14. ELECTROLYTE
CATHODE (+)
ANODE (-)
(oxidation)
(reduction)
Steam
Unreacted fuel
CO2
Heat
electrons
O2-
CH4, CO, H2, alcohols,
biogas, diesel, etc.
Air, O2
Solid oxide fuel cells: Clean &
efficient power generation
• Clean
• Efficient
• Modular
• mW-MW
• Quiet

15. Solid oxide electrolysis cells:
Power to fuels (e.g. CO2 splitting)
Wind turbines
excess generation
Electricity storage
(Electrolysis)
Inject H2O or CO2/H2O
Store H2 or Syngas
peak demand
Electricity generation
(Fuel Cell)
Inject H2 or Syngas
Store CO2Solar Panels
Reversible
gas
storage

16. Reversible solid oxide fuel cells (RSOFCs)
for energy storage & CO2 splitting
Single unit operating in both SOFC and SOEC mode (700-1000 oC).
Cathode (Ni-YSZ)
Electrolyte
(YSZ)
Anode (LSM-
YSZ)
Anode (Ni-YSZ)
Electrolyte
(YSZ)
Cathode (LSM-YSZ)
Power
H2O + CO2
e
-
e
-
O2-
O2-
H2 + CO (Fuel)
O2 (Air)
Load Powe
r
e
-
e
-
H2O + 2e- H2 + O2-
CO2 + 2e- CO + O2-
O2- ½ O2 + 2e- ½ O2 + 2e- O2-
H2 + O2- H2O + 2e-
CO + O2- CO2 + 2e-
SOEC mode
‘energy storage’
SOFC mode
‘energy production’
The Birss Group has developed some very promising catalysts:
• Low cost, durable (e.g., sulfur tolerant)
• Highly active/stable for both CO2 & O2 evolution/reduction
• Scale-up & prototype testing currently underway
V. Birss, B. Molero-Sánchez, P. Addo and M. Chen, High performance oxygen and fuel electrode for reversible solid oxide fuel
cell applications, CA 2,893,153; priority date May 05, 2015; US 15/169,506; priority date May 05, 2015l; M. Chen, S. Paulson,
V. Thangadurai and V. Birss, J Power Sources, 2013, 236, 68-79.

17. Calgary Advanced Energy Storage &
Conversion Research Technologies
(CAESR-Tech)
Reversible gas
storage
Fuel cells &
electrolysis
cells
Batteries
capacitors
Electrochemical
remediation
Electrochemical
Sensors
Integration Electricity
management
LCAModelling
Alberta’s plans are to run the grid 30% on renewables by 2030
18 research groups

18. Acknowledgements
Many of the slides, graphs, and other material were originally
developed and gathered by Guy Dauncey & Anna Leidreiter.
My thanks for their kind permission to use their slides and
material.

19. 2050 Energiewende targets
The energy transition follows a transparent, long-term strategy with specific targets.
Source:FederalGovernment2010,BMU/BMWi2014,BMWi2015,
AGEE-Stat2014,AGEB2015,BMWi2016
Speaker
Climate
Renewable
Energies
Energy
Efficiency
% gross final energy
consumption
% gross electricity
consumption
% primary energy
consumption (vs. 2008)
final energy productivity
(vs. 2008)
building renovation
% greenhouse gas
reduction (vs. 1990)
2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2050
+2.1% p.a. (2008-2050)
doubling of renovation rate: 1%  2% p.a.
-40
-55
-70 -80 to -95
35 40 to 45
50 65
80
55 to 60
18
30
45
60
-20
-50
13,7%
32.6% (2015)
- 7.3 %
(2015)
1.7% p.a.
~1% p.a.
-27%
Achieved
2014
1.7%% transport energy
consumption (vs. 2008)
-10 -40

21. Building Canada’s new energy
economy
1) Engaging participation of Canadians as
empowered new stakeholders or energy
citizens (energieburger) in a new energy
system with innovative business models
in an inclusive policy approach

31. Building Canada’s new energy
economy
2) Renewable energy and energy
efficiency as a tool for job creation,
economic development, and climate
protection

36. Employment Impacts of renewable
energy sources
Employment Impacts of alternative energy sources
Job creation per $1 million in output
Energy source Direct job
creation per $1
million in output
(# of jobs)
Indirect job
creation per $1
million in output
(# of jobs)
Direct and
indirect job
creation per $1
million I output
(# of jobs)
Direct and
indirect job
creation relative
to oil (%
difference)
Fossil Fuels
Oil and gas 0.8 2.9 3.7 -
Coal 1.9 3.0 4.9 +32.4%
Energy efficiency
Building retrofits 7.0 4.9 11.9 +221.6%
Mass
transit/freight
rail (90 % MT,
10% FR)
11.0 4.9 15.9 +329.7%
Smart grid 4.3 4.6 8.9 +140.5%
Renewables
Wind 4.6 4.9 9.5 +156.8%
Solar 5.4 4.4 9.8 +164.9%
Biomass 7.4 5.0 12.4 +235.1%
Source: Pollin et al. The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy: How the Economic Stimulus Program and New
Legislation Can Boost U.S Economic Growth and Employment. Political Economy Research Institute: University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, 2009. p 28

48. Thank you
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