Replace clean tech incrementalism with bold breakthroughs, experts tell conference

Canada's potential to become a true energy superpower can only be realized by identifying and delivering on breakthrough technologies that are able to position the nation as a global leader in clean energy, according to experts who assembled in Ottawa earlier this month at the Canadian Science Policy Conference. The likelihood of the new US administration backtracking on commitments to international agreements and development of alternative energy sources enhances Canada's role in partnering with other countries that are moving on collaborative efforts to replace fossil fuels.

"What we need now are bold steps forward in the science. This is not a time for incrementalism. It's a time for breakthrough science that will lead to new transformative approaches," said Dr Alan Bernstein, president and CEO of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), adding that it's essential to boost funding while encouraging more scientists, engineers and young to work in clean tech.

Gregory Scholes, a CIFAR senior fellow at Princeton Univ, said governments need policies that result in more game-changing scientific advances like the 1991 discovery of low-cost dye-sensitized solar cells which significantly increased the power conversion efficiency of these devices.

"How do you tap into that … It certainly will take policy, mission, strategy and leadership," said Scholes.

Similar messages are coming from consultations with over 350 stakeholders who participated in Natural Resources Canada's Clean Technology for Canada's Natural Resources Consultation.

"The feedback we're hearing is that we're playing it too safe," said Frank Des Rosiers, NRCan's ADM innovation and energy technology. "We need to get bolder in terms of our research efforts and tilt it more towards breakthrough technologies … We need to look at leaps … and right across many industrial sectors. We're looking to shave emissions not just 2 or 3% but by 50, 60, or 80%."

From a policy perspective, Des Rosiers said this requires creating a technology pull from industry, which can be encouraged through mechanisms like carbon pricing and government procurement.

Panelists pointed to the need for more "grand challenge" partnerships, like the Breakthrough Energy Coalition of high net worth investors, led by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Mission Innovation, launched last year at the Paris Climate Change Conference. Twenty-four countries committed to double spending on clean energy innovation over five years, while encouraging greater levels of private-sector investment in transformative clean energy technologies. Canada, Mexico and the US are partners in those collaborations.

Canada is also co-chairing a joint research working group to identify collaborative models for developing common global and/or continental strategies. "That's a pretty significant shift in how we do business," said Des Rosiers.

Changing US priorities

Brokering such partnerships is never easy, Bernstein noted, particularly following the US election. Donald Trump's unexpected win as president hung over the panel discussion in light of his campaign pledge to cancel the global 2015 Paris Agreement that aims to shift the world from fossil fuels to cleaner energy. Here, Bernstein sees an upside for Canada.

"This is an opportunity for Canada, particularly given (the US election) … This is a great time for Canada to step in as an honest broker to convince countries to work together to address a common challenge," he said.

Scholes said he doubts the US Department of Energy will change course radically with the arrival of a new president.

"The DOE is one constant in all of this," he said. "Nobody has any idea what Trump thinks or is going to do, so that's the unknown. But for the government as a whole, I can't see radical change at that kind of level. It's a big machine and it's stable."

Where sweeping changes have occurred is in Mexico, which is moving to liberalize its energy sector and open it to foreign investment — a model similar to those in the US and Canada. In addition, Mexico now has some of the world's most ambitious targets for renewable energy, including wind, solar and geothermal. Mexico is also funnelling new tax revenues into clean tech R&D, though Carlos Ortiz, DG Research, Technological Development and Human Resources Formation with Mexico's Secretariat of Energy, noted that more incentives are needed to strengthen the links between academia and industry.

"There are a lot of questions on how to change that framework to create the right incentives, and how to leverage international platforms of collaboration to build capacity and leapfrog in some of these relevant topics," said Ortiz.

Europe's collaborative model

A collaborative model that has worked well in Europe for over 30 years is EUREKA, which funds joint R&D projects. The majority of EUREKA's €30-billion budget supports seven multi-sectoral clusters. Projects involving Canada represent about $65 million of the budget. Canada joined EURKEA as an associate member country in 2012, renewing in 2015 (R$, July 29/15).

"International collaborations such as these are absolutely key," said Gabriel Marquette, who heads up EUROGIA2020, an industry-driven cluster for low-carbon energy technologies. "We need to work on developing new paradigms between all stakeholders, including industry and academia, but also cities and public authorities."

EUROGIA2020 supports projects at Technology Readiness Levels 5-7, and facilitates access to funding in participating countries. It has expanded its initial focus from fossil fuels to renewables, clean tech and energy efficiency.

Canada currently participates in three EUROGIA2020 projects related to high-efficiency hydro generation, energy storage systems for wind, and lower carbon coal plants. Canada is also seeking partners on three other clean tech projects.

Des Rosiers said the focus on clean tech and energy efficiency has become an even bigger priority for his department since the Liberal government came to office a year ago with a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In June, Canada, Mexico and the US also agreed to strive to achieve 50% clean power generation by 2025.

"This is something that is very striking in our discussions when we brief ministers. What about the facts, what about the evidence?," noted Des Roisier, adding that prime minister Justin Trudeau sees environmental outcomes and economic growth "as being very much compatible. And that has been driving (NRCan's) efforts since."

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