Right now, energy generators sell their electricity to grid operators in a competitive energy market. Grid operators also oversee a parallel “demand response” procurement program, where big energy consumers like steel plants and pulp and paper mills offer to curb their electricity use during peak time — for a price 

This can take a lot of pressure off the electricity grid. It also saves money by reducing the need for the most expensive forms of electricity generation. But according to WISE…

WISE is hosting the Geothermal Workshop, a 1.5-day hybrid (in-person and online) workshop that will be held at the University of Waterloo on July 27 and 28, 2023.  The workshop will explore current activities/developments in all geothermal technologies being used or considered in Canada—focusing mainly on its development and implementation in remote, isolated, and indigenous communities. From this meeting, we will generate a synthesis outlining pathways to greater adoption of this green source…

Sustainable Futures Initiative presented by the University of Waterloo 

The 2023 Summer School will showcase leading-edge research from a wide array of University of Waterloo professors at the interface of water, climate, and energy.

A Sustainable Futures Initiative, the summer school is hosted by the Water Institute, the Waterloo Climate Institute and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) and aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows,…

Today, buildings account for nearly a third of global energy consumption. Net-zero energy structures aim to decarbonize the sector by generating as much electricity on site as they use each year. But what happens when their actual energy consumption is initially higher than intended?

In the case of a 100,000-square-foot office building recently constructed in Waterloo, Ontario, closing that performance gap required a complex process of optimizing the HVAC systems. WISE researchers were there…

The 2^nd EAGE Workshop on Geothermal in Latin America is being organized by the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE).  Maurice Dusseault from the University of Waterloo (Ontario) and Grant Wach from Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia) are on the organizing committee.   

A wide range of topics is being solicited in the Call for Abstracts (below), not just high enthalpy electrical power provision geothermal issues.  

Canada and other countries are in the early days of a…

Socio-political factors can make or break the large-scale deployment of virtually any new technology. Energy storage (e.g., batteries, pumped hydro, and compressed air) is one such technology, requiring broad social acceptance if it is to play an essential role for a sustainable energy transition.

So how are those factors affecting energy storage deployment in China — the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter? Because Chinese media outlets typically reflect government positions and further…

Flying cars are no longer reserved for sci-fi novels, with groups like Boeing, Toyota and NASA working to move electric vehicles into the skies. One of the key challenges is ensuring the power batteries in these airborne automobiles don’t overheat during takeoff and landing, when discharge rates peak.

Flat heat pipe (FHP) technology offers a promising solution. Thanks to its high heat conductivity and large surface area, it can effectively dissipate the heat from battery packs and ensure…

Driving into the Future brings together automotive experts to discuss what's new in the automotive industry. 

• Are charging stations the final roadblock to an EV takeover? 
• Can we build chargers fast enough to meet demands of rising EV sales?

Prof. Claudio Cañizares (Executive Director, WISE) will be sharing his thoughts on "Is changing infrastructure the last last roadblock for EV Domination?" as a speaker on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14 @ 11 AM ET.

For registration, view the full page: http…

Transformers are a crucial — and expensive — part of wind farm infrastructure, boosting the low-voltage output from turbine generators to the higher voltage required by the grid. But too often, they fail prematurely. 

That’s because standard transformers aren’t designed to handle spikes in high-frequency energy that are common in wind farms, where vacuum circuit breakers and switching devices often create transient voltages. As a result, they can break down the transformer’s insulation,…