The Energy Council of Canada Energy Policy Research Fellowship will provide $500,000 over 10 years to graduate students engaged in energy policy research. Annual fellowships valued at $15,000 for Master's students and $25,000 for Doctoral students will be awarded to eligible full-time graduate students registered at the University of Waterloo. Students must demonstrate interest in energy policy research defined annually by the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) in conjunction with Energy Council of Canada.

a) Canada’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Economy

Sub-thematic:

• Are aspirational (or deep) carbon reduction targets feasible in the 2030-2060 time frame and do they create the possibilities of stranded carbon assets?
• What innovations are required to support an increasing share of non carbon sources of energy in the supply system? 
• How can policy support for renewable – intermittent - supply sources be harmonized with the technical constraints for reliable operation of the energy system? 
• What role for Distributed Energy resources, energy efficiency and ICT enabled smart energy networks for a low carbon pathway?
• Disruptive innovations – social, business and technological – and their impacts on the energy supply chain and resilience of Canada’s energy infrastructure.

b) Energy and Electricity Trade: Barriers and Benefits 

Sub- thematic:

• What approaches and strategies are required for enhanced inter-provincial and international trade in energy and electricity as an enabler of a low carbon energy future?
• Identify opportunities for regional networks linking jurisdictions through transmission and large interconnectors taking advantage of fundamental difference in the carbon intensity of the supply-mix of different jurisdictions. 
• Policies and social strategies for reducing conflict to enable energy trade across provincial boundaries?

c) Energy Sector Regulatory Practices and Evolution

Sub-thematic:

• Research into the current regulatory practices, identification of the strengths and weaknesses of various regulatory models and identification of what’s needed by regulatory agencies as they become modernized, effective and responsive to current and emerging issues. 

Note: Currently, regulatory agencies are finding it necessary to cope with issues and public concerns which are outside of their traditional areas of activity. Also, the government of Canada is reviewing the mandate and operation of National Energy Board in preparation for reforming the agency. Drawing from the lessons learned in other jurisdictions outside Canada can also be considered for insights that provides the context for this research initiative.

Applications are now being accepted and are to be sent to Laurie Larochelle: larochelle@uwaterloo.ca no later than 12:00 pm EDT May 31, 2019.

Winners will be notified by July 15, 2019.