Panel 1
Energy Services Delivery: Is there a changing of the guard?

The emergence of renewable energy technologies offers numerous development opportunities to both on and off-grid communities across Canada. The transition to sustainable energy future requires substantial efforts in developing, evaluating and advancing technical innovations and identifying and applying effective implementation strategies for those new technologies. It is not only a technological concern that carries the greatest challenge but also social and economical barriers, existing business models and regulatory constraints are often difficult to manage. Public-private partnerships can also accelerate the deployment of solutions and align the evolving business models with the core needs of the utility sector and end users. The engineers, innovators and system design operators will evaluate the changing trends in the contemporary energy industry related to electricity markets, decentralization of energy service delivery, demand-side management, R&D capital and investment and various types of energy delivery models.

Panel 2
Nano-based Energy Innovations: Breakthroughs or Bust?

Nanotechnologies provide a pathway to significant enhancement of energy efficiency solutions across energy sectors. Nanotechnology innovations can affect the entire value chain of the energy sector from primary resource extraction, conversion, and final use. Nanotechnology – operating on the scale of atoms and molecules – create dramatic breakthroughs and open new opportunities for use of smart materials, sensors and devices that drive intelligent systems. Top academic researchers and industry leaders will discuss theirs insights on nanotechnology-based energy systems in the areas of solar photovoltaics, energy storage (batteries), fuel cells, carbon utilization and capture, and energy transmission and distribution.

Panel 3
Bioenergy Solutions: Can it shape the transition to a low carbon future?

Bioenergy—fuel, heat, and power derived from biomass sources—is a low carbon alternative to fossil fuel sources. It is a dominant source of renewable energy in the world. Bioenergy solutions will play a constructive role in advancing climate goals, food security, better land use and sustainable energy choices. Biomass can make a substantial contribution to supplying future energy demand consistent with the UN sustainable development goals. This panel will explore strategies to foster increased use of renewable bio-based fuels that may catalyze the creation of new industries and businesses.