Technology Challenges for Canadas Energy Future

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Technology Challenges for Canadas Energy Future
Presentation to CAE Annual Meeting June 1,
2007 Clement W. Bowman
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The Challenge

• Energy and the Environment are on a collision
  course!
• Energy is Canadas last chance!

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The Problem
Cannot continue to burn coal
Hydrogen from natural gas not viable
Oil sands hitting a wall
The Problem
Facing limits on greenhouse gases
Solar and wind boxed in
Canada behind in bio-energy
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Energy Pathways Project

• Define the barriers
• Identify technologies to overcome the barriers
• Project started June 2005
• Report presented to CAE Board in November 2006

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An Overview of Our Recommendations

• Canada should immediately launch three National
  Energy Technology Projects
• Century-long commitment to sustainable energy RD
  in key opportunity areas
• The Pathway to become a Sustainable Energy
  Superpower

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Project Sponsors
Robert C. Griesbach Project Manager
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A Pause for Leonard Bolger 1930-2007
Len was a co-initiator of the CAE Energy Pathways
project, seeing the opportunity for Canadian
global leadership in energy.
Len was a test pilot for the Avro Arrow, and when
this program was cancelled, he was dismayed at an
opportunity lost an opportunity based on
knowledge and technology, not natural resources.
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Concept of an Energy Pathway
Energy Source
Conversion Process
Carrier
Delivery
End Use
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The Energy System

• Non-Renewable Energy
• Conventional Oil
• Oil Sands
• Conventional Gas
• Non-conventional Gas
• Coal

• Renewable Energy
• Biomass
• Geothermal
• Hydro
• Solar
• Wind
• Tidal/Wave

• Nuclear
• Advanced Fission
• Magnetic Confinement Fusion
• Inertial Confinement Fusion

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The Project Process Used

• Acquisition of funding (150k)
• Formation of Task Force (35 experts)
• Selection of Pathways (27)
• Selection of the ProGrid evaluation process
• Development of evaluation criteria (15)
• Pathway Proponents (30)
• Pathway Evaluators (65)
• Recommendations

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The Challenge
The Realists The Evaluators Validation
The Enthusiasts The Proponents Self-Assessment
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Evaluation Matrix
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Example of a Language Ladder
Criteria A1 Scientific Principles
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Energy Pathways Database
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Code for Energy Pathways Database For handout
copies only
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Recommendation No. 1Three National Technology
Projects

• Gasification of Fossil Fuels and Biomass
  produces electricity, hydrogen, and CO2 rich
  streams
• GHG Control CO2 capture, transportation,
  long-term storage and/or use
• Upgrades to Electrical Infrastructure national
  grid, grid access/storage for renewables,
  enhanced distribution infrastructure

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Recommendation No. 2Bioconversion Demonstration
Network

• Opportunities exist for regional environmentally
  friendly biofuel projects
• Feed stocks - agricultural forestry, meat and
  fish processing, municipal and industrial wastes
• A national funded network is needed to provide
  the necessary organization and coordination.
• Existing bio-organizations can identify
  priorities and assist in implementation

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Recommendation No. 3Pursue Energy Opportunities
and Challenges

• Canada should lead in some areas in developing
  commercial applications
• In other areas we should adapt and contribute to
  technologies developed elsewhere
• RD groups active in these area should lead and
  coordinate their programs- dont wait for
  governments to act.
• We should track progress toward long term goals

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Recommendation No. 3 continuedPursue Energy
Opportunities and Challenges

• Example of Opportunity Areas
• Wind and solar
• Natural gas hydrates
• Lower impact surface mining of oil sands
• Higher value products from heavy oil and bitumen
• Alternative hydrogen supplies
• Use of nuclear power in insitu oil sand
  production
• Advanced nuclear fission reactors and nuclear
  waste management
• Bituminous carbonates
• Geothermal
• Tidal and wave

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Recommendation No. 4Fusion Energy

• Magnetic Confinement International effort is
  very large Canada should maintain a watching
  brief and contribute where we have expertise,
  such as with tritium
• Inertial Confinement Recent advances are
  positive A university-based effort in Canada
  should be defined and supported as a contribution
  to international effort

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Reviewing the Problem
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Proposing the Solution

Gasify Coal
Hydrogen from water
Less invasive oil sands
The Solution
Reduce capture/store/use CO2
Storage for solar/wind energy
Demonstrate bio-energy
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The Renewable/Non-Renewable Balance
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Call for Action
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Action 1
Immediately Launch Three National Technology
Projects

• A national commitment with impact similar to
  building the railway across Canada
• Comparable to Peter Loughheeds 1974 commitment
  of 100 million to the oil sands (leading to a 1
  billion technology fund)
• A National Project needs
• Upfront money
• Champions to lead
• Independent stakeholder management

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Commit to 100 Years of Sustainable Energy RD
Action 2

• Bio-energy, unconventional energy sources,
  advanced fission reactors,
  fusion
• Essential for RD leaders in each opportunity
  area to develop inter-agency programs to
• Define long term goals
• Organize credible funding requests
• Track progress toward the Goals

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The Time is Now to Act
Launch Three National Technology Projects
Action 1
Action 2
Commit to 100 Years of Sustainable Energy RD
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Canadas Future
is the CAEs to Champion
Coal and Biomass Gasification is a pathway to
clean power and the hydrogen economy -
Dr. Duke Duplessis Energy - Canadas last
chance - Dr. John McLaughlin Why CAE?
Because we are engineers and we build things.
-Dr. Ron McCullough