PERD currently funds 24 energy R&D programs described here.
Priority Area: Clean Fossil Fuels
Advanced Separation Technologies – Located in a federal laboratory in Devon, Alberta, this program conducts fundamental and applied research to develop leading-edge multi-phase separation technologies for the petroleum and environmental industries. Activities focus mainly on: cleaner production of oil from oil sands and heavy oil sources; better reclamation options for oil sands tailings; and more energy-efficient multi-phase separation technologies for complex oil/water/solids mixtures in downstream, water use, recycle and disposal process streams.
Conversion of Bitumen, Heavy Oil, Natural Gas and Waste Oils – Located in a federal laboratory in Devon, Alberta, this program helps develop technologies to convert bitumen, heavy oil, natural gas and waste oils into clean, refined petroleum products. Activities focus mainly on: reduction of costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from upgrading bitumen and heavy oil; modeling, development and optimization of secondary upgrading processes; development of partial upgrading processes suitable for isolated, smaller-scale sites; and conversion of natural gas to synthesis gas, ultra-clean fuels and other value-added products.
Upstream Petroleum Air Issues Research Initiative – This program conducts air emissions R&D to support clean energy production in the upstream oil and gas sector. Activities focus mainly on the measurement, control, reduction and impact assessment of emissions such as greenhouse gases, criteria air contaminants and toxic substances identified by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
Pipelines – This program supports the regulation and maintenance of aging pipelines and the regulation and construction of new pipelines using methods that are economic and environmentally acceptable. Activities focus mainly on: assessment of terrain conditions and natural hazards for new and existing pipelines; testing and assessment of the performance of pipeline materials; and development of a risk-based framework for the pipeline industry and regulators. The main priority of the current program is northern pipelines.
Groundwater and Soil Remediation for the Oil and Gas Industry – This program helps reduce the environmental impact of oil and gas production on groundwater and soils through: enhancement of the current knowledge base; development of mitigation techniques and remediation technologies; and development of testing methodologies for hydrocarbons in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Activities focus mainly on: development of standardized methods and tools for risk-based clean-up of contaminated sites; development of tools, models and analytical methods to assess the fate, transport and biodegradation of pollutants from industry activities; and improved knowledge of site remediation under challenging conditions such as cold climate and fractured bedrock.
Priority Area: Frontier Oil and Gas
Offshore Environmental Factors for Regulatory, Design, Safety and Economic Purposes – This program helps develop methods and technologies to describe, hindcast, and forecast environmental factors that affect oil and gas exploration and production off Canada´s east coast. Activities focus mainly on: winds and waves; ocean currents and circulation; sea ice and icebergs; ice-structure interaction; and sea-bed stability.
Regulatory Requirements for Offshore Drilling and Production Wastes, Assessment of Cumulative Effects, and Remediation of Offshore Discharges and Spills – This program focuses on environmental sensitivities related to offshore oil and gas exploration and production. In particular, activities address the following issues: ecological risks of production water returned to surrounding ocean waters; fate and environmental effects of drilling wastes; and treatment of accidental spills.
Northern Hydrocarbon Production – This program helps assess the extent and severity of geological hazards to support regulatory and environmental review processes as well as engineering design criteria with respect to oil and gas production in Canada´s north. Activities include: Beaufort Sea coastal hazards; seabed hazards; multi-year ice risks; and assessment of the potential impact of industrial activity on various ecosystem components (fish and marine mammals).
Marine Transportation and Safety – This program conducts R&D to support: development of regulations for the safe and efficient transportation of oil and gas by tankers; and occupational and public safety standards in offshore operations. Activities focus mainly on: operations and equipment to improve the safety of personnel working in east coast offshore oil and gas facilities; better marine navigation systems and training for the detection of small ice pieces; and better ship design and studies on the effects of damage from ice impact.
Priority Area: Clean Transportation Systems
Particulate Emissions (Particulates) Program – This program provides knowledge and tools to support the development of technologies to control and reduce emissions of particulate matter from transportation sources. Activities focus mainly on: the study, measurement and control of particulate matter formed during internal combustion engine operation; the study of how particulate emissions from transportation sources affect smog levels, air quality and climate change; and the study of the public health impacts and associated economic burden of transportation-related particulate matter.
Advanced Fuels and Transportation Emissions Reduction (AFTER) Program – This program conducts R&D to support the design and use of liquid hydrocarbon fuels and associated technologies to reduce vehicle emissions. Activities focus mainly on: fuel blends; advanced diesel engines, including off-road and rail modes; conceptually new engines; and associated environmental and health issues.
Advanced Structural Materials for Next-Generation Vehicles (ASM-V) – The vision of this program is to develop materials, structural components and vehicle subsystems that can be used on virtually all types of next-generation vehicles (advanced internal combustion engines, diesel, fuel cell and plug-in electric hybrids) to reduce their weight, and to improve their crashworthiness and overall fuel efficiency.
Hydrogen Energy Economy – This program contributes to an improved knowledge base and advanced technologies to mitigate climate change and air pollution through hydrogen and hydrogen-related research and development (R&D), thereby contributing to the creation of a hydrogen energy economy. Activities focus mainly on: applied R&D of hydrogen production, storage and use; codes and standards development; and demonstration programs.
Electric Mobility (pHEV) Program – The first five years of this new program will concentrate on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (pHEVs) and focus its efforts on four activity areas: energy storage systems; electric drive components; powertrain optimization; and development of regulations for emissions and fuel efficiency. The pHEV concept has great promise to significantly reduce air pollutants, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and petroleum consumption.
Priority Area: Built Environment
Buildings – This program supports S&T for building technologies and innovations that will help reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with marked economic, environmental and health benefits. The program is shifting emphasis towards longer-term R&D work and increasing efforts on the integration of renewable and alternative energy technologies in buildings. Activity areas include: design and re-engineering; building envelopes and structural elements; and energy systems, e.g. heating, cooling, ventilation, domestic hot water, and lighting.
Energy Management for Sustainable Communities – This program conducts R&D to help Canadian communities reduce their energy intensity and shift to more efficient and environmentally-benign technologies. This includes: exploration of methods to supply communities using local sources of renewable or waste energy; the use of more efficient energy distribution systems; and the planning and design of communities and sub-systems, e.g. transportation, buildings, urban design, waste management, to minimize energy use.
Priority Area: Low-Emission Industrial Systems
Highly Energy-efficient Industrial Systems and Technologies – This program supports the development of innovative methods, models, materials, components and technologies to make industrial processes more energy-efficient. Activities focus mainly on: process integration; advanced industrial combustion; sensors and controls; and fluidics, i.e. the movement of pulverized feedstocks suspended in air or liquids.
Priority Area: Distributed Power Generation
Conversion of Renewable Energy to Electricity Including Related Storage, Hybrid, and Systems Technologies – This program supports efforts to make the conversion of renewable energy to electricity more cost effective and efficient, including related storage, hybrid, and systems technologies. Activities focus mainly on: wind energy; small hydro; biomass conversion to electricity; solar/photovoltaic electricity; and infrastructure support for all renewable energy, e.g. mapping, resource assessment.
Grid Integration of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources – This program supports national science and technology efforts that will contribute to the modernization of the electricity grid network, enhance the benefits of renewable and clean distributed energy resources, increase the diversity and reliability of supply, and facilitate recovery after disruptions.
Distributed Clean Generation – This program supports efforts to make the conversion of fossil fuels to electricity by distributed generation systems more efficient and cost effective. The aim is to increase the use of distributed generation in Canada to take advantage of increased electricity supply, as well as the economic and environmental benefits. Activities focus mainly on: long-term fundamental research; technology assessments; combined heat and power (CHP) processes, systems and technologies; and targeted field trials of new technologies.
Priority Area: Clean Coal and Carbon Capture and Storage
Clean and Efficient Combustion Technologies for Large Utility Electricity Generation – This program conducts S&T to help reduce emissions from combustion-based electric power generation systems by converting fossil fuels to electricity more efficiently. Activities focus mainly on: enhanced performance and efficiency, fuel switching and co-firing, and the accelerated demonstration of advanced fossil fuel-to-electricity cycles associated with ‘clean coal‘; reduction of emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter, through better power plant operation, design and control; and control of toxic emissions through a better understanding of fuel and combustion residue properties, and the development of capture processes.
CO2 Capture and Storage – This program conducts research regarding the capture, treatment, transport, use and/or storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) from large utility and industrial point sources as a means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. Activities focus mainly on: development, integration and optimization of CO2 capture technologies; development of CO2 storage technologies; and assessment of resources for CO2 storage.
Priority Area: Next-Generation Nuclear Energy Technologies
Generation IV Nuclear Technologies– In 2001, ten countries, including Canada, initiated the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) to collaboratively develop the next generation of nuclear energy systems that will provide competitively-priced and reliable energy in a safe and sustainable way. The Canadian National Program on Generation IV Energy Technologies (Gen IV National Program) funds and coordinates the nuclear research within Canada that will fulfill Canada's obligations under the GIF treaty. Areas of focus are: Supercritical-Water-Cooled Reactors (SCWR); Very-High-Temperature Reactors (VHTR); and nuclear in non-electricity applications, including hydrogen production.
Priority Area: Bio-based Energy Systems
Bio-based Energy Systems and Technologies – This program supports the development of cost-effective technologies using biomass feedstock to produce bio-energy, bio-fuels, bio-materials, bio-chemicals, and bio-processes to reduce the energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of Canadian industries and provide sustainable energy and product alternatives to consumers. Activities focus mainly on: existing and new biomass supply; biomass conversion and utilization technologies; integrated bio-applications and cross-cutting activities.