Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy Five Year Review Report (Abridged Version) 2013-2018 Prepared for the University of Waterloo Senate Graduate & Research Council Table of Contents 1. Message from the Executive Director......................................................... 1 2. The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy .......................................... 3 2.1 Mission, Vision and Strategic Objectives ............................................................. 4 2.2 WISE Administration ............................................................................................ 5 2.3 WISE by the Numbers ....................................................................................... 12 3. Accomplishments and Impact ................................................................... 14 3.1 Collaborate: Fostering Interdisciplinary Research and Training ................. 16 3.1.1 WISE Research ...................................................................................... 19 3.1.1.1 Energy Generation ................................................................... 19 3.1.1.2 Energy Storage ........................................................................ 25 3.1.1.3 Smart Energy Networks ............................................................ 28 3.1.1.4 Sustainable Mobility ................................................................. 33 3.1.1.5 Global Energy Access .............................................................. 36 3.1.2 Training and Student Development ......................................................... 40 3.2 Reach out: Delivering High Value Partnerships ............................................ 45 3.2.1 Successful Funding Partnerships ............................................................ 48 3.2.2 Funding Proposals in Development ........................................................ 77 3.3 Influence: Mobilizing Knowledge for a Sustainable Society ........................ 93 3.3.1 Conferences and Workshops .................................................................. 96 3.3.2 Public Lecture Series ............................................................................ 108 3.3.3 Media Exposure .................................................................................... 114 3.3.4 Selected WISE Member Publications ................................................... 120 4. Future Directions ...................................................................................... 125 4.1 Context ............................................................................................................ 126 4.2 Priority Areas ................................................................................................... 127 4.2.1 Smart Energy Infrastructure .................................................................. 127 4.2.2 Inclusive Energy Transformation........................................................... 158 4.2.3 Affordable Energy for Humanity ............................................................ 129 4.2.4 Geothermal Energy............................................................................... 130 4.2.5 Interdisciplinary Energy Research ........................................................ 131 5. Financial Summary .................................................................................. 132 5.1 Financial Summary .......................................................................................... 133 5.2 Use of Funds (Fiscal 2014-Fiscal 2019) .......................................................... 135 5.3 Budget Request (Fiscal 2020-Fiscal 2024) ...................................................... 136 6. Appendices ............................................................................................... 138 Appendix I: Letters of Support ............................................................................... 138 Appendix II: WISE Contribution to Strategic Plan .................................................. 148 1. MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1 Section I: Message from the Executive Director MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Senate Graduate & Research Council, I am pleased to submit this report for the period (2013-2018) and requesting your approval for a five year renewal of the mandate of Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE). The report summarizes our achievements over the past five years of research excellence, energy policy leadership and development of the scientific and technical capacity to support national and global initiatives. As we celebrate ten years of our operation as an Institute, we recognize the achievements of our members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of energy research in Canada and globally. Although we are a small group in the global context, the impacts of our work are noticeable because we work effectively by joining hands across disciplines and build bridges over institutional barriers. Our success stories are a testament to the collective strengths of our faculty and our efforts to engage with funding agencies and external partners to grow the scope and scale of energy research at the University of Waterloo. As an Institute, we have been successful in supporting our faculty members across all faculties and continue to foster a strong culture of collaboration across departments to engage in interdisciplinary research projects. The alignment of specific interests of faculty members with the needs of the broader energy sector has created a vast network of positive relationships and engagement both within the university and with external agencies. The Institute has established a solid reputation within the energy community nationally and internationally. Our existing fossil-fuel based energy system delivers light but also casts dark shadows over the health of our environment. Greenhouse gas emissions threaten the integrity of the climate and the biophysical ecosystem. We are driven by a compelling desire to develop energy solutions that will help achieve the transition of the global energy economy to one with a lower carbon footprint. Ensuring access to affordable energy is a key criterion for economic and social well-being. Delivering clean energy to every global citizen without compromising the long-term sustainability of the environment is an equally compelling challenge. The twin goals form the nexus of our work. Collectively, we are animated and committed to developing the right solutions for meeting this challenge: a clean environment with affordable energy access for all. In the following pages, you will read a summary of the accomplishments of our researchers and students through their publications and presentations. We are proud of the efforts of our faculty and their unflinching commitment to work collaboratively. I invite you to read more about the next chapter in our journey, outlined in the ‘Future Directions’ section. Jatin Nathwani, PhD, P.Eng Professor and Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy for Sustainable Energy Executive Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Environment Fellow, Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON For the full (unabridged) report, please click on the link below: Link: https://wise.uwaterloo.ca/download/documents/wise-admin/strategic- plans/senate/new_folder/wise_5_year_report_final_feb25docx~1?attachment=0 2 2. THE WATERLOO INSTITUTE FOR SUSAINABLE ENERGY 3 Section II: The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy 2.1 Mission, Vision and Strategic Objectives WISE was founded in April 2008, building on the University’s longstanding strengths in engineering, science and environmental research. WISE advances the broader priorities of the University of Waterloo, including research excellence, interdisciplinarity, internationalization, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship. Our commitment in this regard includes the submission of a special contribution to the current UW Strategic planning process ‘Bridge to 2020’ (see appendix IX). The institute provides a focal point for energy research at Waterloo and we work to create the best possible research platforms for faculty to test their ideas, engage with their peers, and partner with external organizations to accelerate the pace of research, development and deployment of practical solutions. In the ten years since our founding, WISE has become the face of sustainable energy research at Waterloo, and has established itself as a globally networked and recognized centre for research within the sustainable energy sector. Our vision is simple: clean energy, accessible and affordable for all. Our mission is to conduct original research and develop innovative solutions and policies to help transform the energy system for long-term sustainability. WISE activities continue to be guided by three strategic objectives: 1. Collaborate: To expand opportunities for interdisciplinary sustainable energy research at Waterloo and improve research productivity. This is achieved through supporting a diverse group of energy researchers from across the faculties (WISE members) in scoping new projects, developing the funding and human resources to ensure their success, and assisting with communication about research outcomes. In addition to this, WISE plays a central role in supporting students to become future sustainable energy sector leaders through a variety of research, fellowship, and experiential