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In many ways, this has been the Year of Carbon at the EFL. We need to re-imagine carbon and re-imagine waste to make a substantial reduction in GHG emissions. We have been supporting carbon neutral and carbon positive initiatives as well as refreshing EFL’s portfolio of initiatives to solve interrelated climate, environmental and economic challenges. Reducing carbon emissions from oil and gas assets and leveraging Alberta’s legacy infrastructure are important areas for the Lab. For instance, current and emerging technologies for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) can play an important role in reducing carbon emissions in Alberta. We recently held a CCUS Workshop exploring how to increase momentum and political will while addressing barriers that slow its uptake, such as regulatory uncertainty, funding challenges, and public acceptance. We need to re-imagine carbon and re-imagine waste to make a substantial reduction in GHG emissions. At the end of this month, at SPARK 2019, the EFL will host a session on how to frame a carbon positive conversation while The Natural Step Canada’s President & CEO David Hughes will moderate the panel Leveraging Canada’s Rich Natural Resources to Lead in a Global Circular Economy, exploring the linkages between re-imagining carbon waste and the concept of circularity. There are many ways that EFL Fellows and partners are rethinking the role of oil and gas in a low carbon economy. For example, the work at Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) has been instrumental in developing a pathway for hydrogen produced from natural gas as a promising zero-emissions fuel. The Alberta Zero-Emissions Truck Electrification Collaboration (AZETEC), received $15 million earlier this year to pilot two hydrogen-fueled trucks that will move freight year-round between Edmonton and Calgary. The EFL is supporting these exciting developments by developing an engaged network of key players and enablers towards building a hydrogen economy in Alberta. In order to enable transition, we also need to look at advanced technologies and their intersection with climate and environmental solutions. Since 2018, the RBC Foundation has supported our Energy.AI series to create pilots and projects that employ machine learning and artificial intelligence applications for reducing GHG emissions and addressing climate change. We recently held our Energy.AI3 Accelerator, which advanced three initiatives around increasing efficiency in oil and gas operations through applying AI; improving power system data quality to enable AI applications; and exploring how advanced technologies can help depolarize public discourse on energy. There are many solutions to our environmental and climate challenges in Alberta. We are working to advance high-value initiatives that not only cut emissions, but can even be carbon positive solutions. We need to leverage legacy infrastructure, rethink carbon and waste, while making significant efficiency advancements in our current energy system. Learn more about EFL initiatives here. #Future_Economy #Clean_Technologies #Regional_Pathways #Fellowship #CCUS_Workshop #CCUS #Building_a_Hydrogen_Economy_in_Alberta #Hydrogen #Energy_AI #2019

Reimagining Carbon

In many ways, this has been the Year of Carbon at the EFL. We need to re-imagine carbon and re-imagine waste to make a substantial reduction in GHG emissions. We have been supporting carbon neutral and carbon positive initiatives as well as refreshing EFL’s portfolio of initiatives to solve interrelated climate, environmental and economic challenges. Reducing carbon emissions from oil and gas assets and leveraging Alberta’s legacy infrastructure are important areas for the Lab. For instance,...

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Chad Park’s remarks from the EFL 2.0 launch reception on February 12, 2019 Over the last month something notable happened here in Alberta that not everyone may have heard about. On December 11th, the Canyon Creek Hydro Development Act received Royal Assent, enabling the Alberta Utilities Commission to issue its final approval for the Canyon Creek Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project near Hinton. Alberta can take the bull by the horns and adapt to these changes, get in front of them and reap the benefits that will flow. But only if we look forward and come together on the same level of scale and ambition. This time we will have to do it with a lot more speed. Canyon Creek is notable in that is the first hydro project to be approved by the Alberta Legislature in ten years as well as both the first ever pumped hydro and first ever large-scale energy storage project to be approved in Alberta. It makes use of an abandoned coal mine and incorporates two small off-stream water reservoirs that will be connected by a pipeline with pumps, turbines and generating equipment near the bottom reservoir in a powerhouse. The project will have the capacity to store 75MW for 37 hours of full capacity generation, helping the Alberta grid accommodate increasing production from renewable energy like large-scale wind. This project was led by one of the Fellows of the Energy Futures Lab, Kipp Horton, the President and CEO of Windriver Power Corporation. It exemplifies much of what the EFL stands for and many of the narratives we talked about at the EFL Summit. Perhaps even more notable is that the Canyon Creek Hydro Development Act was passed unanimously in the Alberta legislature. In this polarized environment. Months away from an election call. Congratulations to Kipp and his team and also kudos to the elected officials who saw the importance and opportunity in enabling this project. We need more of this. What it shows us – and what is shown by the attendance at this event by leaders from all four major parties in the Alberta Legislature at the EFL Summit – is that getting it right on these issues is of utmost importance for the future of Alberta. And it IS possible to find common ground and get things done. When the EFL was first conceived a few years ago, it was borne of a belief that despite the highly polarized nature of the public debates surrounding energy issues, there was a story from Alberta that wasn’t being heard and that Albertans would rise to the occasion if given the right opportunity. There were plenty of Albertans from diverse backgrounds – including the oil and gas industry – who not only believed in the science of climate change but who were actively working on solutions. Innovators. Entrepreneurs. Intrapraneurs. Technology experts and social innovators. People who would roll up their sleeves and work together to accelerate progress. These were not “either or” kind of people – pitting one group against another in a “with us or against us” attitude. These were “and” people – who knew we could leverage the many energy assets and talent in this province to become leaders in shaping the energy future. We found them. And it turns out, there are a LOT these kinds of people here. More than we thought. Three years since the first meeting of EFL Fellows, we know that there is a lot more to be done, but we can say that the EFL has exceeded our expectations. pumped hydro energy from an abandoned coal mine, geothermal from oil wells, technology to turn carbon dioxide into useful materials, a start-up IT company partnering with a rural energy coop to enable solar energy solutions on farms, An Albertan renewable energy company building projects in B.C. with First Nations as partners These are the kinds of initiatives being run by the participants in the EFL. The EFL feels like a snowball. From 30 to 60 Fellows From 5 to 16 Convening Partners From 0 to 10 Exemplar Initiatives From almost zero trust to something like 90% trust among Fellows And more than 5000 people engaged through engagements like the EFL Leadership Bootcamp and the Newtonian Shift energy transition simulation game, with the support of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. Forty years ago, Alberta came together with industry and government to bring the oil sands dream into reality, for the economic benefit of all of Canada. The world is changing and some people are saying it is going to leave Alberta behind. The people in this room are not among them. Alberta can take the bull by the horns and adapt to these changes, get in front of them and reap the benefits that will flow. But only if we look forward and come together on the same level of scale and ambition. This time we will have to do it with a lot more speed. The EFL can be a key platform for making this happen. Thank you to all of you for being a part of the story so far and for joining us here today. The snowball is rolling. Let’s keep it going. #Energy_Storage_Pumped_Hydro #Repurposing_Coal_Mines #Pumped_Hydro #Geothermal_From_Oil_Wells #CCUS #Supporting_Albertas_Carbon_Utilization_Innovators #Commercial_Solar #Blockchain_for_Rural_Community_Power_Aggregation #Community_Solar #Geothermal_Energy #Advanced_Materials #Indigenous_Knowledge_Insight_and_Leadership #Leadership_Bootcamp #The_Newtonian_Shift #2019

The snowball is rolling. Let’s keep it going.

Chad Park’s remarks from the EFL 2.0 launch reception on February 12, 2019 Over the last month something notable happened here in Alberta that not everyone may have heard about. On December 11th, the Canyon Creek Hydro Development Act received Royal Assent, enabling the Alberta Utilities Commission to issue its final approval for the Canyon Creek Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project near Hinton. Alberta can take the bull by the horns and adapt to these changes, get in front of them and reap...

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Since January 2019, the EFL has welcomed 25 new Fellows and 19 Convening Partners to advance EFL initiatives and launch EFL 2.0, in which we deepen our work in Alberta and explore how to extend the Lab’s lessons and learning at a national level. With the recent report that Canada’s climate is warming at roughly twice the rate of the rest of the world, more than ever, our country requires bold and collaborative leadership. The EFL has created a neutral platform to overcome divisiveness and to find common ground among divergent groups. We invited leading organizations in different sectors to join EFL 2.0. They responded and delivered. EFL 2.0 is proudly supported by the following Convening Partners: Alberta Innovates Alberta Real Estate Foundation Canada West Foundation Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) Capital Power Cenovus Energy Emissions Reduction Alberta Energy Efficiency Alberta Government of Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy JWN Energy Pembina Institute QUEST RBC Foundation Shell Canada Student Energy Suncor Energy Foundation The Natural Step Canada The leaders of these organizations have signed this inspiring joint letter confirming their support for EFL 2.0 and their commitment to helping advance the important initiatives stewarded by the EFL Fellowship. The EFL Fellows have demonstrated the power of shared leadership, co-creation, and experimentation. We are proud of our Fellows and are excited to announce this impressive group of 25 new Fellows who will contribute alongside the current cohort: Ariane Bourassa, Cenovus Energy Barend Dronkers, Energy Efficiency Alberta Brenda Barritt, Stettler Learning Centre Bryan Helfenbaum, Alberta Innovates Devin Beaton, Nutana Power Diandra Bruised Head, Blood Tribe Land Management Gareth Thomson, Alberta Council for Environmental Education Gordon Giles, Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc. Greg Bennett, AIRIA Cloud, Google Development Group YYC, Atheria Heather Lemon, Alberta Energy Regulator Jaeson Cardiff, CleanO2 Carbon Capture Technologies Jamie Bonham, NEI Investments Jeff Bell, Alberta Economic Development and Trade Jeff Zimmer, ATCO Gas JT Steenkamp, Shell Canada Julia-Maria Becker, Pembina Institute Julie Bunker, QUEST Marla Orenstein, Canada West Foundation Megan Lohmann, Community Energy Association Nneka Bowen, Royal Bank of Canada Olivia Reshetylo, Student Energy Peter Koning, ConocoPhillips Canada Saeed Nusri, ATB Financial Sandra Odendahl, CMC Research Institutes Shelagh Hayes, Western Economic Diversification Canada Welcome to the Energy Futures Lab! #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #EFL_Vision #EFL_Platform #2019

Demonstrating Leadership: New Fellows and Partners Join the EFL

Since January 2019, the EFL has welcomed 25 new Fellows and 19 Convening Partners to advance EFL initiatives and launch EFL 2.0, in which we deepen our work in Alberta and explore how to extend the Lab’s lessons and learning at a national level. With the recent report that Canada’s climate is warming at roughly twice the rate of the rest of the world, more than ever, our country requires bold and collaborative leadership. The EFL has created a neutral platform to overcome divisiveness and to...

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The Energy Futures Lab is an Alberta-based, multi-interest collaboration designed to accelerate the development of a “fit for the future” energy system. It brings together a cohort of influential leaders to address current and emerging energy challenges, and generate opportunities for new initiatives and collaborations. CALGARY, February 11, 2019 – A diverse group of energy innovators and partner organizations will gather at the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) Summit in Calgary on February 12 to officially launch EFL 2.0. The EFL Summit will explore the leadership role that the EFL can play in helping accelerate progress in the context of the urgent need for action and the growing polarization on energy issues in Alberta and Canada. Building on successes and learning from its first phase, EFL 2.0 will see oil and gas executives, cleantech and renewable energy companies, First Nations leaders, environmental groups, academics, and others working together to: Continue to identify, develop and pressure-test innovative solutions for accelerating the transition to the energy system the future requires of us; Strengthen the capacity of business and government to adopt and support such innovative solutions; Align a growing community of leaders and their organizations behind a bold and transformative vision for the future of energy in Canada and the possible transition pathways to achieve it; Inspire and share stories that help depolarize the public conversation about energy in Canada and accelerate progress toward a shared vision. “The energy and climate change debates of the past decade have left Canada polarized in a myriad of ways,” said The Natural Step Canada’s President & CEO David Hughes. “Meanwhile, much of the rest of the world – especially its technology innovators – is racing to a new energy future that will reshape politics, economics, and cultural dynamics around the world. It is a time that requires bold and collaborative leadership.” “Since its launch in 2015, the EFL has proven a unique forum for overcoming divisiveness and finding productive common ground among diverse stakeholders,” says Alison Cretney, EFL Managing Director. “With the launch of EFL 2.0, we are doubling down on this approach and planning to deepen and extend its impact. The Convening Partners of EFL 2.0 are committed to supporting EFL Fellows as they develop exemplar initiatives in response to the question: how can we leverage our leadership position in today’s energy system to create the energy system that the future requires of us? The EFL partners, Fellows, Steering Committee and broader community will mark the transition from EFL 1.0 to EFL 2.0 at the first EFL Summit, which will include a dialogue with federal Natural Resources Minister The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi. Minister Sohi and several Energy Futures Lab partners will be available for a short media scrum at 9:00 a.m. following the Minister’s remarks. Media is invited to the Minister’s dialogue starting at 8:30 a.m at the University of Calgary’s Red & White Club, North end McMahon Stadium. EFL 2.0 is proudly supported by the following Convening Partners: Alberta Innovates Alberta Real Estate Foundation Canada West Foundation Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) Capital Power Cenovus Energy Emissions Reduction Alberta Energy Efficiency Alberta Government of Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy JWN Energy Pembina Institute QUEST RBC Foundation Shell Canada Student Energy Suncor Energy Foundation The Natural Step Canada #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #EFL_Platform #2019

MEDIA RELEASE: Multi-Interest Show of Support as Energy Industry Leaders and Innovators Come Together to Launch Energy Futures Lab 2.0

The Energy Futures Lab is an Alberta-based, multi-interest collaboration designed to accelerate the development of a “fit for the future” energy system. It brings together a cohort of influential leaders to address current and emerging energy challenges, and generate opportunities for new initiatives and collaborations. CALGARY, February 11, 2019 – A diverse group of energy innovators and partner organizations will gather at the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) Summit in Calgary on February 12 to...

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2018: A Good Year Last year was a good year at the EFL. While our team is conscious that there is much to achieve in 2019, let me take a moment to acknowledge a number of accomplishments in 2018. The EFL was recognized as one of the Clean50’s Top 20 projects in Canada for 2018 for its outstanding contribution to clean capitalism. This recognition is grounds for pride in our work and evidence of the unique potential of The Natural Step Canada’s Sustainability Transition Labs overall. Even more impressive is the progress the EFL made in four areas: advancing exemplar initiatives; sharing EFL insight to influence policy; setting up for EFL 2.0; and galvanizing leadership in Alberta and Canada to provide leadership to overcome the growing polarization on energy issues. Advancing EFL Initiatives Significant progress was made on the dozen exemplar initiatives in the EFL portfolio of projects in 2018. Here are a few highlights: What began as an EFL initiative exploring how Canada’s airlines and airports could become a world leader in low-carbon air travel evolved into the WestJet Aviation Biofuel Challenge, delivered by Alberta Innovates. The challenge seeks existing or emerging technology combined with lower cost Alberta biomass to develop a viable, economic solution for producing aviation biofuel in the province. We also launched and piloted the Energy Futures Roadshow in two Albertan communities: Crowsnest Pass and Hinton. The Roadshow brings the combined knowledge, skills, and network of the EFL to support communities in exploring and understanding their unique challenges and opportunities in the face of energy transition. Each Roadshow sparked collaborative initiatives among community members, while developing relationships and a learning cohort across Roadshow communities. We look forward to expanding the Energy Futures Roadshow to four more Albertan communities in 2019. The EFL Accelerators were launched in 2018 as a new way of engaging the EFL community in accelerating the Lab’s exemplar initiatives alongside EFL Fellows. We attracted impressive expertise and talent to the first EFL Accelerator on Mobility in a Low Carbon Future, where we explored specific challenges facing innovators in order to unlock possibilities in four innovation areas: Biojet, Lithium, Hydrogen, and Smart Mobility. The Growing an Alberta Lithium Industry initiative applies oil and gas expertise to unlock the potential of Alberta’s significant lithium resource from oilfield wastewater. As a fundamental component in the batteries of electronics, electric vehicles, and large-scale energy storage, lithium is anticipated to be a key material in a low-carbon economy. The EFL Accelerator session identified what is required to accelerate the current pace of sustainable lithium resource development in order to position Alberta for maximum success in the global market in the coming years. Through the Energy.AI Workshop, we not only explored the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enable Alberta thrive in a competitive low-carbon world, but we also succeeded in engaging the AI community to help find AI solutions to low-carbon and energy transition challenges. Learn about the Energy.AI Workshop findings and stay tuned for more accelerators that will advance EFL actions on community resilience, artificial intelligence, and Indigenous leadership in the energy sector. Helping Policy-makers Backcast from a Desired Future In 2018, the EFL also engaged with two critical stakeholders in the energy ecosystem – the Government of Alberta (GoA) and Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) – to help them take advantage of the diversity and expertise in the EFL Fellowship to test or refine policy ideas. For the GoA, the EFL provided technical feedback to the Department of Energy for its work in developing a strategic outlook for the energy sector – aimed to enable Alberta’s transition to a low-emission economy while ensuring responsible energy development. With ERA, the EFL applied the backcasting method to review the agency’s Technology Roadmap, which guides ERA’s investment strategy for its cleantech portfolio. In both strategic reviews, the EFL and its Fellows were seen as an important source of strategic thinking because of their diverse areas of expertise and the shared “future lens” that they have created together with the EFL vision. Setting up for EFL 2.0 We started the year without knowing for sure that the EFL would continue past 2018. We ended the year with a plan, funding, and partnerships to not only continue but deepen and extend our work together over the next three years (2019-2021). This will include changes in the program design to be able to engage more partners and people in the innovation work of the Lab, and exploring how EFL lessons and learnings might be used to extend our impact in other parts of Canada. To advance EFL 2.0’s ambitions, we have launched a third recruitment wave to attract exceptional leaders and influencers to join the EFL Fellowship. We will officially celebrate EFL 1.0 and mark the shift to EFL 2.0 at the first EFL Summit on Feb 12. At the Summit, we will explore the EFL’s leadership role in accelerating progress in the context of the urgent need for action and the growing polarization on energy issues in Alberta and Canada. While there is a lot to celebrate and be grateful for in 2018, there is no question that 2019 will be a challenging year. Provincial and federal elections mean heightened polarization and greater uncertainty. Regardless, the EFL is committed to continue working with all actors, governments, businesses, and communities to accelerate progress in building the energy system that the future requires of us. We ask you to join us in finding pragmatic and meaningful solutions that respond to the EFL 2.0 convening question: how can we leverage our leadership position in today’s energy system to create the energy system the future requires of us? Spread the word on the EFL Fellowship and apply before Jan 31. See you at the EFL Summit! #Future_Economy #Culture_Shift #Clean_Technologies #Regional_Pathways #Fellowship #Community_Resilience #Alberta_Energy_Narrative_Hearts_and_Minds #ERA_Technology_Roadmap #Bio_Jet #Hinton_Roadshow #Crowsnest_Pass_Roadshow #2019 #Lithium_from_Brine #Sustainable_Aviation_Fuels #Electric_Vehicles #EFL_Vision #Lithium_on_Tap #Energy_AI #Artificial_Intelligence #EFL_Platform #Backcasting

The EFL in 2019, and beyond

2018: A Good Year Last year was a good year at the EFL. While our team is conscious that there is much to achieve in 2019, let me take a moment to acknowledge a number of accomplishments in 2018. The EFL was recognized as one of the Clean50’s Top 20 projects in Canada for 2018 for its outstanding contribution to clean capitalism. This recognition is grounds for pride in our work and evidence of the unique potential of The Natural Step Canada’s Sustainability Transition Labs overall. Even...

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On Tuesday this week, I was interviewed by host Laura Lynch on CBC Radio One’s Vancouver morning show, the Early Edition, for a segment about Alberta. The experience of the interview has me thinking a lot about the challenges we need to overcome in Canada to address energy and climate issues together. The framing for the interview was the recent announcement by Premier Rachel Notley about Alberta temporarily curtailing oil production, set against the messages from this week’s COP meetings in Poland about the urgency to act on climate change and the need to “transition from fossil fuels”. There are a few things I wish I would have said and some questions I wish I would have been asked. I thought I’d write some reflections down in a blog post while they’re still fresh. The main message that I was trying to convey in the interview was that Alberta can be part of the solution on climate and energy issues. Furthermore, the oil and gas industry, where so much capital and talent is currently invested in this province, should be seen as a partner in the development and deployment of climate change solutions. I know that this message is counter-intuitive to most Canadians outside Alberta. And it is self-evident to the many Albertan innovators working in the energy sector. Therein lies one of the core difficulties we have in communicating on this topic. But if we share the view that this issue is urgent, then it follows that we need all hands on deck in the search for solutions. Yes, Alberta needs to diversify its economy both to ensure it is better prepared for a low-carbon emissions global economy and to reduce exposure to the ups and downs in the market of a global commodity over which we have no control. This is happening. Edmonton is becoming a world leading city for innovation in artificial intelligence and in healthcare technologies. Calgary is home to more than 200 renewable energy companies and 100 energy storage companies. Unfortunately, the provincial government’s continued over-reliance on revenues from the oil and gas resource masks the progress that is being made on diversification in the economy overall. Yes, we need to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in Canada. Alberta knows this very well. Alberta has become a hotbed for renewable energy entrepreneurs and investors, as the province phases out coal and develops 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to fulfill its plan to generate 30% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, all of which is expected to generate at least $10.5 billion in new investment by 2030 and 7,000 new jobs, according to Calgary Economic Development. And yet, even if Alberta were to transition to 100% use of renewable energy for electricity, this would not replace the share of Alberta’s economic prosperity currently derived from exporting oil and gas. Our use of renewable energy as consumers is a quite different thing than our export of fossil fuels as producers. The public conversation about transition seems to largely miss this point, suggesting that it is a simple matter of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, as it might be in places where the main questions about energy are largely about consumption. I find it interesting that a message about the need for a transition from fossil fuels, such as the one coming out of COP this week, is often interpreted by many in Canada as a need to transition from the production of fossil fuels, for example in Alberta – with very little emphasis on the need to transition from the consumption or combustion of fossil fuels across the broader economy. This is not to say that Alberta doesn’t have important work to do in better preparing its economy for the future and to make its hydrocarbons cost and carbon competitive. But we must also face the fact that if customers of Alberta’s oil don’t get it from Alberta, that will not lead them to avoid buying oil at all. They will just get it from somewhere else. So curtailing Alberta’s oil and gas production does not address the biggest part of the problem. But stifling the Alberta economy does mean that all Canadians miss out on the economic resources that could be put to use in support of the transition, not to mention the cultural benefit of truly being unified as a country in how we tackle the challenge of climate change. On the other hand, in their frustration about the current situation, Albertans also can’t pretend that we can go back to how things were. The global transition to a low-carbon emissions economy is under way and accelerating. The world’s entrepreneurs and investors know there is big money to be made by those who bring solutions to market. The costs of new technologies are coming down as the scale of their deployment increases, and this is bound to continue. When we frame the issues in “with us or against us” terms about our oil and gas industry, without acknowledging the scale of the challenge we share together as global citizens, we prolong the mistaken view of Alberta being part of the problem instead of part of the solution. We make the situation worse. On top of accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and diversifying the economy in Alberta, let’s also look at major opportunities that exist because of Alberta’s oil and gas sector. Let’s radically reduce emissions in the production of Alberta’s oil and gas, and in so doing leverage the oil and gas industry as development ground for exportable clean technologies and services. Let’s get full value for the fossil fuels we are producing, and invest a big portion of the proceeds into the transition – as they have done in some other oil producing jurisdictions such as Norway. In my view, the polarization on these issues has gotten us into a position where unfortunately a rational discussion is very difficult. It sometimes seems as if our only choices are to phase out the production of fossil fuels as quickly as possible or to completely avoid the challenge of climate change. The difficulty in having a rational discussion on these issues makes me all the more grateful for the work of The Natural Step Canada and, in particular, the Energy Futures Lab (EFL), where people with widely differing points of view have entered gracefully into the uncomfortable, unpopular, and necessary space of the radical middle. The products of that openness and grace so far include tangible exemplar initiatives generated through collaboration among uncommon partners and a shared 2050 vision for Alberta’s energy system. Staying hopeful about the future is critical, and the EFL offers legitimate grounds for hope for anyone willing to pay attention. In the interview today, I would have rather been asked the question, “how can Alberta (and Canada) thrive as we and the rest of the world transition to a low-carbon emissions economy?” I would have answered that we can do so by working together to creatively develop solutions, and that that is far better than pitting us against one another. For inspiration on what that could look like, I might have shared the story of Ian MacGregor, the Albertan energy entrepreneur who recently inspired EFL Fellows with the scale of his vision and investments and the straightforward common sense that appears to guide his work. If I’d had time at the end of the interview, I would have loved to have taken the rare opportunity for an Albertan to address a B.C. audience directly on these issues. I would have been tempted to ask the the good citizens of B.C. not to shun a neighbour for being producers of a product that you yourselves consume. 🙂 But instead of a defensive comment like that and in the spirit of coming together, I would have simply said to the people of B.C. that your neighbour can also be your partner in building the energy system that the future requires of us. #Future_Economy #Culture_Shift #Clean_Technologies #Regional_Pathways #Fellowship #EFL_Platform #EFL_Vision #Artificial_Intelligence #Batteries #Provincial_Policy #Sustainable_Finance #Radical_Middle #2018

Reflections on an Interview with the CBC

On Tuesday this week, I was interviewed by host Laura Lynch on CBC Radio One’s Vancouver morning show, the Early Edition, for a segment about Alberta. The experience of the interview has me thinking a lot about the challenges we need to overcome in Canada to address energy and climate issues together. The framing for the interview was the recent announcement by Premier Rachel Notley about Alberta temporarily curtailing oil production, set against the messages from this week’s COP meetings in...

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The increasing drive towards a low-carbon future is demanding that we look differently at the way we live, eat, commute, and transport goods. Easy, convenient, and relatively affordable mobility is embedded in our lifestyle, which makes changes at scale challenging. This has opened the space for ideas across a range of innovation priorities, including 1) implementing new technologies and supporting cleaner fuels; 2) providing low-carbon mobility options; and 3) applying regulations such as market mechanisms to encourage shifts in consumer behaviours. So how does low-carbon mobility translate into actual actions, especially given that 68% of world population is projected to live in urban areas by 20501? And, perhaps more importantly, what does this mean for Alberta and our future? In Alberta, there have been several organizations engaged in work that explore these questions. For example: The Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) at the University of Calgary researches Canada’s freight sector and suggests that in order to achieve the 2030 and 2050 commitments made in the 2015 Paris climate change accord, “transformative – even disruptive – changes are required in the fueling of freight transport in this country and across North America2.” CESAR believes that the future of freight in Alberta will depend heavily on the use of hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks3. WestJet is another organization looking at low-carbon mobility and recently launched the WestJet Aviation Biofuel Challenge along with Alberta Innovates. This challenge intends to use/develop existing or emerging technologies, using lower cost Alberta biomass, coupled with other complimentary efficient technologies, to scale-up Alberta’s capacity as a leader in the aviation biofuel industry. Earlier this year, a Calgary-based company, E3 Metals, announced that it had reached an important technical milestone that moves it one step closer to being able to extract lithium from oilfield brine. Lithium is an important component in electrical vehicles, and “petro-lithium” represents an innovative approach to leveraging Alberta’s traditional energy assets as the basis for continued strength in a low-carbon future. These organizations are all part of the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) community. On November 20th, 2018 the EFL will convene an EFL Accelerator on Mobility in a Low Carbon Future in collaboration with Alberta Energy. This one-day workshop will examine Alberta’s positioning in relation to the movement of people and goods in a low-carbon future. EFL Accelerators explore unique opportunities with a select group of innovators from government, industry, civil society, and academia that can address challenges and prepare Alberta to thrive in the future. If you would like to participate in the upcoming EFL Accelerator on Mobility in a Low-Carbon Future, please contact Pong Leung at pleung@naturalstep.ca. ___________________ 1UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html 2CESAR: http://www.cesarnet.ca/blog/canada-s-freight-sector-addressing-climate-change-face-disruptive-change 3Truck News:https://www.trucknews.com/sustainability/research-points-to-hydrogen-electric-trucks-as-best-option-for-the-future/1003086938/ #Clean_Technologies #Regional_Pathways #Bio_Fuel #Hydrogen #Bio_Jet #Sustainable_Aviation_Fuels_Roadmap #Electric_Vehicles #Batteries #Lithium_from_Brine #Lithium_on_Tap #2018 #Accelerator_on_Mobility_in_a_Low_Carbon_Future

Mobility in a Low-Carbon Future

The increasing drive towards a low-carbon future is demanding that we look differently at the way we live, eat, commute, and transport goods. Easy, convenient, and relatively affordable mobility is embedded in our lifestyle, which makes changes at scale challenging. This has opened the space for ideas across a range of innovation priorities, including 1) implementing new technologies and supporting cleaner fuels; 2) providing low-carbon mobility options; and 3) applying regulations such as...

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The Energy Futures Lab (EFL) has recently issued a press release to announce that the community of Crowsnest Pass will be the first of five municipalities to host the Energy Futures Roadshow, which will explore what energy transition could look like for Crowsnest Pass. We are excited about partnering with Crowsnest Pass and learning more about this community’s perspectives now and in the future. This initial pilot will involve a diversity of community members, including municipal government, local businesses and economic development authorities, schools, and the public. The Roadshow will take place on October 18 and 19, 2018. Oct 18 – Energy Transition Simulation Through a role-playing simulation, this session will provide an opportunity for participants to experience decades of energy transition in one day. Oct 19 – Community Resilience The second day will feature a guest speaker from the Town of Hinton who will share the town’s experience with community resilience followed by working sessions on economic diversification, technology, and cultural readiness. The Energy Futures Roadshow will conclude with a celebratory community gathering on October 19. We look forward to this engagement with Crowsnest Pass and to partnering with future communities! Registration closes October 5. Sign up today here. Check out the EFL’s press release below. Crowsnest Pass selected to host theEnergy Futures Roadshow The Energy Futures Lab announces Crowsnest Pass as the first of five municipalities to host the Energy Futures Roadshow, exploring what energy transition could look like for Crowsnest Pass. Calgary, AB, September 13, 2018 – The Energy Futures Lab (EFL) is proud to collaborate with the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass on piloting the Energy Futures Roadshow. This will involve a series of engagement activities in the Crowsnest Pass community, inviting municipal government, local businesses, economic development authorities, schools, and the public to join the conversation on energy transition and how it will affect the community. The main engagement session, a two-day workshop, will take place on October 18 and 19 and will provide a facilitated role-playing simulation allowing participants to experience decades of energy transition on the first day. The second day will feature a guest speaker from the Town of Hinton who will share the town’s experience with community resilience, followed by working sessions on economic diversification, technology, and cultural readiness. “There are big opportunities for communities motivated to be leaders in the energy transition. We are excited to collaborate with Crowsnest Pass on community resilience and exploring solutions. There is a lot of community interest in determining what long term success looks like, and I encourage others to join the conversation.” says Alison Cretney, Managing Director for the Energy Futures Lab. This unique engagement has been closely designed with the Crowsnest community, drawing on the tools, resources and networks of the Energy Futures Lab. Over time we hope to see a number of communities across the province connecting to each other and the work of the EFL to strengthen their capacity to seize the benefits of future shifts in our energy system. To register for the Energy Futures Roadshow on October 18 or 19, please sign up through the Roadshow event page. CONTACT INFORMATION For more information, please contact: The EFL at info@energyfutureslab.com; or· Peter Bubik, Vice President of the Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce, at 403-703-1676 and e-mail: peterbubik@pbpower.ca. About the Energy Futures Lab The Energy Futures Lab is an award-winning, multi-stakeholder initiative to accelerate the transition to the energy system that the future requires of us. Initiated in the Fall of 2013, the lab is powered by The Natural Step Canada, in collaboration with the Suncor Energy Foundation, Energy Efficiency Alberta, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Shell Canada, ATB Financial, RBC Foundation, JWN Energy, Government of Alberta and the Pembina Institute. The initiative also involves dozens more organizations in an unprecedented series of innovative partnerships and collaborations. To learn more, please visit www.energyfutureslab.com. Visit The Natural Step Canada at www.naturalstep.ca to learn about our national organization, its Sustainability Transition Labs and other initiatives. #Regional_Pathways #Crowsnest_Pass_Roadshow #Community_Resilience #2018

Crowsnest Pass selected to host the Energy Futures Roadshow

The Energy Futures Lab (EFL) has recently issued a press release to announce that the community of Crowsnest Pass will be the first of five municipalities to host the Energy Futures Roadshow , which will explore what energy transition could look like for Crowsnest Pass. We are excited about partnering with Crowsnest Pass and learning more about this community’s perspectives now and in the future. This initial pilot will involve a diversity of community members, including municipal government,...

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a rapidly developing area of technological advancement over the last 10 years and more, yet it is only very recently that the buzz about its implications and potential for Alberta’s energy sector has really escalated. Why is that? How can artificial intelligence enable Alberta to thrive in a competitive, low-carbon world? Three possible reasons come to mind. First, there is now a far better collection and recording of historical energy data. Harvesting data is essential for AI applications, and it requires planning ahead. Second, the potential for AI to help address critical challenges facing the sector has become more evident. For instance, reducing costs and taking action on climate change and other environmental issues have become vital to business viability in recent years. Third, there has been relatively slow adoption of AI in the energy sector, despite recognition of its potential. A study from consultancy Roland Berger “predicts that AI can reap efficiency gains of a fifth in utilities within five years, yet less than a quarter of industry respondents said their company had a plan to harness the technology.” Alberta is well positioned to be a leader in AI. Existing AI platforms such as the University of Alberta’s Artificial Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII) employ AI and machine learning to advance academic understanding and solve business problems. There have also been a few AI applications in Alberta’s energy system to increase efficiency, automation, and overall productivity. However, the potential of AI is much greater. The World Economic Forum published a full report on harnessing AI for the Earth and solving climate and environmental problems. AI applications range from climate modeling to weather and energy system forecasting to smart grid for electricity use to creating smart transport system as well as intelligent, connected and liveable cities, and much more. The list of opportunities is long. But before jumping to applications and solutions, let’s clarify what is AI and what are the actual possibilities within AI? In his blog post, professor Michael Jordan at UC Berkeley cautions about “the current public dialogue” that “too often uses AI as an intellectual wildcard, one that makes it difficult to reason about the scope and consequences of emerging technology.” He demystifies AI and categorizes it into three main areas: Human-Imitative Artificial Intelligence (HIAI): Technology referring to imitating human voice and cognitive characteristics – similar to Google’s recent voice-imitating personal assistant. Intelligence Augmentation (IA): Augmenting intelligence in machines to assist humans rather than replacing them. Examples include self-driving cars, search engines, and smart homes. Intelligent Infrastructure (II): This deals with connecting multiple devices such as Uber’s intelligent infrastructure of autonomous driving cars or even dating websites. The possibilities are immense in these categories. So how can Alberta’s energy sector take advantage? And, specifically, how can the sector strengthen its capacity to spot opportunities for AI to help solve business challenges? This is what the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) will explore on September 25 in its Energy.AI Workshop: How can artificial intelligence enable Alberta to thrive in a competitive, low-carbon world? Engaging AI innovators to solve Alberta’s energy challenges in a low-carbon world will be essential. So, too, will be engaging potential adopters of these innovations. This workshop will bring together AI innovators with representatives from the energy sector as well as academia and advisory services. The Energy.AI workshop is an invitation-only workshop. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Nagwan Al-Guneid at nalguneid@naturalstep.ca. #Future_Economy #Clean_Technologies #Energy_AI #Artificial_Intelligence #2018

How can artificial intelligence enable Alberta to thrive in a competitive, low-carbon world?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a rapidly developing area of technological advancement over the last 10 years and more, yet it is only very recently that the buzz about its implications and potential for Alberta’s energy sector has really escalated. Why is that? How can artificial intelligence enable Alberta to thrive in a competitive, low-carbon world? Three possible reasons come to mind. First, there is now a far better collection and recording of historical energy data. Harvesting...

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Co-creation, experimentation, and social innovation have been the Energy Futures Lab’s (EFL) core foundational elements since its inception in 2015. Now it is time to build on the foundational work of EFL 1.0 and to work together to design EFL 2.0. Led by 59 Fellows from diverse backgrounds and industries in Alberta, we have outlined a vision for Alberta’s energy system, worked in areas of tension within the energy system, and developed a number of exemplar initiatives that show the possibility of a less polarized path forward on energy issues. Since its design and launch, the Lab’s partners and Fellows have focused their work together on addressing the question: How can Alberta’s leadership position in today’s energy system serve as a platform for transition to the energy system the future requires of us? The EFL has established a platform that convenes diverse voices in the energy system. In our current polarized climate, the Lab has become a trusted bridge-builder, connecting innovators working in different areas of the energy system and taking advantage of their divergent perspectives. The EFL undertaking has been a deliberate, coordinated effort among leaders and influencers in Alberta to find common ground and create exemplar initiatives, showing the way for Alberta to thrive in the midst of shifts in the global energy system. That was the focus in EFL 1.0. Now it is time to build on the foundational work of EFL 1.0 and to work together to design EFL 2.0. While EFL 2.0 will maintain the EFL’s core elements of co-creation, experimentation, and social innovation, the design of EFL 2.0 over the next six months will address opportunities to deepen and extend the Lab’s impact. In EFL 2.0, our intention is to work with partners to continue and deepen the work in Alberta, support efforts to build a pan-Canadian conversation on energy, and explore how to leverage the tools, brand, and lessons from the EFL in other jurisdictions. As we dive deeper into the planning and design work for EFL 2.0. we will explore how best we can leverage what we have created in EFL 1.0 in a way that responds to the needs and opportunities facing us inside and outside of Alberta. Early thoughts about our objectives for EFL 2.0 are as follows and will be further refined with partners and Fellows through the rest of 2018: Continue to support innovators in identifying, developing and pressure-testing solutions for accelerating the transition to the energy system the future requires of us; Strengthen the capacity of business and government to adopt and support innovative solutions; Align a growing community of leaders and their organizations behind a bold and transformative vision for the future of energy in Canada and the possible transition pathways to achieve it; Inspire and share narratives in the public and communities that help depolarize the public conversation about energy in Canada and accelerate progress toward the shared vision developed through the EFL. Having established a shared direction among a diverse range of actors in the energy system in phase 1, our work will be increasingly focused on accelerating the transition. The implication of this is that our convening question for EFL 2.0 may evolve to address this. In any case, we anticipate that the EFL will evolve from: A source of ideas to an agent of market, public, and policy influence. This involves creating more pull for the solutions developed in the Lab, for example, by utilizing the Lab’s platform to explore solutions to partner-issued challenges, while continuing to nurture and support Fellow-driven initiatives. A proof of concept to a generative system. This involves building partnerships to help more Lab initiatives increase their reach and impact to achieve overarching outcomes such as GHG emission reductions, jobs, and investment attraction. A formative coalition to a partnership for deep leadership and learning. This involves focusing on deeper and multi-dimensional relationships with a broader network of organizations that have the expertise and resources to drive energy transition in Alberta and Canada. This is EFL 2.0: as exhilarating as EFL 1.0 yet deeper, broader, and more interconnected. We are excited to close the EFL 1.0 chapter, learn from its lessons, build on its successes, and work with Fellows and past and new convening partners to shape the transition into EFL 2.0 in 2019. This is a defining moment for Alberta and Canada as we grapple with the interconnected issues of energy and climate change. It is also a defining moment for the Energy Futures Lab as we move from one chapter to the next. We invite you all to be part of our EFL 2.0 journey. Follow our initiatives, attend our events and activities, and connect to our network. To help us gather perspective and input to shape the design of EFL 2.0, please consider filling out this quick survey. If your organization is interested in becoming a convening partner in EFL 2.0, please contact me at acretney@naturalstep.ca. #Culture_Shift #EFL_Platform #Electricity #2018

Switching Gears: from EFL 1.0 to EFL 2.0!

Co-creation, experimentation, and social innovation have been the Energy Futures Lab’s (EFL) core foundational elements since its inception in 2015. Now it is time to build on the foundational work of EFL 1.0 and to work together to design EFL 2.0. Led by 59 Fellows from diverse backgrounds and industries in Alberta, we have outlined a vision for Alberta’s energy system, worked in areas of tension within the energy system, and developed a number of exemplar initiatives that show the...

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Amidst the drama of recent pipeline and trade war news, you may be forgiven if you missed another announcement that will be important in shaping Alberta’s economic future. On May 29th, Calgary-based E3 Metals announced that it had reached an important technical milestone that moves it one step closer to being able to extract lithium from oilfield brine. Alberta could become a key supplier of this globally-relevant material on the strength of its petroleum industry. Instead of being perceived as an enemy of the low-carbon emissions economy, oil and gas could be an enabler of it. Those who have followed the Energy Futures Lab will likely be familiar with the story. The idea of Petro-lithium is featured as one of the EFL’s exemplar initiatives. EFL Fellow Liz Lappin is the Vice President, Project Development for E3 Metals and has engaged other EFL Fellows to help advance the idea. E3 Metals’ recent successes have turned heads partly because it makes for such a compelling “radical middle” story. Most of the news on energy these days is the opposite. Headlines and politicians often suggest that we must either be in favour of oil and gas or in favour of a low carbon economy. With us or against us. With that as backdrop, a story like petro-lithium breaks the narrative patterns. Lithium is anticipated to be a key material for a low-carbon emissions economy because it is a component in the batteries for electric vehicles. How powerful, then, that Alberta could become a key supplier of this globally-relevant material on the strength of its petroleum industry. Instead of being perceived as an enemy of the low-carbon emissions economy, oil and gas could be an enabler of it. This exemplifies the idea of leveraging Alberta’s traditional energy assets (not to mention its skilled human resources) to build the energy system that the future requires of us. Petro-lithium also exemplifies something else we have learned a lot about in the Energy Futures Lab: backcasting. Backcasting is a planning practice that starts with identifying the desirable future then works backwards from that point to explore the strategies, actions and investments to achieve that future from the current reality. Backcasting was central to a recent engagement between the EFL and Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), who engaged the EFL Fellowship to review its Technology Roadmap and provide recommendations for further refining it. The Technology Roadmap guides ERA’s investment strategy for its cleantech portfolio – the funds for which are generated through Alberta’s carbon levy that applies to Large Final Emitters under the Carbon Competitiveness Regulation (CICR). The EFL Fellows were seen as an important source of strategic thinking for this review, because of their diverse areas of expertise and also because of the shared “futures lens” that they have created together with the EFL vision. Among the recommendations that Fellows provided to ERA, one of their key suggestions was to “think from the future” i.e. to take a backcasting approach. Applied to investment strategy, backcasting suggests prioritizing investments based on the most effective pathways toward a desired end-state e.g. a vision of a successful Alberta in a low carbon emissions future. This may or may not always align with priorities that emerge based on Alberta’s current emissions profile. As important as reducing current emissions is, if we only shape our investment priorities based on reducing our current emissions, we could miss some of the greatest opportunities for supporting a low carbon emissions economy and for economic diversification. This would be forecasting instead of backcasting, which is unfortunately a far more common approach to planning. Petro-lithium demonstrates the distinction perfectly. Although important, an investment strategy focused exclusively on supporting innovations to reduce emissions associated with our current economy would risk missing the economic development opportunities associated with petro-lithium. Having Alberta become a major player in the burgeoning lithium resource industry could be vital to positioning Alberta for success in a low carbon emissions future. Petro-lithium won’t solve the pipeline or trade issues. But twenty years from now, it could end up being a much more significant part of Alberta’s economic development story. It is at least important to note that as polarization may be intensifying while those wars are waged, the seeds of a new way forward together are being developed right before our eyes. #Future_Economy #Clean_Technologies #Lithium_on_Tap #Lithium_from_Brine #Backcasting #ERA_Technology_Roadmap #Fellowship #2018 #Provincial_Policy #EFL_Vision

Backcasting Applied to Economic Development Strategy: The Petro-lithium Exemplar

Amidst the drama of recent pipeline and trade war news, you may be forgiven if you missed another announcement that will be important in shaping Alberta’s economic future. On May 29th, Calgary-based E3 Metals announced that it had reached an important technical milestone that moves it one step closer to being able to extract lithium from oilfield brine. Alberta could become a key supplier of this globally-relevant material on the strength of its petroleum industry. Instead of being perceived...

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The world is poised for a massive transition in energy production and use. Making this transition will be critical to ensure the long-term sustainability of our environment, economies, and communities. It will be a monumental challenge, but a challenge replete with opportunity. Alberta is ready to lead and Albertan communities are on the front lines As a global leader in energy innovation Alberta is perfectly positioned to lead the transition with a vision of prosperity that is appropriate for the 21st century. A number of initiatives are already underway in Alberta exemplifying the benefits of early engagement in municipal and community-scale energy transition programs. By reducing their carbon emissions, communities can simultaneously drive economic development, innovation, job creation, energy independence, and civic participation. Here are just a couple of examples: Township of Hinton – recently announced a pilot project that will utilize renewable geothermal energy to power the town’s municipal buildings. The project will significantly reduce Hinton’s carbon emissions, create dozens of jobs, and set the course for energy independence and further innovations in large-scale geothermal energy generation while diversifying economic opportunities and job prospects in a town traditionally reliant on the oil and gas industry. Learn more here. The small community of Beaver Lake Cree Nation – is reducing energy dependence and inspiring positive social change. In 2017, 94 solar panels were installed on the roof of the Amisk Community School. The project was paired with a food sovereignty project. A community garden and fruit orchard were also established, which will produce enough fruit to meet the demands of the entire community. Learn more here. The City of Brooks – is working on bringing a gasification plant to the community, which could involve incinerating a huge supply of stockpiled rail ties, to create energy for the southern Alberta city. The gasification process converts the toxic rail ties to syngas, which can be burned much more cleanly. Learn more here. The Energy Futures Lab, seeks to leverage and build on the momentum of Alberta’s leadership, by working directly with local communities to effectively adopt energy transition practices that are uniquely suited to their circumstances. The Lab has recently sought expressions of interest from community leaders in Alberta to have the Energy Futures Roadshow come to local communities and support them in exploring the opportunities and challenges arising from energy transition. Communities can thrive in a low carbon emissions economy, and have the opportunity to plan for resilience, energy independence, and stability in a future marked by uncertainty. Small towns and cities can be leaders, stakeholders, and innovators designing their own plan for the future. #Regional_Pathways #Clean_Technologies #Hinton_Roadshow #Brooks_Roadshow #Geothermal_Energy #Rooftop_Solar #Bio_Fuel #Future_Economy #2018

How can energy transition benefit Alberta communities? And how can your community take advantage?

The world is poised for a massive transition in energy production and use. Making this transition will be critical to ensure the long-term sustainability of our environment, economies, and communities. It will be a monumental challenge, but a challenge replete with opportunity. Alberta is ready to lead and Albertan communities are on the front lines As a global leader in energy innovation Alberta is perfectly positioned to lead the transition with a vision of prosperity that is appropriate...

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Calling all Alberta energy entrepreneurs! We need you and your ideas! In partnership with ATB Financial, we are launching an energy-themed Alberta BoostR campaign and seeking 15-20 projects to participate. What is ATB BoostR?Alberta BoostR is a rewards-based crowdfunding platform from ATB Financial designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Alberta. Through Alberta BoostR, businesses can raise money, test ideas, and gain exposure and market insights from the “crowd” in exchange for a reward – a product, service, or fun/unique experience.Learn more here. Why join the Energy Futures Lab BoostR Campaign? Fund raising: an average successful BoostR campaign usually raises between $10,000 to $20,000, and a few campaigns have hit $50,000. Exposure: the campaigns will be promoted through the online BoostR platform, newsletter, and social media community Corporate Engagement: BoostR will be a great opportunity for the corporate world to learn about your work. Access to a professional ATB advisor: get the help you need to prepare your campaign Any entrepreneur can join BoostR on their own, but by taking part in the Energy Futures Lab’s larger campaign you’ll benefit from: added promotion of ATB and the Energy Futures Lab, creativity and networks of the full EFL Fellowship, access to codeveloped rewards for your project, and a chance to present your project or business at an Alberta BoostR stage event in front of an audience. Is this a good fit for your project or initiative? We are seeking: Projects that help drive Alberta to the energy system our future requires of us. Asks for funding that are directed not to a general cause but to a specific project, with a clear timeline, that benefits a community or the public. Individuals who are highly committed to their initiatives, with the determination to spend the time required to actively promote your campaign. #Clean_Technologies #Future_Economy

Be a part of an Energy Futures Lab ATB BoostR Campaign!

Calling all Alberta energy entrepreneurs! We need you and your ideas! In partnership with ATB Financial, we are launching an energy-themed Alberta BoostR campaign and seeking 15-20 projects to participate. What is ATB BoostR? Alberta BoostR is a rewards-based crowdfunding platform from ATB Financial designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Alberta. Through Alberta BoostR, businesses can raise money, test ideas, and gain exposure and market insights from the “crowd” in exchange for a...

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Alberta is poised for a big leap forward in energy innovation. This will be on display in early November at SPARK 2017, a two-day conference in Edmonton co-hosted by Emissions Reductions Alberta (ERA) and Alberta Innovates (AI). Many EFL partners and Fellows will be taking part in the event. In preparation for SPARK 2017, Energy Futures Lab Director and Chief Innovation Officer of The Natural Step Canada, Chad Park sat down with Steve Macdonald, ERA’s Chief Executive Officer and EFL Steering Committee Member, and Elizabeth Shirt, ERA’s Executive Director of Policy and Strategy and an EFL Fellow. “Partnerships are critical to success. It is fundamentally important to us because we are just one piece of the puzzle. Our role is not just about technology readiness, it also has to be about commercialization readiness. It takes many hands to make that happen.” “That hits the concept of a complete solution. It’s not just about technology. It’s about the supply chain, legal and regulatory frameworks, financing, market conditions, the management team and social innovation. You need innovation in all of these areas to ensure success.” Please describe ERA’s mandate and approach. ERA’s mandate is to identify and accelerate development of innovative solutions that reduce GHGs and secure Alberta’s success in a lower carbon economy. Our search for solutions includes all sectors and current sources of emissions, including electricity generation, agriculture and forestry, industrial processes and fossil fuel supply. Notably, the majority of our projects are delivered by small and medium sized companies, the core foundation of any sustainable economic transition. To date, ERA has committed more than $327 million in funding to over 120 projects with a total value of over $2 billion. How do you work with other entities in Alberta such as Alberta Innovates? Partnerships are critical to success. It is fundamentally important to us because we are just one piece of the puzzle. Our role is not just about technology readiness, it also has to be about commercialization readiness. It takes many hands to make that happen. In terms of the partnership with Alberta Innovates (AI). It’s really important because AI also has the ability to take action from an investment standpoint. We leverage their technical expertise to ensure our investments both align with and meet shared technical and commercial expectations. We’re not partners just on paper, but in a very practical, operational sense. What’s one thing that excites you about energy transition in Alberta and one thing that concerns you? The alignment of industry, government and the entire ecosystem, saying we need to do better. No one is debating the need for action. That’s what excites us. You rarely get that alignment. What concerns us is whether we are prepared to make tough choices. We all agree we need to do something. But, what do we want to prioritize? If we don’t make choices and instead try to do everything, we’ll overwhelm ourselves. We are optimistic, though, and SPARK will be part of developing that sense of alignment around priorities. From your perspective, what are the most promising emerging technological solutions? In the oil sands industry, some of the solvent-based technologies are very promising. Reducing the amount of steam and heat used during oil sands production directly reduces the GHG emissions, and has enormous potential. Novel steam generation technologies that can reduce or eliminate the need for intensive water treatment also provide strong opportunities for the sector. On the methane side, there are some interesting technologies around monitoring and detection. We can’t effectively monitor progress or calibrate where we are right now without additional measuring and monitoring capacity. So, some of those projects we’re supporting in terms of remote sensing, satellite imaging, are very exciting. On our grand challenge, we see some really interesting carbon utilization technologies that will transform carbon dioxide from a waste material to an asset. There are some people who would ask why you are spending any money at all on oil sands. Why is it important to continue investing in that area? Two reasons, one is that it’s currently the largest source of emissions for Alberta. The transition to a greener economy is happening, and in the interim you need some results in that sector. It is likely that hydrocarbons will be a significant part of the world’s energy needs until 2050 or beyond. So, we need to look at all emissions sources, including oil sands. Secondly, the solutions that the oil sands sector is looking for and developing — how to reduce energy consumption, waste water management and waste to heat — are applicable in other sectors. It really is about the transition to a greener economy by learning from each other across sectors. We’ve talked a fair bit about technological innovation. What role do you see for social innovation? That hits the concept of a complete solution. It’s not just about technology. It’s about the supply chain, legal and regulatory frameworks, financing, market conditions, the management team and social innovation. You need innovation in all of these areas to ensure success. The initiatives of the Energy Futures Lab, for example, are really important because experimentation allows you to understand and test ideas with all these conditions in mind. It’s not just engineers who solve problems — it’s a diversity of backgrounds. There is a human element to this, creating a market pull for a consumer to say they want new products, and finding new ways to engage with one another to find better solutions. To tie it back to SPARK, we have programming at the plenary level about financing and funding models – how do you get the money to the idea? We have conversations about what does the market place want? You have to have a customer at the end of that development chain. It’s an expensive hobby if you’re not investing in something that the market needs. We’re framing conversations in the SPARK conference to try and tease out the other aspects beyond and in support of the technology. There are a number of innovation type of events happening right now. Why do you think SPARK is unique? If you want to learn how innovation can be a catalyst for clean technology scale-up and emissions reduction you should attend. SPARK is a place to be inspired by fresh thinking or hear different perspectives that can spark the movement we are creating to de-risk and deploy new technologies in Alberta, create more jobs and adapt policies and regulations that can help us achieve our goals. SPARK is about putting the conditions for success in place. Whether you’re looking for solutions in technology, policy, regulation, or financing, this is the place to have those conversations. What role do you see for the EFL in all of this and what advice do you have for the Fellows? EFL is very unique due to the breadth of its membership. You need spaces to have comprehensive, broad conversations. Welcome the dissidents and the tension because that’s a necessary part of building sustainability. You’re managing risk better for all of us because you have people asking, “What about this? What about that?” The EFL is almost like a one-stop shop for multi-stakeholder consultation. Instead of taking six months elsewhere, you could come into the room at once and get broad and informed perspectives. No one organization or individual can think this all through so that’s a really huge asset that EFL brings to the table. Someone can say “I’ve got this idea, I need to test it but I need the more than the usual suspects to inform our thinking.” The EFL purposefully built itself into that very turnkey forum and that is a huge asset for Alberta. #Future_Economy #Regional_Pathways #Clean_Technologies #Bitumen_Beyond_Combustion #Bitumen_Scenarios_to_2050 #Supporting_Albertas_Carbon_Utilization_Innovators #CCUS

When Social Innovation Meets Technology Innovation: SPARK 2017 and the Energy Futures Lab

Alberta is poised for a big leap forward in energy innovation. This will be on display in early November at SPARK 2017 , a two-day conference in Edmonton co-hosted by Emissions Reductions Alberta (ERA) and Alberta Innovates (AI). Many EFL partners and Fellows will be taking part in the event. In preparation for SPARK 2017, Energy Futures Lab Director and Chief Innovation Officer of The Natural Step Canada, Chad Park sat down with Steve Macdonald, ERA’s Chief Executive Officer and EFL...

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The Clean50’s Top 20 projects for 2018 have been announced and the Energy Futures Lab is one of them. The list recognizes outstanding contributors to clean capitalism. Ottawa, ON – September 25, 2017 – The Natural Step Canada is proud to announce that the Energy Futures Lab has been named one of Canada’s Top 20 Projects by the Clean50 Awards for outstanding contributors to clean capitalism. The Energy Futures lab explores this question: How can Alberta’s leadership role in today’s energy system serve as a platform for transition to the energy system the future needs? It is a groundbreaking, Alberta-based multi-stakeholder initiative addressing the deeply polarized and polarizing nature of public dialogue on energy issues. “This sustainability-driven innovation-focused project simply wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration and support of a diverse group of stakeholders including Suncor Energy Foundation, Government of Alberta, the Pembina Institute, Banff Centre, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Shell Canada, ATB Financial, and Landmark Group of Builders” says David Hughes, President & CEO of The Natural Step Canada, the organization who initiated this effort back in 2013. Today the Energy Futures Lab brings together an impressive group of Fellows made up of over 50 energy innovators and influencers from government, industry, non-profits, First Nations, and other sectors and communities across Alberta. “We continue to be inspired by the unified vision our Energy Futures Lab fellows have as it relates to accelerating the transition to the energy system of Alberta’s future” says Chad Park, Lab Director. Together this group is launching and scaling up over a dozen collaborative initiatives including: the Solar Skills campaign, which trains oil and gas workers and indigenous community members in solar installation; an initiative to convert oil wells into geothermal heat sources; and the Indigenous Renewable Energy Circle, exploring how best to contribute to Indigenous communities’ leadership in alternative energy development. Another group of fellows is working on tools to help municipal governments and economic development agencies across Alberta develop a clearer understanding of the emerging energy transition and how their communities can get more involved. Fellows from the oil sands industry, tech, research, and government have developed a framework for collaborating to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of the oil sands, while increasing profitability that supports continued prosperity for Alberta. While this project was conceived in Alberta, for Alberta, it is built on a foundation of knowledge cultivated by The Natural Step over the past 30 years here in Canada and abroad. The organization’s expertise in sustainability-driven innovation is deeply embedded in its Sustainability Transition Labs. “Energy — and the idea of developing an economy that thrives within nature’s limits — isn’t a provincial issue alone, but rather is a national and global one.” says Hughes. “We’d like to see this serve as a model for future labs in communities all across Canada”. Read more about the Energy Futures Lab at Clean50.com. About The Natural Step Canada The Natural Step Canada is a national charity whose mission is to accelerate the transition to a TRULY sustainable society that thrives within nature’s limits. Through our academy, advisory services and Sustainability Transition Labs we use best-in-class science, systems-thinking and facilitation to help individuals and organizations collaborate, solve complex problems, foster innovation, optimize performance, and drive systems change. To learn more go to naturalstep.ca and check out our current Sustainability Transition Labs at energyfutureslab.com, circulareconomylab.com, and naturalcapitallab.com. For further information: contact Tyler Seed at tseed@naturalstep.ca – 647.707.4735 #Culture_Shift #EFL_Platform #EFL_Vision #2017

Energy Futures Lab named by Clean50 one of Canada’s Top 20 Projects for 2018

The Clean50’s Top 20 projects for 2018 have been announced and the Energy Futures Lab is one of them. The list recognizes outstanding contributors to clean capitalism. Ottawa, ON – September 25, 2017 – The Natural Step Canada is proud to announce that the Energy Futures Lab has been named one of Canada’s Top 20 Projects by the Clean50 Awards for outstanding contributors to clean capitalism. The Energy Futures lab explores this question: How can Alberta’s leadership role in today’s energy...

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It’s time for a demonstration. It will take place in the village of Valemount, BC. The project, the first of its kind in Canada, is called Sustainaville and will demonstrate that geothermal energy (heat from the earth) can be used to “grow a whole community”. “Warm geothermal water can support greenhouses but can also support initiatives like a brewery or shrimp farm. This fully renewable resource can serve several tiers of need in the community before being recycled to do it again!” – Alison Thompson Geothermal energy will transform Valemount by providing locally grown food using geothermal greenhouses, micro-power for commercial uses, and heat for eco-tourism attractions such as Hot Pools, all with minimal carbon footprint. In the third phase of the development, the project will generate 15MW of power for the community and to the grid, eliminating the current and constant issue of brownouts in the community. The Sustainaville GeoPark has been designed to build on the success of world class projects in Iceland, USA and Kenya which are using geothermal systems to support industrial processes, commercial applications and households. “The geothermal energy industry in Canada has had a slow start and as a country we are decades behind the global leaders yet we have world leading geology,” says Alison Thompson, Principal of Borealis GeoPower and Energy Futures Lab Fellow. Borealis was recently recognized by Environment Minister Catherine McKenna as Canada’s leading geothermal companies. The Sustainaville GeoPark concept goes beyond merely using geothermal energy for heating and energy. “Geothermal has the potential to help decouple the food chain from fossil fuels, “ says Alison. “Warm geothermal water can support greenhouses but can also support initiatives like a brewery or shrimp farm. This fully renewable resource can serve several tiers of need in the community before being recycled to do it again.” “According to the Alberta government in 2010, 79% of growers in the province used natural gas. In almost every case, warm geothermal water, plentiful right across the country, could have been substituted as the source of heat,” says Alison. “In an era where 10 calories of oil are used to produce 1 calorie of food, there is a renewable alternative.” Globally, geothermal power plants currently meet the electricity needs of 60 million people. Companies drill underground for hot water or steam similar to the process of drilling for oil. The heat is brought to the surface and used to spin turbines. The water is then returned underground where it is naturally reheated. The Sustainaville project applies Alberta honed oil & gas reservoir modelling and drilling talent. The main reason the project is in B.C. is because they have a geothermal program in place for companies to develop electricity, while Alberta does not. If successful, the project could point to a less costly and quicker development path that would allow for similar projects in some 203 communities, including 78 First Nations communities, who have been identified as potential replication sites. This project is also the only Canadian geothermal energy project accessible to the public to financially participate in on the TSX. Sustainaville is one of the innovations underway in the Energy Futures Lab’s (EFL’s) Innovation Pathways. In this case it’s the Deployment of Distributed Renewables pathway. The Lab has nine pathways where EFL Fellows come together to innovate, experiment and collaborate toward the Lab’s collective vision of an Alberta energy system that is fit for the future, and where production and consumption is guided by science and aligns with the principles of sustainability. “It’s been good to be associated with the EFL as a Fellow. Connecting with colleagues, peers and supporters was encouraging and gave me new ideas”, says Alison. You’ll be hearing a lot more about the initiatives being developed in the Lab in the coming year as the EFL continues to build momentum for a transition to the energy system our future requires. #Clean_Technologies #Regional_Pathways #Sustainaville_Geo_Park #2017 #Geothermal_Energy

Sustainaville – Canada’s First GeoPark

It’s time for a demonstration. It will take place in the village of Valemount, BC. The project, the first of its kind in Canada, is called Sustainaville and will demonstrate that geothermal energy (heat from the earth) can be used to “grow a whole community”. “Warm geothermal water can support greenhouses but can also support initiatives like a brewery or shrimp farm. This fully renewable resource can serve several tiers of need in the community before being recycled to do it again!” –...

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Shell Canada’s Chris Fry has been a Fellow in the Energy Futures Lab since its inception. “I wanted to get involved because I felt it was important to include Indigenous voices in the Lab when talking about Alberta’s energy future,” says Chris. “I’ve gained a network and an understanding of just how complex the issues are in energy transition”. “Through the Lab I’ve learned backcasting and gained new skills in strategic planning and collaborating with people who have different perspectives, I’ve had the opportunity to do some work with Shell’s New Energies Group and put some of these skills to use.” – Chris Fry One of the greatest lessons has been his discovery that there isn’t a comprehensive resource or organization led by Indigenous peoples that is advocating for alternative energy leadership. So Chris has partnered with several other Energy Futures Lab Fellows on an initiative called Accelerating Indigenous Energy Entrepreneurs. “It’s been exciting to work with a bunch of folks on our initiative. Right now we’re developing a guidebook for Nations that will serve as a resource to promote renewable energy development,” says Chris. Their initiative aims to support Indigenous communities’ leadership and entrepreneurship in alternative energy development in culturally and spiritually suitable ways. Outcomes include learning journeys documented by an Indigenous storyteller, business incubation and acceleration and an entrepreneurs’ network. The team meets weekly by phone to advance their work and is currently seeking funding. Chris has also taken lessons from the Lab back to Shell. “Through the Lab I’ve learned backcasting and gained new skills in strategic planning and collaborating with people who have different perspectives,” says Chris. “I’ve had the opportunity to do some work with Shell’s New Energies Group and put some of these skills to use.” In addition to working for Shell as an External Relations Advisor, Chris also co-teaches Resource Development in Aboriginal communities for the Aboriginal Relations Leadership certificate offered through the University of Calgary. He has a Masters of Science degree in Sustainable Energy Development. Shell recently contributed $50,000 to support the work of The Natural Step Canada’s Energy Futures Lab. __________________________________ Shell Canada Limited Shell has been operating in Canada for over 100 years and employs more than 4,000 people across the country. Our business is providing energy to Canadians and people around the world, and we are one of the few truly integrated oil and gas companies in Canada. This means we do everything from exploring for oil and gas, production, refining, the manufacturing process, and delivery to our customers at over 1,200 retail stations across Canada. Learn more at www.shell.ca. #Future_Economy #Culture_Shift #Accelerating_Indigenous_Energy_Entrepreneurs #2017 #Indigenous_Knowledge_Insight_and_Leadership

Accelerating Indigenous Energy Entrepreneurs

Shell Canada’s Chris Fry has been a Fellow in the Energy Futures Lab since its inception. “I wanted to get involved because I felt it was important to include Indigenous voices in the Lab when talking about Alberta’s energy future,” says Chris. “I’ve gained a network and an understanding of just how complex the issues are in energy transition”. “Through the Lab I’ve learned backcasting and gained new skills in strategic planning and collaborating with people who have different perspectives,...

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This spring the Energy Futures Lab welcomed 13 new Fellows. Together with the 12 who joined earlier in 2017, the new cohort adds energy and fresh perspectives to the Energy Futures Lab. Please welcome our second 2017 intake of Fellows to the Energy Futures Lab! With the EFL Fellowship we are assembling an influential network capable of tackling the complexity and polarization of today’s energy challenges. In selecting these new Fellows, we aimed to increase the diversity of representation in the lab from, for example, rural Alberta and Albertans of Indigenous heritage. All new Fellows attend a Leadership Bootcamp which includes the Newtonian Shift energy transition simulation. Bootcamps are also open to anyone interested playing an active role in shaping Alberta’s energy system and its future. Please welcome our second 2017 intake of Fellows to the Energy Futures Lab! Siamak Khorrami, Senior Business Innovation Manager, ATB Financial Dr. Connie Van der Byl, Director, Institute for Environmental Sustainability, Mount Royal University Geoffrey Tauvette, Director, Environment and Fuel, WestJet Ronald Bettin, Co-Founder, ReSourceYYC Jesse Toor, Manager, Innovation and Diversification, Energy Transition and Policy Innovation (Alberta CoLab), Alberta Energy Trevor McLeod, Director, Natural Resources Centre, Canada West Foundation Lisa White, Environmental Planning, Clifton Associates Prageet Nibber, Co-Founder, ReWatt Power Cole Nychka, Manager, Regulatory, ATCO Gas Maggie Hanna, President, Innovation and Technology Scout, Common Ground Energy Deanna Burgart, President, Indigenous Engineering Inclusion Inc.Cheryl Cardinal, President/CEO, Indigenous Centre of Energy Joanne Fedeyko, CEO, Connection Silicon Valley Meet all EFL Fellows. The Fellowship met in Canmore in late May for a three day workshop.Over the summer they will be refining their shared vision of Alberta’s energy future and objectives for the next year, while continuing work on their collaborative initiatives in the EFL innovation pathways. #Fellowship #Culture_Shift

Energy Futures Lab Now Features 58 Fellows

This spring the Energy Futures Lab welcomed 13 new Fellows. Together with the 12 who joined earlier in 2017, the new cohort adds energy and fresh perspectives to the Energy Futures Lab. Please welcome our second 2017 intake of Fellows to the Energy Futures Lab! With the EFL Fellowship we are assembling an influential network capable of tackling the complexity and polarization of today’s energy challenges. In selecting these new Fellows, we aimed to increase the diversity of representation in...

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Oil and gas versus renewables? That’s a false dichotomy, according to the Energy Futures Lab (EFL), an initiative that acknowledges the importance of Alberta’s significant natural advantage in fossil fuels and how it can be used as a stepping stone to a cleaner energy future. The Energy Futures Lab is designed to allow stakeholders to engage with one another about Canada’s energy future, to find some common ground, and to take action together. – Chad Park “The issues around environment and energy are complex and highly polarized,” says Chad Park, director of EFL, which is a project of national charity The Natural Step Canada. “The polarization creates problems whether you’re an energy company trying to get a pipeline built for market access or an environmental group promoting better climate policy. The most challenging issues around sustainable development can’t be solved by any single organization. The Energy Futures Lab is designed to allow stakeholders to engage with one another about Canada’s energy future, to find some common ground, and to take action together.” He refers to EFL as a “social innovation,” which he says needs to be a focus along with pursuing technological solutions. “No single step is going to take us to a sustainable energy economy,” he says. “We might disagree on the pace of that transition but we have to recognize ways that we can work with each other to achieve a desired future state using science-based principles. Many oil and gas companies are working hard to reduce emissions and, as energy companies, they’re interested in supplying energy in a low-carbon future.” EFL participant Apoorv Sinha has his feet planted in both worlds. He’s a research manager at zEroCor Technologies Inc., a Calgary-based oilfield service company, and leader of Carbon Upcycling Technologies (CUT), a spinoff company looking to harvest carbon nanoparticles from sequestered CO2. “Efficiency and reduction of waste is our vision, in whichever industry we’re working,” says Sinha. “As an oilfield services company, we’re producing tubing, coatings and additives that reduce corrosion and make oilfield production more energy-efficient. At CUT, we’re working to sequester CO2, while creating high-quality carbon nano-materials.” The company’s process exposes carbon sources such as graphite and coal to gaseous CO2 to produce a wide range of custom-designed carbon nano-materials. These materials show significant promise in making stronger concrete, reducing corrosion in metals and improving the efficiency of commercial solar panels. They can also be used as precise and non-toxic delivery systems for pharmaceuticals targeting cancer cells. “When you talk about taking CO2 particles that would wind up in the atmosphere and using them to make next-generation pharmaceuticals, it’s a paradigm shift for most people,” says Sinha. “But there’s no juxtaposition between our oilfield services business and our carbon up-cycling technologies. It’s all about making the world run more efficiently.” Innovation is working not just in the realm of physical resources, but human resources, too. Lliam Hildebrand is a director of strategy for Iron & Earth, a not-for-profit dedicated to ensuring that the skillsets developed by workers in the oil patch can be adapted to renewable energy projects. “Canada has a workforce ready to meet the challenges of both types of projects,” he says. Hildebrand is a boilermaker by trade and has worked on projects as diverse as fabricating pressure vessels, flare stacks and biomass stations. Iron & Earth advocates for programs designed to rapidly train oil sands workers to adapt their skills to renewable projects involving wind and solar power, for example. “We want to ensure that a transition to a net-zero economy takes skilled workers along for the ride,” he says. “We also advocate for integrating renewable energy technologies into existing energy infrastructure. There are 400,000 holes in Alberta, dug into warm sedimentary sand that could be right for geothermal energy projects. Oilfield pumpjacks could be powered by solar energy. There are a lot of opportunities out there.” Iron & Earth’s involvement with EFL has already netted partners to contribute to its Solar Skills project. A partnership with MetalBoss Industries is looking for a retooling grant to allow the company to manufacture solar energy racking components. It’s a mindset Park embraces. “Instead of dwelling on the debates of the past,” he says, “we can use strengths in Alberta’s energy sector as a platform to the future.” #Clean_Technologies #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #EFL_Platform #Advanced_Materials #CCUS #Workforce_Readiness #Geothermal_Energy #2017

The Energy Futures Lab looks for common ground in energy debate

Oil and gas versus renewables? That’s a false dichotomy, according to the Energy Futures Lab (EFL), an initiative that acknowledges the importance of Alberta’s significant natural advantage in fossil fuels and how it can be used as a stepping stone to a cleaner energy future. The Energy Futures Lab is designed to allow stakeholders to engage with one another about Canada’s energy future, to find some common ground, and to take action together. – Chad Park “The issues around environment and...

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Innovating Alberta’s Energy Future Showcase explores ways Alberta will lead the transition to a low carbon future “There are so many amazing projects in the works that are going to help with the challenge of building the energy system of Alberta’s future. I’m excited to learn more about this groundbreaking work by the EFL Fellows.” – Andrew Ference CALGARY, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ – A diverse group of innovators and influencers will take the stage April 19 to share their ideas and work to help shape Alberta’s energy future. Presenters will include oil and gas executives working on innovations to dramatically reduce emissions in energy production, a First Nations leader helping bring renewable energy to his community, and an Albertan entrepreneur who is a semi-finalist in the global Carbon XPrize competition to find technologies to turn CO2 emissions into valuable products. Presented by the The Natural Step Canada’s Energy Futures Lab (EFL), the Innovating Alberta’s Energy Future Showcase celebrates some of the most groundbreaking work of the EFL Fellows, a diverse group of leaders from industry, government, First Nations, civil society, and academia. Join Mayor Naheed Nenshi for his opening remarks, followed by an afternoon of thought-provoking presentations, cultural performances, and a compelling panel exchange. Immediately prior to the event Andrew Ference, a former Stanley Cup champion who has played with the Calgary Flames and served as captain of the Edmonton Oilers, will try his hand at the Newtonian Shift, an engrossing role playing board game that condenses decades of energy transition into hours of exploration. Ference, who started working on environmental issues after surfing in polluted waters off California, is personally committed to sustainable development. “There are so many amazing projects in the works that are going to help with the challenge of building the energy system of Alberta’s future,” says Ference. “I’m excited to learn more about this groundbreaking work by the EFL Fellows.” After the presentations, Ference will be part of the panel along with Melina Laboucan-Massimo from the Lubicon Cree First Nation; Arlene Strom, VP Sustainability & Communications at Suncor Energy Inc.; and Nicholas Parker, co-founder Global Acceleration Partners and a pioneer in cleantech venture capital. “Energy issues are not as ‘black and white’ as they seem, and Alberta has a very different story to tell,” says Chad Park, Chief Innovation Officer of The Natural Step and Director of the Energy Futures Lab. “With polarized debates about energy as a backdrop, more people are joining us here in the very colourful middle ground and working together to find ways for Alberta to lead in the transition to a low carbon future.” Innovating Alberta’s Energy Future Showcase Wednesday, April 19, Jack Singer Concert Hall 12:30 pm Media availability with Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Andrew Ference, Nicholas Parker, and the EFL Fellows plus brief demonstration of role playing board game, the Newtonian Shift. 1:00 Showcase begins ~1:15 Mayor Nenshi opening remarks 1:20 Round 1 EFL Fellows presentations 2:05 BREAK 2:45 Round 2 EFL Fellows presentations 3:25 BREAK 4:00 Panel with Andrew Ference, Nicholas Parker, Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Arlene Strom The Energy Futures Lab is an Alberta-based, multi-interest collaboration designed to accelerate the development of a “fit for the future” energy system. Alberta’s energy system is at the centre of the most complex, fragmented and divisive debates. From disputes about market access for Alberta’s oil, to disagreements about the most strategic approaches to address climate change, to controversies about the health and wellbeing of affected communities, energy system pressures are impacting all stakeholders. In response, the Energy Futures Lab has brought together a diverse group of innovators and influencers shaping the energy system to discuss, experiment and innovate. The lab is powered by The Natural Step Canada and supported by the Suncor Energy Foundation, the Government of Alberta, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Landmark Group of Builders, ATB Financial, Shell, and the Jarislowsky Foundation. Additional partners include the Pembina Institute, and the Banff Centre. The Natural Step Canada is a national charity whose mission is to accelerate the transition to a TRULY sustainable society that thrives within nature’s limits. Through our academy, advisory services and Sustainability Transition Labs we use best-in-class science, systems-thinking and facilitation to help individuals and organizations collaborate, solve complex problems, foster innovation, optimize performance and drive systems change. #Culture_Shift #Clean_Technologies #Regional_Pathways #2017_Showcase #The_Newtonian_Shift #Radical_Middle #Sustainable_Finance #2017

Press Release: Oil and gas executives working with cleantech and renewable energy entrepreneurs, environmentalists and other unlikely allies

Innovating Alberta’s Energy Future Showcase explores ways Alberta will lead the transition to a low carbon future “There are so many amazing projects in the works that are going to help with the challenge of building the energy system of Alberta’s future. I’m excited to learn more about this groundbreaking work by the EFL Fellows.” – Andrew Ference CALGARY, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ – A diverse group of innovators and influencers will take the stage April 19 to share their ideas and work to help...

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We gratefully acknowledge the original territories of the Siksikáwa, Îyârhe Nakodabi, and Tsuut’ina Dene, of Mohkínstsisakápiyoyis, Wincheesh-pah, Kootsisáw, or the colonized lands which many now refer to as Calgary, where the Energy Futures Lab is headquartered. These Lands are also home to members of the Métis Nation of Alberta under the Otipemisiwak Métis Government — District 4 & 5, whose peoples have deep relationships with the land. This reminds all of us to walk in a good way and remember our commitments to Indigenous Peoples.

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The Energy Futures Lab is a platform for shaping the people-powered solutions to Canada's most complex energy challenges.

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