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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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For the last few months, the Energy Futures Lab has been in recruitment mode, searching for promising leaders and influencers from across Alberta’s energy landscape to join the EFL Fellowship. We can’t wait to see the ingenuity and energy that the new cohort brings to the EFL Innovation Pathways. Why is the EFL actively seeking new Fellows? Because Alberta and Canada need bold innovators to play a leading role in identifying, testing and scaling creative energy initiatives that will have a lasting impact on Albertans and Canadians. We also sensed a need for more diversity, and to close gaps in representation within the Fellowship. The newest EFL Fellows bring increased representation from entrepreneurs, rural Alberta, women, and the technology sector. We are still seeking more Indigenous representation as well as leaders from the utilities and finance sectors to join the Fellowship. The new Fellows have embarked on an exciting journey, where they will co-create solutions and initiatives. Systems-thinking is crucial to gaining insight into the evolution of Alberta’s energy system. For that, the new Fellows participate in the Newtonian Shift simulation and the Leadership Bootcamp as well as attend a number of Energy Futures Lab workshops. New Fellows join our veteran EFL Fellows in supporting and scaling initiatives of the Lab. We can’t wait to see the ingenuity and energy that the new cohort brings to the EFL Innovation Pathways. I am proud to announce the first intake of EFL 2017 Fellows. Welcome to the Energy Futures Lab! Candice Paton, Alberta Innovates Chelsea Erhardt, Capital Power Corporation Cor Koster, GP JOULE Canada Elizabeth (Liz) Lappin, Castle Rock Consulting Ltd. Elizabeth Shirt, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) Gary Millard, Shell Canada Ltd. Juli Rohl, The Alberta ReGeneration Project James Van Leeuwen, Ventus Development Services Inc. Laura Kennett, Enbridge Maja Veljkovic, IBM Melanie Popp, Alberta Innovation Engine Patricia Bourne, EQUS REA LTD. Meet all EFL Fellows. Feature Energy Futures Lab Fellow Meet Patricia Bourne, CEO of EQUS REA LTD., a rural-based power cooperative that distributes electricity to more than 12,000 homes and businesses across a large part of rural Alberta. Almost 25 years ago, she started as the first employee of CAREA, one of the predecessors of EQUS. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from one employee to over one hundred. She has won a Woman’s Award of Excellence in Business and the Professions in Central Alberta and has recently been nominated as a Woman of Excellence by Global TV Edmonton. Meet more EFL Fellows! #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #EFL_Vision #The_Newtonian_Shift #Leadership_Bootcamp #2017

Welcome New Energy Futures Lab Fellows!

For the last few months, the Energy Futures Lab has been in recruitment mode, searching for promising leaders and influencers from across Alberta’s energy landscape to join the EFL Fellowship. We can’t wait to see the ingenuity and energy that the new cohort brings to the EFL Innovation Pathways. Why is the EFL actively seeking new Fellows? Because Alberta and Canada need bold innovators to play a leading role in identifying, testing and scaling creative energy initiatives that will have a...

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Since its inception in 2015, the Energy Futures Lab has had a primary focus on the development of the Fellowship and the co-creation of collaborative initiatives in the Innovation Pathways. So how can you get involved with the EFL? There are plenty of opportunities – just choose your adventure! Over the course of the almost two years of this work, hundreds of other people have connected to the EFL in one way or another. In this next phase of expansion, the EFL will now be opening its doors and creating new opportunities for the growing EFL community to connect. We are inviting Albertans and Canadians to get involved with the Lab’s work and to join the EFL community. So how can you get involved with the EFL? There are plenty of opportunities – just choose your adventure! Attend Innovating Alberta’s Energy Future Showcase: This Showcase is the EFL’s milestone event for 2017, taking place on April 19 and bringing leaders and innovators from across Alberta’s energy landscape. This is your opportunity to learn firsthand about the initiatives created and scaled at the Lab. High-profile speakers will also join and spark the conversation! Join EFL Community Gatherings: The EFL community meets once a month to hold deeper discussions on various energy futures themes and on EFL initiatives related to the Innovation Pathways. These are informal gatherings taking place after work and semi-facilitated by an EFL staff member or a Fellow. The gatherings are free of charge and held in both Calgary and Edmonton. Registration is required as space for each session is limited, so sign up today! Sign up for EFL Leadership Bootcamp: The Leadership Bootcamp is an excellent and intensive introduction to the work and approach of the Lab. You’ll spend the first day playing the exhilarating Newtonian Shift simulation and experience decades of energy transition in a few hours. The next two days focus on understanding energy systems and narratives as well as creating and innovating an energy vision for the future. Register and stay tuned for upcoming Bootcamps. Participate in a Newtonian Shift Simulation: Imagine 16-30 people living out an intense simulation of 20 years over four hours. This fast-paced, role-playing experience requires you to make decisions in response to dynamic local and global changes. Whether you play the role of an energy company’s CEO or a First Nations leader or an NGO representative, this facilitated game will expose you to decades of energy transition and help you empathize with different real-world players in the energy system. What would you do if the price of oil peaked and you, as a CEO, have already sold all your fossil fuels assets? You can participate in the simulation or host one in your community. Learn more about others’ experiences playing the game! Request an Organizational Engagement Session: If you cannot come to the EFL, the EFL can come to you! Organizational engagement sessions are an effective way to engage your organization in energy transition. It’s an excellent way to trigger stimulating discussions and real change in your organization. The EFL team will facilitate the Newtonian Shift simulation and explore energy narratives with the participants during the energy trends cafe. Are you interested? Contact us at info@naturalstep.ca. #Culture_Shift #EFL_Vision #2017_Showcase #Leadership_Bootcamp #The_Newtonian_Shift #Community_Gatherings #2017

Get Involved in the Energy Futures Lab Community and Choose your Adventure

Since its inception in 2015, the Energy Futures Lab has had a primary focus on the development of the Fellowship and the co-creation of collaborative initiatives in the Innovation Pathways. So how can you get involved with the EFL? There are plenty of opportunities – just choose your adventure! Over the course of the almost two years of this work, hundreds of other people have connected to the EFL in one way or another. In this next phase of expansion, the EFL will now be opening its doors...

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The Energy Futures Lab is excited to announce the three newest members of its Advisory Council. By serving as public champions for the EFL, offering high-level counsel and role modelling innovation and leadership, the Advisory Council lends credibility and wisdom to the evolution of the Energy Futures Lab. Judy Fairburn is passionate about driving Canadian innovation to build a highly competitive energy industry, which positions Canada well in the global innovation race. Judy is the Executive Vice-President of Business Innovation at Cenovus and was pivotal in furthering the integration of environment into Cenovus’s business strategy and in the creation of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA). She also serves on the Boards of Alberta Innovates, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Public Policy Forum and Evok Innovations. Through these roles, Judy helps to bridge partnerships that shape and strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Canada. Judy is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and is also a member of Abundance 360 – a select group of entrepreneurs and senior executives focused on capitalizing on transformative digital change. Dr. Reg Crowshoe is a member of the University of Calgary Senate and a Blackfoot Cultural and Spiritual Advisor, and is the former Chief of the Piikani Nation. Reg and his late father, Joe Crowshoe, have travelled extensively around the world bringing awareness and education about Blackfoot history, traditions and spirituality. Reg developed the Blackfoot Framework for Decision-Making and Mediation Process called Akak’stiman, and presents it widely to corporations, government, Aboriginal organizations and the non-profit sector. Reg sits on many committees and boards in Calgary and commits his time to other provincial and national organizations. He also provides advice to Treaty 7 Management Corporation, and leads a group of Treaty 7 Elders so that they can better be a support system to members in Treaty 7. Nicholas Parker is Founding Managing Partner of Global Acceleration Partners which addresses global megatrends shaping basic needs for resource-efficient clean energy, food, water and infrastructure by accelerating cross-border deployment of proven technologies and business models into high growth emerging economies. For over twenty years, Nicholas has pioneered sustainable venturing initiatives around the world. Nicholas introduced the “cleantech” concept to the finance and business community in 2002 while launching Cleantech Group, a market-leading research and advisory company. He also served as Chair of Corporate Knights, a media company for clean capitalism, best known for the Global 100 rankings launched annually at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Judy Fairburn, Dr. Reg Crowshoe and Nicholas Parker join an already impressive team of leaders serving on EFL’s Advisory Council: Ed Whittingham, Executive Director, Pembina Institute Gord Lambert, Suncor Sustainability Executive in Residence Suzanne West, CEO, Imaginea Energy Tzeporah Berman, Environmental Activist and Writer Toby Heaps, Co-Founder and President, Corporate Knights Inc. Don Iveson, Mayor, City of Edmonton Donna Kennedy-Glans, Viewpoints Alberta Reza Nasseri, CEO, Landmark Group of CompaniesEric Newell, Retired Business Executive By serving as public champions for the EFL, offering high-level counsel and role modelling innovation and leadership, the Advisory Council lends credibility and wisdom to the evolution of the Energy Futures Lab. #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #2017

Judy Fairburn, Dr. Reg Crowshoe and Nicholas Parker Join Energy Futures Lab Advisory Council

The Energy Futures Lab is excited to announce the three newest members of its Advisory Council. By serving as public champions for the EFL, offering high-level counsel and role modelling innovation and leadership, the Advisory Council lends credibility and wisdom to the evolution of the Energy Futures Lab. Judy Fairburn is passionate about driving Canadian innovation to build a highly competitive energy industry, which positions Canada well in the global innovation race. Judy is the Executive...

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Well, 2016 was quite a year for Alberta. A lingering recession due to low oil prices. Provincial climate policies announced and enacted. A couple of pipelines approved. A dramatic U.S. presidential election and shifting global geopolitics. The EFL Fellows have been the driving force at the centre of this important work, and nothing has been so impressive to me personally as witnessing the abilities and growth of these innovators and influencers, as a group and as individuals. 2017 is already bringing more change. Alberta’s carbon levy came into effect January 1. Economists are predicting modest growth for the province. And climate-change skeptic Donald Trump is moving into the Oval Office. As we head deeper into the year, the polarization over Canada’s energy future – and Alberta’s place in it – continues. In fact, in many ways it is intensifying, as media headlines and social media increasingly paint a picture of distinct camps arguing their respective and seemingly incompatible positions. Finding common ground in the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) But energy transition is not a black and white issue. Against this backdrop, the EFL is making significant progress in the colourful space we like to call “the radical middle.” A growing group of committed people have come together in the lab—boldly melding their different perspectives and experiences—to find common ground and work together to leverage Alberta’s current strengths to help shape a new energy system. It’s not always easy—in fact it’s a lot of hard work—but we are finding solutions and, in so doing, sowing the seeds for a new public narrative to counter the polarization. We are developing collaborative projects across a range of Innovation Pathways, connecting people in a number of different sectors and increasing the general awareness of the complexity of transitioning our energy systems to a lower carbon future. We are grateful to the extraordinary people who are engaged in and supportive of this work—the EFL Convening Partners and funders, Advisory Council, Steering Committee and the diverse group of engaged Fellows who in turn are supported by their organizations. To all of you, thank you for believing we could do this together, for working so hard to channel the generous and innovative spirit of Alberta, and for being so committed to further developing this work in 2017. A fellowship of rising stars The EFL Fellows have been the driving force at the centre of this important work, and nothing has been so impressive to me personally as witnessing the abilities and growth of these innovators and influencers, as a group and as individuals. Some, like Matt Beck and Ryan Robb, have changed jobs and taken on new leadership responsibilities. Others, like Meera Nathwani-Crowe and John Zhou, have been called upon increasingly for leadership within their organizations. Some, like Bruce Edgelow and Daniel Clarke, have been instrumental in helping their organizations weather the economic storm, while others, like Sean Collins and Apoorv Sinha, have forged new entrepreneurial endeavours. Audrey Mascarenhas and Alison Thompson have been tireless advocates for proven and much-needed solutions. Jennifer Martin, Anouk Kendall and Lliam Hildebrand have led their organizations to new places of opportunity. Erin Welk, Nathan Maycher, Megan Zimmerman and Gerardo Marquez have provided steadfast leadership and abundant personal energy for initiatives arising from the EFL. All of the Fellows have inspired us with their openness of spirit and the constructive and creative way that they have engaged in the work of the lab. Calling for new voices in the radical middle This year, we are expanding the circle and recruiting more people to join the EFL Fellows. There are many amazing people in our province doing inspiring work. Judging from the early response to the call that was issued a couple weeks ago and to the interest in other new engagement opportunities with the EFL such as the EFL Leadership Bootcamp, and the Newtonian Shift, it’s clear that there is an urge among many people to be part of something positive, constructive and future-facing. Please make sure that your networks are aware of the opportunities to get involved with the EFL. Mark the date April 19 I invite you to spend some time on our newly revamped website to read more about how we’re answering 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 work of the EFL Fellows will be profiled here in coming months, and announcements of the new people joining the Fellowship will also appear. Please join the EFL community for the Energy Futures Lab Showcase in Calgary on April 19th. This will be an inspiring afternoon event at the Jack Singer Concert Hall where you can hear more from the EFL Fellows about their initiatives, and be inspired by other speakers and cultural performances. We hope to see you there to help us celebrate our common bonds to Alberta, the place and its people. More details and registration information will follow soon. Happy New Year! #Future_Economy #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #2017 #Radical_Middle #EFL_Vision #EFL_Platform #The_Newtonian_Shift #Leadership_Bootcamp #2017_Showcase

Taking on 2017!

Well, 2016 was quite a year for Alberta. A lingering recession due to low oil prices. Provincial climate policies announced and enacted. A couple of pipelines approved. A dramatic U.S. presidential election and shifting global geopolitics. The EFL Fellows have been the driving force at the centre of this important work, and nothing has been so impressive to me personally as witnessing the abilities and growth of these innovators and influencers, as a group and as individuals. 2017 is already...

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2016 was a year of change and new realities. 2016 was a year of change and new realities. It ended with national and international developments that will impact Alberta’s energy system for years to come. These include uncertainty looming around the US elections, the continued Alberta recession, the ramifications of pipeline approvals, and the new regulations addressing climate change. Such complex and difficult topics likely made for some contentious Christmas dinner conversation starters in households across Canada. We need more leaders who are able to listen and incorporate the diverse opinions of multiple stakeholders – whether from indigenous communities, industry, NGOs, youth or government. Many believe 2017 will be a year of uncertainty, requiring a wait-and-see attitude. But we cannot afford to wait and see. The environmental and economic challenges we face are urgent and demand that we take action and become more engaged in energy issues. The EFL is expanding its Fellowship – a unique program that recruits collaborators and players in Alberta’s energy system. The Fellows will take a lead role in identifying, testing, and scaling energy projects that will have long lasting impact on Albertans. It is a program designed to equip leaders and influencers in Alberta with skills and strategies to facilitate learning and collaboration for energy transition. The new Fellows will work closely with the original EFL Fellows on practical initiatives that move our province forward along a series of Innovation Pathways. The conversations will continue to be difficult when we discuss energy issues in Alberta and Canada. We need more leaders who are able to listen and incorporate the diverse opinions of multiple stakeholders – whether from indigenous communities, industry, NGOs, youth or government. Only by including these perspectives can we achieve the innovation needed to build our future energy system. The EFL Fellowship is about preparing a new cohort of influencers to lead a movement for energy innovation and transition in Alberta. It is about managing and facilitating difficult conversations without prescribing specific outcomes. It is about collaborating with people we do not necessarily agree with on pragmatic initiatives. The EFL Fellowship is about leading and innovating during times of uncertainty. It is what our energy future requires of us. #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #EFL_Vision #Radical_Middle #2017

EFL Fellowship: Leading and influencing in times of uncertainty

2016 was a year of change and new realities. 2016 was a year of change and new realities. It ended with national and international developments that will impact Alberta’s energy system for years to come. These include uncertainty looming around the US elections, the continued Alberta recession, the ramifications of pipeline approvals, and the new regulations addressing climate change. Such complex and difficult topics likely made for some contentious Christmas dinner conversation starters in...

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On December 5, 2016, approximately 170 people braved the cold to talk about the future of energy in Alberta at the University of Calgary’s downtown campus. Dr. David Layzell, Energy Futures Lab (EFL) Steering Committee Member and Director of the Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) project, argued that energy system transition is the “grand challenge for our society.” The EFL design team worked with Dr. David Layzell and his research group to help identify big challenges and opportunities for energy transition in Alberta. He indicated three components of our energy system that we can leverage for transition: the technologies we use to deliver energy services; the fuel we use; and our behaviour. Not coincidentally, these three leverage points map to the EFL Innovation Pathways and portfolio of initiatives. The EFL design team worked with Dr. David Layzell and his research group, namely Song Sit, Senior Associate and Bastiaan Straatman, Energy Systems Modeller, to help identify big challenges and opportunities for energy transition in Alberta. Student teams then modelled 10 different scenarios for the future of energy in the province. Deploying Distributed Energy One of the EFL pathways is about the Deployment of Distributed Renewables. Led by Fellow Alison Thompson, one of the initiatives in this pathway investigates the renewable power and heat potential from over 400,000 wells in Alberta. Two of the student projects provided more data to complement this initiative. The first group found that power generated from “depleted Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) heat recovery can reduce emissions associated with electricity use in the SAGD sector by up to 28%” [1]. The second group focused on geothermal heating from wells to offset burning of natural gas for home and commercial space heating. Using Red Deer as a sample area, the student group suggests that this form of heating is possible and could be extended to include “geothermal space heating in work camps and warehouses” [2]. Mobility The Mobility pathway is about dramatically reducing energy used for the movement of people and goods. EFL Fellows in this pathway are working on a waste-to-biofuels initiative. A few transportation related projects at the CESAR event also investigated technology, fuel and behaviour as leverage points for energy transition. One group investigated the conversion of biomass residues from agriculture and forestry to Dimethyl Ether (DME). This could potentially replace a portion of diesel fuel consumed by the freight industry and significantly reduce emissions. The team discovered a potential 11 megatonne per year reduction [3]. Another group took a very different approach, focusing on energy demand and the following question: “What if energy demand characteristics were changed by a new generation?”[4]. The group investigated how Gen Y and Millennials think about housing and transportation i.e. their inclination to share cars and use public transit as well as live in urban centres and choose smaller spaces. How do these behaviours impact energy use? By being a Millennial team, the group had a head start on their research. They found a “potential 8.4 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent reduction associated with higher density living” [4], which could be a significant contribution to Alberta’s emissions reduction target. Next Steps The EFL plans to continue working with Dr. Layzell, his team at CESAR and students in future years. The data from student research is already helping the EFL teams focus their efforts and uncover new opportunities. [1] Heat Recovery From Depleted SAGD Reservoirs To Generate Green Electricity. S. Amin, K. Bexte, T. Pickett, E. Waldson, T. Zhao. University of Calgary, 2016. [2] Geothermal Potential in Alberta: Direct Heat from Oil and Gas. S. Clarke, L. Bassett, R. Shcarein, A. Vo, N. Loucks. University of Calgary, 2016. [3] Fuel from Biomass Residues. J. Fedrau, L. Beaton, M. Tashnil, N. Delorme, U. Kamran. University of Calgary, 2016. [4] What If Millenials Transformed Energy Demand? Effects of High Density Community Lifestyles on GHG Emissions. A. Zalazar, J. Le, R. Branchaud, N. Fergus, M. Bello. University of Calgary, 2016. #Clean_Technologies #Electricity #Regional_Pathways #Scenarios_for_Albertas_Energy_Future #Geothermal_From_Oil_Wells #2017 #Bio_Fuel #15_Minute_Cities

EFL & U of C’s CESAR: Scenarios for Alberta’s Energy Future

On December 5, 2016, approximately 170 people braved the cold to talk about the future of energy in Alberta at the University of Calgary’s downtown campus. Dr. David Layzell, Energy Futures Lab (EFL) Steering Committee Member and Director of the Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) project, argued that energy system transition is the “grand challenge for our society.” The EFL design team worked with Dr. David Layzell and his research group to help identify big challenges and...

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No one ever said the transition to a new energy economy would be easy. From the very beginning, The Natural Step Canada (TNSC) was under a great deal of pressure to describe the impacts and outcomes of the Energy Futures Lab (EFL). We resisted prescribing a solution. Our Fellowship – more diverse than we could have hoped – has created a shared vision and innovation pathways, generated new ideas, and brought existing initiatives into the lab to amplify and scale. Describing any specific outcome in such a polarized environment could attract those invested in the result and push away the disinterested. Building an EFL Fellowship of diverse opinions and perspectives was critical to designing a fit for the future energy system. Fast forward to a year later and I could not be more pleased to share the incredible initiatives emerging from our our lab. Our Fellowship – more diverse than we could have hoped – has created a shared vision and innovation pathways, generated new ideas, and brought existing initiatives into the lab to amplify and scale. Leveraging our strengths and our past to transition to the future The Fellows agree that prosperity does not lie on the same path that has brought us to where we are today. Nor can we abandon the resources and assets that built Alberta. Our challenge is to leverage our strengths, foster innovation and build the energy system that the future requires of us. Here are three initiatives developed by the EFL Fellows that exemplify this philosophy: Geothermal from oil wells – Alison Thompson is working with other Fellows and partners on a prototype that is the first of its kind in Alberta and promises a huge upside to over 400,000+ oil wells in the province. The Leduc #1 Living Energy project will convert an old well (previously used for water re-injection from producing hydrocarbon wells) into a geothermal heat source to keep a large greenhouse warm and productive all year around. The Leduc site is synonymous with Alberta’s oil boom and was deliberately chosen for its cultural significance. More initiatives like this will make great use of the engineering and geological know-how for which Alberta is famous by reinvigorating abandoned wells that no longer generate economic value. Pumped hydro energy storage – EFL Fellow Kipp Horton is leading a project with partners that will utilize an abandoned coal mine to establish an innovative energy storage system. As Alberta seeks to achieve a target of 30 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030, more solutions like this will be needed. This project will enable more intermittent renewable energy generation by providing storage during times of low demand and output during times of high demand. Workers’ Climate Plan – There is no greater asset in Alberta than the province’s workforce. Lliam Hildebrand is working with other EFL Fellows and partners of his own organization IRON+EARTH to build a movement among Alberta’s workers for energy transition. There is enormous short and long term value in retooling and repositioning a workforce challenged by today’s economic conditions to lead in a more diversified energy economy. Engaging hearts and imaginations and contributing to reconciliation The Fellows understand the vital importance of culture and public engagement in building support for energy transition in Alberta. They are also committed to contribute to reconciliation between Alberta’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Two more EFL initiatives aim at advancing these imperatives: Indigenous Renewable Energy Circle – EFL Fellows are partnering with Urban Matters and others to explore how best to contribute to Indigenous communities’ leadership in alternative energy development – all within a culturally and spiritually appropriate frame. As a first phase, the Fellows have identified the need to support an Indigenous leadership network to share best practices across communities. A series of learning journeys will commence in autumn 2016 with a visit to Treaty 7’s net zero TRTL house in conjunction with invitations to establish a province-wide Elder’s circle. Community leaders and elders from this event would then join additional community learning journeys including the Louis Bull First Nation Solar Initiative, Lubicon Cree Piitapan Solar Project, and Pikani First Nation solar pilot project, among others. All of this will assist growing awareness and capacity in support of the Government of Alberta’s newly-announced Indigenous renewables program. The intention is to provide a platform for a strong cohort of Indigenous leaders with the relationships and connections to assist communities to accelerate successes, overcome challenges, support social entrepreneurship, and attract key investment for their energy transition initiatives. Energy transition support materials for Alberta communities – A group of EFL Fellows is working on a set of materials and 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. Learning from Alberta’s history of innovation Innovation has long been part of the Alberta story. There are enormous opportunities to be realized by refocusing our innovation system on the new challenges associated with Alberta’s continued prosperity in a low-carbon global economy. Here are two EFL initiatives that seek to seize those opportunities: AOSTRA 2.0 – A group of EFL Fellows and other partners are developing a prototype based on the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA). This was a successful Alberta Crown Corporation established in 1974 to promote the development and use of new technology for oil sands and heavy-oil production. The original AOSTRA pioneered many of the technologies used within in-situ oil sands projects through a partnership between the Alberta government, federal government and industry. The AOSTRA 2.0 working group seeks to replicate the success of AOSTRA by establishing partnerships to enable and scale transformational technologies. The goal is to make oil sands oil globally carbon (and cost) competitive so that it can continue to be a source of economic prosperity in Canada. Supporting Alberta’s carbon utilization innovators – Our province needs to not only reduce emissions in energy production, but also find new ways to turn carbon dioxide from waste into useful materials. Two EFL Fellows: Apoorv Sinha and David Lynch are working on projects that address this challenge and have received support from the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC) for this work. This is a whole new innovation opportunity with global implications, ripe for Alberta leadership, as exemplified by the COSIA Carbon X Prize. A group of EFL Fellows are developing ideas for how to support Alberta entrepreneurs keen to work in this blossoming innovation field. This week in Calgary, Fellows will bring these projects and other ideas to their peers and to a broader circle of stakeholders. The most exciting part is that these initiatives are really just the beginning. In addition to establishing a major platform for game-changing innovation, the EFL has convened a network of influential leaders who are increasingly invited for consultation on Alberta and Canada’s energy future. The stage is also set for a major public engagement effort, building out from the diverse perspectives and collective voice of the EFL Fellowship. Upon reflection, it was wise not to prescribe specific outcomes. These emerging ideas exceed all of our expectations, and they are only the beginning. #Culture_Shift #EFL_Vision #Fellowship #Future_Economy #Clean_Technologies #Regional_Pathways #Electricity #2016 #Geothermal_From_Oil_Wells #Energy_Storage_Pumped_Hydro #Workers_Climate_Plan #Pumped_Hydro #Indigenous_Renewable_Energy_Circle #Energy_Transition_Support_Materials_for_Alberta_Communities #Supporting_Albertas_Carbon_Utilization_Innovators #Workforce_Readiness #Advanced_Materials #Batteries #Geothermal_Energy #CCUS #Indigenous_Knowledge_Insight_and_Leadership #AOSTRA_2_for_Future_Fit_Hydrocarbons #Louis_Bull_Renewable_Schools_Pilot

An Emerging Portfolio of EFL Initiatives

No one ever said the transition to a new energy economy would be easy. From the very beginning, The Natural Step Canada (TNSC) was under a great deal of pressure to describe the impacts and outcomes of the Energy Futures Lab (EFL). We resisted prescribing a solution. Our Fellowship – more diverse than we could have hoped – has created a shared vision and innovation pathways, generated new ideas, and brought existing initiatives into the lab to amplify and scale. Describing any specific...

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Navigating the interconnected web of issues surrounding energy, climate change and sustainable development is a complex task. Over the past year and a half, the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) has developed a platform for constructive dialogue and game-changing innovation. Through this process, we have identified five essential leadership capacities to succeed in this space. This November, join other leaders and innovators in the inaugural three-day EFL Leadership Bootcamp to hone these five essential leadership capacities for shaping the energy transition! Systems Sensing – Develop new skills to map the complex parts and connections in the energy system, identify areas of need and promising solutions that enable transition. Backcasting – Begin with the end in mind, develop smart strategies to arrive in a future you want to create, rather than trying to project the past into the future. See EFL Director Chad Park’s recent TEDx talk for more on this. Self-Awareness – It can be difficult to even recognize, let alone look past, our own strongly held worldviews. But reflecting on the stories that have brought us to where we can help to clarify our individual role within the system. It also creates space for exploring and challenging personal and collective assumptions and narratives. Stakeholder Empathy – Deepening one’s understanding of others and their perspectives can unlock more thoughtful and informed relationships and solutions. EFL’s role playing simulation game, Energy Futures Lab: the Newtonian Shift, enables participants to gain new insight into the various stakeholders involved in the energy transition, and their unique challenges, priorities and needs. Collaboration – While it is widely recognized as necessary for creating the future we need, collaboration is rarely done well. Learn and practice active listening, constructive dialogue, embracing complexity, and participatory prototyping. This November, join other leaders and innovators in the inaugural three-day EFL Leadership Bootcamp to hone these five essential leadership capacities for shaping the energy transition! In addition to developing and practicing these five capacities, participation in the EFL Leadership Bootcamp will provide insight into the latest energy trends and innovations. Bootcamp participants will also be given special consideration for more formal participation in the Energy Futures Lab as Associate Fellows. Stay tuned! The EFL is seeking participation from a broad diversity of sectors, seniority levels, communities, professional and cultural backgrounds. Register here today and recommend the opportunity to others. Are you ready to influence the future? #Culture_Shift #Leadership_Bootcamp #System_Sensing #Radical_Middle #2016

Five Essential Capacities to Influence the Energy Transition: The Energy Futures Lab Leadership Bootcamp

Navigating the interconnected web of issues surrounding energy, climate change and sustainable development is a complex task. Over the past year and a half, the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) has developed a platform for constructive dialogue and game-changing innovation. Through this process, we have identified five essential leadership capacities to succeed in this space. This November, join other leaders and innovators in the inaugural three-day EFL Leadership Bootcamp to hone these five...

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Leaders from government, business, not-for-profit, academia and indigenous communities will gather in Calgary for a special two-day event on October 19 and 20. Their objective: to share proposed solutions for solving Alberta’s most complex and pressing energy challenges. This October event is an opportunity for the EFL to make its network of ideas even more inclusive and tested with as many diverse perspectives as possible before scaling up and communicating broadly through a public engagement program. This event follows a year and a half long process of social innovation in which many of these leaders collaborated and prototyped their way toward creative energy-related solutions. The Energy Futures Lab (EFL) Fellows will also be present, sharing solutions to drive systemic change for the benefit of society at large. On October 19, participants, guests and dignitaries will hear about emerging energy solutions during an evening reception co-hosted by the Calgary Chamber, Calgary Economic Development and the Canada West Foundation. The following day, a more intimate gathering will take place for Fellows to share what is required to take their initiatives to the next level and seek expertise and feedback from invited guests. Most importantly, this October event is an opportunity for the EFL to make its network of ideas even more inclusive and tested with as many diverse perspectives as possible before scaling up and communicating broadly through a public engagement program. The EFL team is excited about reaching this point because all along, it viewed the process less like a coconut and more like a peach. In other words, unlike a process that is rich on the inside but impenetrable from the outside, the EFL was established to have a strong core but also be porous, sweet and digestible on the outside. Here’s hoping you will bite and participate in the EFL’s upcoming event. #Future_Economy #Culture_Shift #Regional_Pathways #Clean_Technologies #2016

Doors Open for Energy Futures Lab Event this Week

Leaders from government, business, not-for-profit, academia and indigenous communities will gather in Calgary for a special two-day event on October 19 and 20. Their objective: to share proposed solutions for solving Alberta’s most complex and pressing energy challenges. This October event is an opportunity for the EFL to make its network of ideas even more inclusive and tested with as many diverse perspectives as possible before scaling up and communicating broadly through a public...

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Earlier this fall Alberta’s Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous appointed Gord Lambert to chair a Climate Technology Task Force, which will engage stakeholders and advise the government on a framework for climate change innovation and technology. In addition to supporting research and development and investing in new technology ventures, let’s also create opportunities for the scores of innovators and influencers in Alberta to interact with one another in unpredictable ways… Gord has been a key advisor to the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) since its inception. Recently, he shared his tips and ideas on innovation with the EFL Fellows. An interview with Gord summarizing those ideas and his advice for the EFL appears here. Gord is one of three members of the Province’s five-person panel who are part of the EFL community. The others are EFL Advisory Council member Suzanne West (whose EFL interview appears here) and EFL Steering Committee member Sara Hastings-Simon. Here are my top six suggestions for the Task Force, drawing on the experience and insights of the Energy Futures Lab so far: Don’t forget social innovation. The development and deployment of new technologies is certainly critical for Alberta to achieve its climate leadership goals and position itself for sustainable prosperity in a lower-carbon, global economy. That said, it’s important that we not overlook the important role of culture in creating or inhibiting our ability to innovate and to adopt new technologies. Not to mention our capacity to sustain a public commitment to a policy direction in favour of climate leadership. Creating a conducive environment for climate-related social innovation should be part of the suite of recommendations alongside advice on technological innovation. In addition to supporting research and development and investing in new technology ventures, let’s also create opportunities for the scores of innovators and influencers in Alberta to interact with one another in unpredictable ways, where the outcomes are not pre-determined. Let’s make sure this effort goes out of its way to bring “strange bedfellows” together — technology innovators with artists, environmental activists with community leaders, oil and gas executives with students, clean technology pioneers with First Nations leaders. Focus on the big challenges. Let’s accept that we don’t know the answers yet to some of our biggest challenges and make those the focus of our innovation agenda. For example, we don’t yet know how to dramatically lower the carbon intensity of oilsands production or how to transform carbon dioxide into carbon-based materials instead of releasing it to the atmosphere. But we know we’ll need to do so if our vast hydrocarbon resources are going to continue to be a source of prosperity in the low-carbon global economy that the world wants to build. Not quite having the answers yet to grand challenges like these creates an enormous opening for innovation. Leverage our strengths. Alberta’s greatest future opportunities surely arise from our current and past strengths and assets: our industrial and engineering prowess; our natural assets like our vast sun, wind, geothermal, agricultural and biological resources; our knowledge of the hydrocarbon value chain; our institutions of higher education and educated workforce. Let’s not get so enticed by the shiny and new that we fail to capitalize on the tried and true. Begin with the end in mind. Innovation should not be an end in itself; rather a means to an end. For the wide range of actors and resources involved in our innovation ecosystem throughout the province to be aligned and co-ordinated in a way that gets the best bang for our buck, we need to be working toward a clear vision and common set of goals. In setting that long-term vision, let’s heed the wisdom in Al Etmanski’s piece called Goosebumps Never Lie. To truly rally the province behind ambitious goals focused on our biggest challenges will require a vision that is compelling and inspiring – not just rational and measurable. We can backcast from a compelling vision and then also from a desired portfolio of investments to enable the province to realize that vision. Take risks to create the future. It will surely be tempting to make the majority of our innovation investments in technology to enhance our competitiveness in the near-term horizon, especially because of the reality of today’s economic problems. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that markets are changing dramatically due to forces well beyond our borders. If the past couple years have shown us anything, it’s that the rules of the game can change quickly. If we’re only playing for today’s game, we might miss our greatest opportunities. So, let’s not just determine our investment priorities by forecasting current trends. Let’s also choose a future that we want to see, and make some investments in trying to create that future. This probably means betting on some long-shots with tremendous upside. I view carbon utilization (i.e. technology to turn carbon dioxide into useful materials) as a prime example of this and something that should be a big innovation priority for the province. Generate new narratives. Narratives matter. The stories we tell ourselves about energy and the environment in Alberta are arguably our greatest barrier to innovation. We need to step beyond the polarized and polarizing narratives that in recent years have kept us stuck in camps. Climate innovation is not about good guys and bad guys, dirty versus clean industries, people who support oil and gas and people who do not. Building a resilient economy for a low-carbon future will require the resources and capabilities of Albertans from all sectors of society. Clean tech is not a niche sector, but an approach that can be applied across all sectors. Let’s use our public investments in innovation and technology to consciously begin to tell new stories and shape new narratives that help overcome the polarization that dominates public discourse on climate change. #Future_Economy #Culture_Shift #2016 #Backcasting #EFL_Vision

Chad Park: Six Suggestions for Alberta’s Climate Technology Task Force

Earlier this fall Alberta’s Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous appointed Gord Lambert to chair a Climate Technology Task Force, which will engage stakeholders and advise the government on a framework for climate change innovation and technology. In addition to supporting research and development and investing in new technology ventures, let’s also create opportunities for the scores of innovators and influencers in Alberta to interact with one another in unpredictable ways…...

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Building systems that are fit for the future means beginning with the end in mind and working together with unlikely allies. Our greatest challenges can only be addressed if we learn to do so. Chad Park lays out an approach that aligns diverse perspectives towards a shared understanding of what the future requires: backcasting from sustainability principles. He also introduces the groundbreaking initiative that is putting these ideas to the test: the Energy Futures Lab. Chad Park is Chief Innovation Officer of The Natural Step Canada and director of the Energy Futures Lab. The Alberta-based Energy Futures Lab is a multi-interest collaboration, bringing leaders together to identify, test, and scale initiatives that tackle climate change, energy security, and sustainable development. Chad has advised dozens of businesses and communities in Canada and internationally, including the Co-operators, Nike, Rio Tinto Alcan, and the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. In 2012, he received the Clean 50 award, recognizing fifty individuals in Canada who have advanced the cause of sustainability and clean capitalism. #Culture_Shift #EFL_Platform #2016 #Backcasting #Framework_for_Strategic_Sustainable_Development

Chad Park on Finding our Future, Together at TEDxYYC

Building systems that are fit for the future means beginning with the end in mind and working together with unlikely allies. Our greatest challenges can only be addressed if we learn to do so. Chad Park lays out an approach that aligns diverse perspectives towards a shared understanding of what the future requires: backcasting from sustainability principles. He also introduces the groundbreaking initiative that is putting these ideas to the test: the Energy Futures Lab. Chad Park is Chief...

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You need to critically test for whether the pace and scale at which work is getting done is appropriate to the challenges that you’re trying to take on. Nowadays, it’s a key success factor: can you accelerate progress? On issues like climate change, we have to accelerate progress tremendously. – Gord Lambert Pong: You talk about the importance of setting up aspirational goals to help drive innovation. Do you feel that the EFL Vision and Innovation Pathways are aspirational enough to spark bold innovative thinking? Gord: The process of how you define aspirational goals is almost just as important as the goals themselves. One way to describe the process is that you want creative tension. It needs to make you uncomfortable enough that it engages your creativity, and that you start to get people energized by the challenge of it. But if it’s a bridge too far, if it’s just not plausible, or not even realistic, then you get emotional tension. Pong: The 11 innovation pathways of the Energy Futures Lab are articulated to allow Alberta to thrive in a low carbon future. Looking at those 11 pathways, do you feel that we’re placing enough efforts on the different quadrants of the two-by-two matrix (see diagram below) Are we innovating sufficiently in those different areas in the context of energy transition? A Model for Analyzing Strategic Intent Gord: I’m assuming that in each pathway has very specific action items, or initiatives, or projects. It’s that level of detail that allows you to do a portfolio analysis. You take every element of resource allocation and action within the 11 areas, and map them into those quadrants. When I use the term action, or project, or initiative, it’s the unit of work that’s going to require resources to be allocated towards it. What you’re doing in mapping them against those quadrants is you’re testing relative resource allocation, both at an individual initiative scale, action scale, but also an aggregate. The sum total of all the actions against all the 11 pathways show us having a big cluster in one quadrant over another. That type of size-up is useful. Probably the quick wins area might be one that could be a little skinny. I use the term quick wins for those below the line in the bottom two quadrants. It’s things that you could chalk up as success stories. Pong: Yeah, right away. Gord: Right away to get momentum, get enthusiasm, and get folks to see that progress is possible. On energy transition, it’s a huge dilemma as to how you balance that long term and the short term. It’s a long term journey by its nature. Performance goals are a good way to architect in some progress or some quick wins. Milestones, that term in and of itself, can be very useful in innovation projects. Pong: That’s interesting. One of the things that we haven’t focussed on in our working groups are, as you said, milestones, and relatively near-term performance targets. Gord: Yeah, it’s very powerful. You want to create urgency to succeed, but it’s also, in the innovation world, it’s quick to fail as well. The creation of milestones works both ways. You don’t want to be putting lots of effort towards an idea that just isn’t getting lift off. It’s just you’ve got to chalk it up as a learning and move on. Pong: The next question is also about the two-by-two matrix (see diagram above). It’s about helping people think in the above two quadrants, in addition to the bottom two. The question is, what advice do you have for the EFL Fellows to help focus more time and energy on the top two quadrants, in particular in economically challenging times? Gord: Great question. It’s almost like a Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – states where your near term survival, food and shelter, is chart one, and then how do you imagine aspiring to go beyond that at $40 a barrel, or electricity prices that are two cents a kilowatt hour. It is very challenging. I think but on the flip side you have the burning platform to innovate dramatically and in absolutely new ways. A question on strategy often is, “Do you do the same things that you’ve always done but do them incrementally better, or do the same things the same way with more enthusiasm?” That is the hunker down philosophy. Or, do you have to create a new game. That latter question automatically puts you into the top two quadrants. The other word I’ll introduce that helps take conversations above the line, is the notion of resilience. It’s whether change represents risk to you or opportunity. In reality, resilience is the order of the day. You need more choices, you need more options often. You need more ideas. Introducing the notion of resilience to capture both those upper two quadrants is a powerful word. Pong: As many of our Fellows are also changemakers in their organizations, what advice do you have for Fellows to introduce the two-by-two matrix to their own organizations to spark these strategic conversations? Where would they start? How would they go about that? Gord: By bringing it into a conversational model, and just using it, the power of it’s going to become self evident. I can guarantee that with a little bit of use, especially in circumstances where there’s tough conversations, or conversations where there’s lack of alignment, that the use of that two-by-two will bring structure to that conversation that adds value hugely. Pong: The next question is shifting gears a little bit to the peloton metaphor. What advice do you have for the EFL Fellows to help develop a collaborative peloton mindset in themselves and their organizations, rather than a solely competitive mindset? Gord: You want models where you can easily create coalitions of the willing. You guys are doing this within the Lab. To make the peloton metaphor work, you have to have this concept of equitable contribution that’s understood as a condition of engagement. Pong: Anything more in terms of setting up a collaborative peloton mindset or design? Gord: Just to emphasize the notion of acceleration is important. You need to critically test for whether the pace and scale at which work is getting done is appropriate to the challenges that you’re trying to take on. Nowadays, it’s a key success factor: can you accelerate progress? On issues like climate change, we have to accelerate progress tremendously. Pong: What other advice do you have for the Energy Futures Lab and the Fellowship to enable collaboration towards a low carbon future? Gord: I think you guys are doing a lot of the right things, so I can’t point something out that says this is a big miss. I want to emphasize, that clarity of outcomes, either in landing that in the form of goals, milestones, or vision statements, is what causes alignment of effort to occur. People get activity based. They’re busy, lots of things going on, but it’s superficial. It’s cooperation not collaboration, because they’ve never really defined what is success for themselves. Pong: Great. Thank you Gord. We really appreciate your time and your mentorship on our Energy Futures Lab Advisory Committee. Gord: Onwards. You guys are doing important work. Gord Lambert retired from Suncor Energy on January 1, 2015. He is currently the Suncor Sustainability Executive in Residence at the Ivey School of Business, and has established GRL Collaboration for Sustainability as a consulting practice. He is a frequent speaker on energy, the environment and innovation and recently was a speaker on Innovation and Collaboration at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin China. #Culture_Shift #Fellowship #EFL_Platform #2016

An Interview with Gordon Lambert, EFL Advisory Board Member

You need to critically test for whether the pace and scale at which work is getting done is appropriate to the challenges that you’re trying to take on. Nowadays, it’s a key success factor: can you accelerate progress? On issues like climate change, we have to accelerate progress tremendously. – Gord Lambert Pong : You talk about the importance of setting up aspirational goals to help drive innovation. Do you feel that the EFL Vision and Innovation Pathways are aspirational enough to spark...

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