Our Work
The Transition Accelerator is aimed at delivering major, scalable system transitions to harness social and economic disruption to build viable transition pathways to a net-zero future. Our work identifies and advances only those transitions that are compelling, capable, and credible.
Our current priorities are:
Latest
Review of Carbon-Dioxide Storage Potential in Western Canada: Blue Hydrogen Roadmap to 2050
Vol. 4, Iss. 6 (Aug 2022)
Hares R, McCoy S, Layzell D
The Canadian federal and provincial governments have identified carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) as a major component of their strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This report offers a review of CO2 storage projects in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB), discusses the CO2 storage resources in the WCSB, identifies knowledge gaps, and suggests strategies for future CCUS deployment.
Techno-Economics of a New Hydrogen Value Chain Supporting Heavy Duty Transport
Vol. 4, Iss. 5 (Jul 2022)
Khan M A, MacKinnon C, Young C, Layzell D
This report presents the design and techno-economic analyses of new value chains for delivering hydrogen from centralized production sites to fueling stations supporting heavy duty vehicles in Canada, describing opportunities for decarbonization and economic growth. It also addresses the complexity and risks that are present, followed by recommendations to mitigate these risks and accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a clean fuel.
Assessing the Workforce Required to Advance Canada’s Hydrogen Economy
Vol. 4, Iss. 4 (Jul 2022)
Hufnagel-Smith P
A key objective of the Assessing Workforce Requirements to Advance Canada’s Hydrogen Economy report is to establish a common, foundational understanding of the core occupations needed by hydrogen supply and demand value chains. It also identifies opportunities to leverage skilled and available labour and the degree to which an additional workforce must be developed, while also identifying the potential risks to meeting hydrogen’s talent needs.
Towards Hydrogen: A Hydrogen HUB Feasibility Study for SouthEast Alberta
Vol. 4, Iss. 3 (Jul 2022)
Litun R
Towards Hydrogen, authored by Randy Litun, Hydrogen Hub Facilitator Consultant, outlines how Southeast Alberta is well-suited to become a major merchant hydrogen generation region and Canada’s second hydrogen hub. The report identifies and details the significant strengths and opportunities specific to the Southeast Alberta region, including high regional demand and its potential to be among the lowest-cost producers of low-carbon intensity hydrogen in North America.
A Roadmap for Canada’s Battery Value Chain
Jun 2022
Allan B, Trytten L, Campbell S, Meseldzija Z, Nielsen J, Deith J, Pelletier E, Lappin L, Fischer A, Beck M, Smith M, Leung P, Rohl J, London I, Fortier M, Kabbara M
What must be done today to build a Canadian battery metals industry that will be a significant contributor to Canada’s long-term prosperity? This report argues that to seize its enormous opportunities in the battery metals value chain, Canada needs a bold national strategy, roadmap, and action plan.
Canada’s Future in a Net Zero World
Mar 2022
Allan B, Eaton D, Goldman J, Islam A, Augustine T, Elgie S, Meadowcroft J
The transition to a global net-zero, low-carbon economy is underway and Canada must build the industries that will position the country for success. Otherwise, it risks being left behind by the strategic efforts of other countries, with considerable consequences for its future prosperity.
Halocarbon Management in Quebec
Vol. 4, Iss. 2 (Feb 2022)
Pedroli F, Mousseau N, Girard A
Halocarbons are gases mostly used as refrigerants in heat transfer systems, for cooling in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, and for heating in heat pumps.
Challenges, levers and obstacles to the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in Quebec
Vol. 4, Iss. 1 (Jan 2022)
Pedroli F, Mousseau N
The maturity of technologies to decarbonize buildings allows the sector to resolutely engage on this track with a tight schedule to compensate the difficulties met by other sectors, like transport.
Report: Disruptive forces influencing the sustainability of Canada’s agri-food sector
Vol. 3, Iss. 6 (Nov 2021)
Meadowcroft J
This report examines recent developments in Canada’s agri-food sector, focusing on emerging trends with
the potential to disrupt existing practices and their implications for sustainability.
Report: Getting on an Efficient Decarbonization Track
Vol. 3, Iss. 5 (Oct 2021)
Pineau P-O, Ba A
This report’s objective is to quantify the economic benefits of creating better intertie capacity between electricity markets in northeastern North America. The benefits of better interconnecting northeastern electricity markets are significant in nature, but not widely acknowledged. Many decarbonization studies ignore integration, which is problematic when game-changing hydropower reservoirs could be used to help reduce the cost of integrating large amounts of intermittent renewable capacity.