Ocean wave energy converters (WECs) are devices that utilize ocean energy to produce electricity or fresh water. A key stage in developing these devices is scale model testing in wave tanks, as it allows the power generation capabilities of a design to be evaluated at a much lower cost and with no environmental risk compared to full scale testing in the ocean. One of the challenges with designing scale models of WECs is the power take-off (PTO) system which can be infeasible to implement at small scales.

Hydrogen fuel cells require humidification in order to operate effectively, yet, at the same time produce a constant stream of moisture through their exhaust. Membrane fuel cell humidifiers provide a method of ‘recycling’ this moisture, thereby saving energy. They work similarly to heat exchangers, but take advantage of special polymer membranes in order to exchange moisture. Fuel cell environments can be very taxing on membranes, reaching temperatures of 95C, so selecting the right membrane material is of utmost importance.

Production and utilization of ammonia in the transportation and power generation sector brings numerous advantages by introducing environmentally friendly, sustainable and efficient systems. Ammonia (NH3) is the only carbon-free chemical energy carrier together with hydrogen suitable for use as a transportation fuel. In this project, renewable energy based NH3 production methods are investigated for power generation, transportation and energy utilities. Specifically, concentrated solar energy based electrochemical ammonia synthesis is experimentally investigated.

The conversion of low value lipids, including tall oil, brown grease, and yellow grease, to hydrocarbons without the use of hydrogen or catalyst has been patented and scaled up by our group (Forge Hydrocarbons). This project seeks to develop an improvement to the existing process by incorporating microwave heating to the reactor configuration. The process is expected to help reduce the acid number and improve the process economics by decreasing the undesirable side reaction leading to coke formation.

Hydrogen powered polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a clean energy technology that generates electricity without harmful emissions at the point of use. To accelerate commercialization, current R&D efforts mainly target reduced cost and increased lifetime. The proposed research project addresses both aspects by developing a unified chemical and mechanical modeling platform for evaluating membrane durability in PEMFCs. The core validation is based on extensive test and field data provided by our industry partner, Ballard Power Systems.

Etalim is a Canadian high technology company developing a breakthrough heat engine generating electricity from any fuel or heat source. The Etalim TAC (Thermal Acoustic Converter) is a unique technology that converts any high temperature gradient to electricity, with high efficiency (20%-30%) and simplicity. The TAC represents a unique class of device that combines principles of thermodynamics, high-amplitude acoustics, mechanical resonance and materials science in a unique way.

Aqueous rechargeable lithium battery has received great attention recently due to the less toxicity, lower cost and higher safety compared to the non-aqueous systems. When using the commercially available lithium manganese oxide as active materials, there are demands in suppressing manganese dissolution and graphite consumption in the cathode. As a potential solution to achieve these goals, in this proposal, two dimensional graphene materials are integrated on the surface of the cathode, forming a hybrid cathode aqueous battery.

The proposed postdoctoral research focuses on addressing the challenges associated with energy access in developing countries as well as promoting energy-independent communities in Canada in a bid to promote sustainable development. The study would investigate a consortium-like financing model for small and medium scale renewable energy projects in which energy service companies are financed by a number of investors to in order to reduce the investment risks.

The following proposal is to research and develop Net Zero Energy (NZE) capable sustainable design strategies for Legado, a large building development planned for Griffintown, Montreal. Two interns will work with 7983859 CANADA INC. under the supervision of professors from the School of Architecture at McGill University and the Centre for Zero Energy Building Studies at Concordia University in conducting this research over 12 months.

The key objective of this research is to develop a unit for combined heat and power production using biomass feedstock that can be used in remote areas where no grid power is available. Canada as the second largest country in the world, has a great potential for such units. Aboriginal communities or remote work facilities are only two possible applications for this technology. The existing heat and power generation system mostly rely on diesel and natural gas.