The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presented by the United Nations are a call-to-action to promote global prosperity while also ensuring the protection of the planet. We support these goals, and our research into energy sustainability and the energy transition aligns with SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. 

Our research is particularly relevant to supporting SDG 7. It is our vision to better understand the relationships between energy, the earth, society and the environment. By investigating topics related to energy-related greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy storage, security and sustainability, we aim to add to the knowledge-base and conversation surrounding this critical matter.  For more on what we are doing, check out our research.

At the Basin and Reservoir Lab, we aim to increase our understanding of the relationships between geoscience, the environment,
and society. 

Greening the Maritimes: The Energy Transition

Access to energy has been recognized by The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) as “critical for assuring quality of life”, and at present 80 per cent of the energy usage in the UNECE region is fossil-fuel based. Many countries are reliant on non-renewable sources for their energy security and economic well-being, yet there is a growing global urgency to transition to a more sustainable energy future with increased dependence on renewable energy sources, improved energy efficiency, and reduced global carbon emissions.

The Maritime Provinces are in a unique position to become a green energy powerhouse with reduced dependence on fossil fuels and to help lead Canada, and the world, in the transition to clean energy. An area we call the Energy Corridor, straddling the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia boundary, has all of the components for green energy success, including regular wind patterns in the nearby Gulf of St. Lawrence, salt deposits suitable for energy storage, and a central location with power links to the northeastern U.S.

Read more in the Chronicle-Herald article by Maurice Dusseault (University of Waterloo) and Grant Wach "Greening the Maritime grid — let’s lead world in energy transition."

Reference: Dusseault, M. B., and Wach, G. D. (2020, August 29). Greening the Maritime grid — let’s lead world in energy transition. The Chronicle-Herald

Summer 2021

Dr. Dusseault and Dr. Wach have continued their collaborative work with a second installment of Greening the Maritimes. Please read "Proper storage needed to meet green energy goals" PDF [766 Kb]

Reference: Dusseault, M. B., and Wach, G. D. (2021, August 26). Proper storage needed to meet green energy goals. The Chronicle-Herald