New research institute at Carleton will explore clean energy
Carleton University and ENN Group signed an agreement in Beijing on Oct. 16 2013 to establish the Clean Energy Research Institute at the Ottawa campus that will explore liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology and related clean energy technologies.
To be located within the Faculty of Engineering and Design, the institute will conduct clean energy-related research and development programs, evaluate natural gas liquefaction and storage technology, research the use of LNG in large trucks, establish industrial and technical standards, and carry out LNG training.
“We are delighted to partner with ENN Group on this important research and it is a natural fit,” said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “ENN is a world leader in clean energy innovation and one of our chief priorities at Carleton is to employ our skills to promote sustainable communities around the globe.”
“Canada is poised to become an LNG export leader given the many recent discoveries of shale natural gas,” said ENN Chairman Wang Yusuo. “Technologies such as those that Carleton University is working on will enable the industry to be more competitive and safely transport and store this valuable new resource.”
LNG is a clear, colourless, non-toxic liquid that can be transported and stored more easily than natural gas because it occupies up to 600 times less space. It is a lower carbon transportation fuel. On a well-to-wheels or total lifecycle basis, the use of natural gas reduces carbon emissions by 20 to 25 per cent compared with conventional transportation fuels.
According to Environment Canada, natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel and can be 30 to 40 per cent less expensive than traditional fuels like gasoline or diesel, given the large deposits of shale gas recently discovered in Canada and elsewhere.
The institute will be directed by Dr. Junjie Gu in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, who began work with ENN Group in 2008 as a visiting scholar from Carleton. With ENN Group, he has explored new areas of energy conversion and synthetic natural gas, and the commercialization of the technology is expected in 2015.
“This lab is a continuation of the collaboration with ENN and suits well our expertise in refrigeration, thermal energy and vehicle engineering,” said Gu. “We will focus on LNG research – from its production to LNG engines for trucks, exhaust emission control, and other areas.”
Dr. Runte is in China from to visit several universities, companies and alumni as she finalizes important education and research agreements.
Background:
Carleton has more than 850 students from China on campus and 650 alumni in China. Several faculty members from China have recently joined the Carleton community, including five instructors from Central China Normal University.
Carleton University has developed extensive ties with China over the last several years. The National Capital Confucius Institute for Culture, Language and Business opened at Carleton in April 2012 and serves as a hub for exploring the challenges and opportunities presented to Canada and China by today’s global economy.
Events attended by policy-makers, business executives and community leaders provide platforms for focusing on a wide variety of issues underlying real-world problems. Late in September, the Institute held a seminar in China studies and research, hosting leading educators from Beijing and Tianjin to discuss challenges to China’s growth, international trade and other topics.
The Institute also provides practical knowledge through language and communication-focused certificate programs and courses – offering international educational opportunities for students and arming people who want to do business in China with the skills and understanding they require.
The Confucius Institute recently provided orientation sessions for the National Arts Centre Orchestra, which is touring China this month, and it is offering Chinese language and culture support throughout the tour. Also in the country in October will be Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, who is leading the largest ever delegation from the city, Gov.-Gen. David Johnston, and the Canada-China Business Council.
About Carleton University:
Located in the nation’s capital, Carleton University is a dynamic research and teaching institution with a tradition of leading change. Its internationally recognized faculty, staff and researchers provide more than 25,000 full- and part-time students from every province and more than 100 countries around the world with academic opportunities in more than 65 programs of study, including public affairs, journalism, film studies, engineering, high technology, and international studies. Carleton’s creative, interdisciplinary and international approach to research has led to many significant discoveries and creative works in science and technology, business, governance, public policy and the arts. As an innovative institution Carleton is uniquely committed to developing solutions to real-world problems by pushing the boundaries of knowledge and understanding daily.
About ENN Canada:
ENN Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of ENN Group. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, ENN Canada is building a network of LNG stations across the country. ENN Canada is innovating on clean energy by providing liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations and solutions to the Canadian transportation industry. Through ENN’s joint venture in the USA, Canadian customers will be able to benefit from a network of natural gas stations throughout North America. ENN Canada is dedicated to providing its customers with a full range of natural gas solutions including LNG supply, LNG station construction & operation and assistance in acquiring LNG vehicles.
ENN’s investment in Canada has already created 50+ local jobs and will continue to create employment opportunities with its growth. It also brings significant savings to trucks at the pump (30%-40% cost savings compared to diesel). Moreover, the injection of capital into Canada will help reduce our carbon footprint from transportation.
For more information:
Christopher Cline
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
613-355-0336 (cell)
Christopher.Cline@Carleton.ca