$9M centre launched to find energy alternatives

Vancouver, BC – Practical solutions to urgent energy issues are the focus of the University of British Columbias Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC), which opened earlier this month. It is Canadas only interdisciplinary facility dedicated to improving existing energy technologies and developing new sustainable sources of energy.

Made possible by funding from the British Columbia government, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and other sources, the $9-million, 1,160-sq-m facility provides researchers in UBCs Faculty of Applied Science with advanced equipment and labs for finding ways to reduce pollution and the global dependence on fossil fuels.

The centre will support 24 faculty and more than 90 graduate students from the departments of chemical and biological engineering, electrical and computer engineering, materials engineering and mechanical engineering. Research at the centre includes investigations of clean burning engines, fuel cells systems, process emission reductions and new energy sources such as hydrogen and biofuels.