Nanotechnology collaboration to advance clean energy efforts by Alberta and Texas

Edmonton, AB – Two of North America’s leading nanotechnology research centres are combining their expertise to advance work on clean energy development.

As a follow up to two recent missions to Texas, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Houston’s Rice University aimed at making energy industries greener. The MOU involves William Marsh Rice University’s Richard E Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology, through nanoAlberta (the province’s coordinating organization for nanotechnology activity).

The agreement encourages collaboration on projects that can enhance sustainable energy development; lead to development of clean technologies; and improve efficiency in renewable energy technologies and applications of nanoscience.

“The extraordinary scholars and researchers of the Smalley Institute of Rice University are developing advanced nanoscale technologies to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems,” said David Leebron, president of Rice University. “Collaborating with nanoAlberta of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology has great potential to benefit North America and the rest of the world with new solutions to energy and related environmental challenges.”

“The Houston area and the cities of Alberta have much in common, and we believe this relationship will lead to important joint projects and deep research relationships.”

Nanotechnology could influence the whole the spectrum of energy recovery and use from reducing energy inputs during production, reducing water use, enhancing tailings remediation, reducing emissions from coal, improving the efficiency of solar energy cells and more.