Vision
The future of energy
The world is increasingly urban. According to the United Nations, more than half of the world鈥檚 population lives in cities. In Canada, the number is much higher. 鈥� and, as elsewhere, that figure is expected to grow over the next few decades.
In addition, cities cover just three per cent of the Earth鈥檚 land, yet they account for up to 80 per cent of global energy consumption and 70 per cent of carbon emissions.
Canada鈥檚 economy is dependent on fossil fuels, which account for . Replacing these carbon-emitting sources with technologies that rely on clean, distributed electricity 鈥� often referred to as 鈥渄eep electrification鈥� 鈥� and decoupling the economy from fossil fuels won鈥檛 be easy, but it is necessary. As daunting and complex as the task is, the climate crisis demands that we rise to meet the challenge 鈥� in both the short and the long term.
That鈥檚 why CUE was created 鈥� to find innovative, collaborative solutions to society鈥檚 most pressing energy challenges, in concert with our private and public sector partners. Ten years on, our mission continues.
CUE's academic director on his vision for the next 10 years
The next decade will be decisive in our fight against climate change. In that context, I see an enormous range of opportunities and a growing role for CUE to play in helping to transform our energy system into one that is clean, smart, resilient and accessible to all. If we continue to attract talented students, PhD candidates and researchers, as well as partners who are eager to invest in what we do, I am confident that CUE will remain uniquely positioned to find new ways to supply energy reliably. And we鈥檒l do it without adding to the climate crisis, but rather by contributing to a greener planet and cleaner economy.
鈥�&苍产蝉辫;Bala Venkatesh, Academic Director
