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Technologies - Terms and Definitions

Technologies
Detailed below is a full range of clean energy technologies and support services which characterize the various entities, projects, initiatives and events listed on the Clean Energy Portal. The scope includes consulting and engineering, process and prevention technology, renewables, instruments and analysis, air pollution and control, energy from waste, and other emerging fields.

Use the clickable links in the listing on your right to see details on each technology.

Bio-energy Systems

Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy derived from recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products. This sustainable energy resource accounts for approximately 6% of Canada’s total energy supply, providing clean energy to Canadians that emits low CO2 while helping to reduce waste.

Bioenergy systems convert biomass to energy and fuels that can be used to meet energy needs in industry, transportation, agriculture and residential heating. Some examples of bioenergy systems include: biogas gasification and anaerobic digestion, 2nd generation biofuels and pyrolysis, biomass resources (including biomass to gas, catalytic conversion and biomass densification), and combined heat and power.

To find out more about current research in the BioEnergy field, please visit the bioenergy section of the CanmetENERGY website.

Clean Air Technologies

The choices that we make in our every day lives can have a significant impact on the environment. One key example of this would be our energy consumption and its direct effect on our air quality. Some of the main sources of energy pollution are industries, power plants and vehicles and the more energy we consume, the more pollutants we are releasing into the atmosphere. These chemicals, emitted into our air via transportation, industries, and other sources, create an imbalance in the atmosphere’s nitrogen and oxygen layer, triggering the effects of climate change.

Clean air technologies aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and air contaminants that pollute our atmosphere by both reducing the production of, and aiding in the capture of, harmful chemical by-products that are released into the air. The advanced knowledge that is gained through clean air research and development helps minimise the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere and in doing so improves air quality, the health of the population, the environment, and the economy.

To learn more about current research in the area of clean-air technology, please visit the Environment Canada website.

Clean Fossil Fuel Technologies

Fossil fuel combustion is the most common means of powering industrial plants and processes. Even though fossil fuels are noted as an important strategic resource for Canada, there is a great need to reduce the harmful emissions that are produced by these fuels.

By researching combustion processes such as clean coal technologies, and carbon capture and storage, Canada is on track to play a leading role in clean energy research and development into the area of clean fossil fuel technology. These technologies are an effective resource that can help fight climate change and work towards a cleaner, more environmentally friendly future.

To find out more about research in Clean Fossil Fuel Technology, please visit the CanmetENERGY website.

Community Energy Systems

Community Energy Systems (CES) supply heating, cooling and power to multiple buildings from a centralised plant or multiple interconnected plants. These systems encompass district heating and cooling, combined heat and power (cogeneration), waste heat recovery, thermal storage, as well as local sources of renewable energy.

Consulting organizations working in community energy planning help the private sector, municipalities, communities, and other various levels of government improve their energy efficiency, by identifying and developing opportunities for the use of energy efficient CES technologies.

To learn more about Community Energy Systems, please visit the Communities section of the Canmet ENERGY website.

Industrial Energy Systems

Industrial energy systems such as process heating, combined heat and power, compressed air, motors, pumps and fans, account for approximately 80% of all energy that is used by industry. Improving the energy efficiency and performance of these systems can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy cost savings. 

This can be achieved through energy recovery technologies and by reducing the energy lost during combustion processes.  With the efficient reduction and recovery of lost energy, less fossil fuel is required to operate an industrial system, which can greatly benefit our environment.  To further decrease the use of carbon-intensive fossil fuels, renewable replacement fuels such as biomass, can also be used to help power our industrial systems.

Further research and development into increasing the efficiency and performance of industrial energy systems will help realise an environmentally conscious sustainable energy future.  To learn more about current research into Industrial Energy Systems, please visit the Industrial Energy section of the CanmetENERGY website.

Modelling

Modelling energy systems can be a cost effective approach to help designers, engineers, and operators develop better understanding of their equipment and processes, leading to improvements in efficiencies and reduction of emissions.

Different computational models exist for the different size scales that occur in energy systems. Computational chemistry models can be used to examine how individual atoms and molecules interact and can be applied; for example, in designing new materials for fuel cells. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling is often used to look at individual pieces of equipment. A CFD model of a utility boiler can help an operator understand sources of pollutants like NOx and adjust the operating conditions to reduce its formation. At a broader scale, process models are used to examine the interaction of many different pieces of equipment working together, such as in the process of refining oil into petroleum. 

Application of models can be cost effective as it allows engineers to pre-test modifications and optimisations before making real and possibly expensive changes to their equipment and processes. Models also allow designers to try out entirely new processes and equipment concepts, reducing the need to build and test many different prototypes.

For more information on modelling energy systems, please visit the CanmetENERGY website.

Renewable Technologies

Renewable energy is a replenishable resource that is produced by wind, sunlight, moving water, geothermal heat, earth and biomass. These resources are found naturally in the earth’s environment and do not pose any harmful effects, as they do not release carbon dioxide or other damaging pollutants. Renewable power generation technologies are used to harness the power of energy flows in order to generate heat and electricity. Utilizing these renewable resources improves the sustainability of our energy production and in turn reduces environmental impacts and delivers benefits to human health.

Renewable energy can be harnessed in a variety of different ways. Wind energy is mainly collected by large wind turbines found off-shore and in large groups called wind farms. Solar energy is collected with photovoltaic cells that are formed into solar panels. These panels are integrated into buildings or linked together into large systems called solar farms, which absorb the radiant energy of the sun. Marine energy is collected by a system of buoys that move with the waves or tides to collect the kinetic energy of the ocean and convert it into useable power. Hydropower is collected by water turbines and the power of running water, which is converted into electric energy. Bioenergy is collected by combusting biological carbon-based plant life.

For more information on renewable energy technologies, please visit the CanmetENERGY website.

Biofuel (including biodiesel)

Biofuel is any solid, liquid or gaseous fuel that is derived from recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, rather than from petroleum or coal.  As a clean safe energy source, biofuel can be used in automotive, domestic, commercial and industrial equipment and is commonly used to power home heating systems and vehicles. 

In Canada, the production of biofuel has progressed significantly since ethanol biofuel was first blended with gasoline and distributed across the country over twenty years ago.

Some common examples of biofuels are wood and wood wastes from industries, organic wastes from municipalities, bio-alcohol (ethanol and methanol), agrofuel, and biogas. 

To find out more about work being done in Canada on biofuels, please visit the biofuel section of the CanmetENERGY website.

Biogas

Biogas is a gaseous fuel derived from the digestion of recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, under anaerobic (without air) conditions. Two main schools for the creation of biogas exist: anaerobic fermentation of organic materials such as biomass, municipal waste, or compost; and the gasification of wood or other biomass. Each of these derives a different set of chemicals, but includes methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The presence of these chemicals allows for combustion or oxidization of the gas to be used as a fuel.

Biogas is used as a carbon-neutral source of thermal energy or electricity. It is safe for use in compatible automotive, domestic, commercial and industrial equipment.

To get further information on research in biogas, please visit the bioenergy section of the CanmetENERGY website. 

Biofuels

Biofuel is any solid, liquid or gaseous fuel that is derived from recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, rather than from petroleum or coal.  As a clean safe energy source, biofuel can be used in automotive, domestic, commercial and industrial equipment and is commonly used to power home heating systems and vehicles. 

In Canada, the production of biofuel has progressed significantly since ethanol biofuel was first blended with gasoline and distributed across the country over twenty years ago.

Some common examples of biofuels are wood and wood wastes from industries, organic wastes from municipalities, bio-alcohol (ethanol and methanol), agrofuel, and biogas. 

To find out more about work being done in Canada on biofuels, please visit the biofuel section of the CanmetENERGY website.

Biogas

Biogas is a gaseous fuel derived from the digestion of recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, under anaerobic (without air) conditions. Two main schools for the creation of biogas exist: anaerobic fermentation of organic materials such as biomass, municipal waste, or compost; and the gasification of wood or other biomass. Each of these derives a different set of chemicals, but includes methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The presence of these chemicals allows for combustion or oxidization of the gas to be used as a fuel.

Biogas is used as a carbon-neutral source of thermal energy or electricity. It is safe for use in compatible automotive, domestic, commercial and industrial equipment.

To get further information on research in biogas, please visit the bioenergy section of the CanmetENERGY website. 

Biomass

Biomass refers to any biological matter which may be used for energy production. The two largest sources of biomass supply in Canada come from forestry and agricultural operations. Because biomass is a renewable energy source, it has significant potential to provide a sustainable alternative to conventional sources of energy such as fossil fuels.

Biomass may be converted into energy in a variety of ways, including:

  • Combustion, converts biomass into heat and power under environmentally sound conditions;
  • Gasification, converts biomass into syngas, which can be used as a fuel and/or chemical feedstock;
  • Fermentation, converts starch and cellulose components of biomass to bio-ethanol;
  • Anaerobic Digestion, converts manures, food processing residues and organic fraction of municipal solid waste into gaseous fuel, methane rich biogas.

To get further information on research in biomass, please visit the bioenergy section of the CanmetENERGY website.

Clean Air Technologies

The choices that we make in our every day lives can have a significant impact on the environment. One key example of this would be our energy consumption and its direct effect on our air quality. Some of the main sources of energy pollution are industries, power plants and vehicles and the more energy we consume, the more pollutants we are releasing into the atmosphere. These chemicals, emitted into our air via transportation, industries, and other sources, create an imbalance in the atmosphere’s nitrogen and oxygen layer, triggering the effects of climate change.

Clean air technologies aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and air contaminants that pollute our atmosphere by both reducing the production of, and aiding in the capture of, harmful chemical by-products that are released into the air. The advanced knowledge that is gained through clean air research and development helps minimise the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere and in doing so improves air quality, the health of the population, the environment, and the economy.

To learn more about current research in the area of clean-air technology, please visit the Environment Canada website.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Canada has an abundant supply of coal, natural gas, and oil reserves, and the process of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a key method used to help lessen the environmental impact that occurs in the combustion of these fossil fuels. 

CCS is a process in which CO2 emissions are captured from large industrial sources, compressed, and then transported by pipeline or tanker to an underground storage area (or geological formation).  The short-term methods of sequestering captured CO2 are enhanced oil recovery and enhanced coal-bed methane recovery, while the long term options are to sequester the CO2 in saline aquifers and salt caverns.

CCS recognises the industrial world’s dependency on fossil fuels and provides solutions to help minimize the environmental impact of industrial green house gases. The use of CCS technologies and projects is helping place Canada as a global leader in clean energy research and development.

To find out about Canadian research and development into Carbon Capture and Sequestration technologies, please visit the CanmetENERGY website. 

Combined Cycle Power Plants

Conventional heat engines, typically powered by natural gas, oil and other cleaner-burning fuels such as syngas, can lose up to 50 percent of their potential energy in the heat of combustion.  Combined Cycle Power Plants are designed to address the issue of wasted energy potential that is inherent in conventional heat engines.

Combined Cycle Power Plants also reduce negative environmental impacts by cutting down on the amount of fuel that is needed to produce the required energy, thereby reducing harmful emissions. Solar Combined Cycle Power Plants are currently being tested to further reduce the environmental impact of power generation.

To find out more about research into Combined Cycle Power Generation, please visit the Clean Fossil Fuels section of the CanmetENERGY website. 

Smart Grids

Seen as an upgrade of the 20th century power grid, Smart Grids refer to the modernization of the transmission and distribution systems used to operate existing electrical grids. A communication infrastructure is used to monitor, manage and optimize a two-way energy flow of electricity between the energy producers and consumers of the power.

Being more consumer-interactive in nature, and based on a decentralization of the energy supply, Smart Grids offer a way of addressing energy efficiency and reliability issues, as well as providing a means to increase the role of alternative energy sources (e.g. wind and solar) in an effort to positively impact the environment.

Although deployment in various business contexts makes each application of this technology unique, Smart Grid technologies can be categorized under five major components: Advanced metering, Demand response, Ancillary services, Network monitoring and Network automation.

To learn more about Smart Grids, please visit the Renewables section of the CanmetENERGY website. 

Industrial Waste-Heat Recovery

Industrial waste-heat recovery is the process of capturing the heat that is produced as a by-product of industrial processes and reusing that heat to improve energy efficiency by recycling it to generate energy for either the same or another in-house process. As another alternative, the heat produced can also be redirected to other areas of a building in order to decrease the space heating costs.

Industrial waste-heat recovery is common in combined cycle power plants, combined cycle heat and power plants, and in industrial cogeneration processes. Making use of this heat, which would otherwise be wasted, represents an increase in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It also represents an improvement in the sustainability of industry practices as it decreases the amount of fossil fuel needed to meet the required energy demands, without utilizing any other type of fuel in its place.

To learn more about current research into Industrial Waster-Heat Recovery, please visit the Industrial Energy section of the CanmetENERGY website.

Modelling

Modelling energy systems can be a cost effective approach to help designers, engineers, and operators develop better understanding of their equipment and processes, leading to improvements in efficiencies and reduction of emissions.

Different computational models exist for the different size scales that occur in energy systems. Computational chemistry models can be used to examine how individual atoms and molecules interact and can be applied; for example, in designing new materials for fuel cells. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling is often used to look at individual pieces of equipment. A CFD model of a utility boiler can help an operator understand sources of pollutants like NOx and adjust the operating conditions to reduce its formation. At a broader scale, process models are used to examine the interaction of many different pieces of equipment working together, such as in the process of refining oil into petroleum.

Application of models can be cost effective as it allows engineers to pre-test modifications and optimisations before making real and possibly expensive changes to their equipment and processes. Models also allow designers to try out entirely new processes and equipment concepts, reducing the need to build and test many different prototypes.

For more information on modelling energy systems, please visit the CanmetENERGY website.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is extracted from heat stored in the Earth’s core. 

Power plants that utilize this technology use deep wells to extract hot water directly from porous rocks. The liquid is then vaporized and the resulting pressure drives a turbine generator which produces electricity.  Geothermal energy can also be used to supply heat to buildings, either directly out of the group or upgraded by means of heat pumps.

Geothermal energy can be generated anywhere on the planet, but major production activities are limited to seismic hotspots where earthquake and magma movement allow water to circulate, easing the extraction process.    By using the Earth’s own thermal energy to provide power, geothermal technologies help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to conserve non-renewable fossil fuels.  

To find out more about current research on geothermal energy, please visit the CanmetENERGY website.

Photovoltaic Systems

Photovoltaic systems generate solar power by collecting sunlight and converting it into electrical energy. Photovoltaic systems, which include an installation of a collection of interconnected modules and/or panels, can be used in a variety of ways.  They can be used to power stations, creating something of a solar farm; in new or retrofitted buildings, to power the building itself or to feed into the grid; in transportation, to provide auxiliary power to, boats, or cars; and in remote stand alone devices, such as parking meters.

The newest photovoltaic technologies can be camouflaged into walls and roof tops where traditional panels could not previously be utilized. These systems allow the heat from the sun’s rays to be collected and applied directly to the building’s heating needs, creating a type of cogeneration power source.

To find out more about current Canadian research into photovoltaic technology, please visit the CanmetENERGY website. 

Solar Thermal systems

Solar thermal systems provide a sustainable and renewable energy source for the heating of air and water. These systems are used to absorb the sun’s energy and channel that energy to meet heating needs. Since the heating of air and water accounts for a vast majority of residential and commercial energy consumption, solar thermal systems provide the opportunity to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by overcoming the necessity of burning fossil fuels to meet heating needs.

Success stories, such as the construction of the Drake Landing Solar Community in Okotoks, Alberta, where the majority of space and water heating needs are met with solar thermal technologies, indicate the viability and the potential of solar thermal systems.

To find out more about current Canadian research into solar thermal technology, please visit the CanmetENERGY website. 

Fuel Cells

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that uses hydrogen, or other hydrogen-containing fuels, and oxygen to produce electricity.  When pure hydrogen is used in a fuel cell, the only by-products are water and heat, in addition to the electricity.  This makes hydrogen fuel cells an ideal zero-emissions energy option.

Although similar to batteries, fuel cells don't consume electrode material or require electrical recharging.  They are also scalable in size. The four main applications of fuel cells are portable small devices such as cell phones, stationary power supplies such as back-up power units, transportation such as buses or cars, and distributed generation for on-site power supplies.

Canadian expertise in this field lies primarily in research and development, and manufacturing. Research and development continues with the goals of improving affordability and availability for consumers and to provide a technology that is efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly.

For more information on fuel cells, please visit the transportation section of the CanmetENERGY website.


Disclaimer
The pages contained in the directories of the Clean Energy Portal are provided in the language of the author/source. All of this information has been provided directly by the companies, organizations and associations listed herein, or by other sources external to the Government of Canada.

The Government of Canada does not pre-qualify or endorse the companies that are listed in this on-line directory. The Government of Canada also waives any responsibility for the work performed by the companies listed herein. The Government of Canada is not responsible for the information supplied by these organizations or for keeping the information in this directory current and correct. This on-line directory and all of the information it contains are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, whether expressed or implied. All implied warranties, including, without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement, are hereby expressly disclaimed.

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Date Modified: 2010-03-17

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