TMU researchers lead novel green energy collaborations

Four Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) researchers have received funding as part of Volt-Age, Concordia University’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund program. This funding will support large‐scale initiatives focused on integrating cutting-edge technologies for carbon-neutral buildings, advanced energy storage, smart grids and the electrification of transportation.

TMU is a key institutional partner in the multidisciplinary program, which is focused on developing and delivering novel green energy sources and technologies to communities across Canada. TMU professors Alan Fung, Atefeh (Atty) Mashatan, Jenn McArthur and Bala Venkatesh were selected to explore topics aligned with their areas of expertise, such as infrastructure, microgrids, building retrofits and cybersecurity.

“Congratulations to professors Fung, Mashatan, McArthur and Venkatesh for their involvement with this important program that will drive Canada’s greener future forward. Their contributions in fields such as renewable energy, cybersecurity and building sciences will help bring energy innovation to communities across the country,” said Steven N. Liss, TMU’s vice-president, research and innovation. 

TMU researchers’ Volt-Age projects: 

Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science 

• Professor Alan Fung: Development of the Digitization of Building and Community Electrification Platform. Professor Fung will apply his knowledge of net-zero building and community solutions to this project by developing technologies such as heating and cooling systems that are both effective and reduce emissions. He is a long-time collaborator with Concordia professor and Volt-Age Scientific Director Andreas Athienitis.

• Professor Jenn McArthur: CITY(retro)fit: Supporting Comprehensive Assessment of Urban Built Environment Decarbonization and Electrification Retrofit Strategies. Professor McArthur will use her engineering, project management and building science expertise to develop a city-scale digital twin supported by new surrogate models to better simulate Toronto's existing buildings and test scenarios for retrofits at the building, neighbourhood, and district scales. Additionally, she will investigate multi-scale retrofits using urban building energy modelling to plan and test large-scale decarbonization interventions. 

• Professor Bala Venkatesh: Resilient Distribution System Microgrids. Professor Venkatesh, the Centre for Urban Energy’s founding academic director, will explore how electric power distribution systems can support a green energy transition. He will focus on novel and innovative methods, such as microgrids at a utility-sized scale, to enable renewables, energy storage, electric vehicles and more.

Ted Rogers School of Management

• Professor Atefeh (Atty) Mashatan: Enabling Trustworthy Smart Energy Solutions with a Consumer Facing Zero Trust Framework. Professor Mashatan, the Canada Research Chair in Quality of Security Framework for Internet of Things (IoT), will create a Zero Trust security framework for consumer IoT networks, such as those found in smart houses or smart buildings. Additionally, she will create a system based on blockchain technology to serve as a secure and reliable ledger that will capture proof of environmental impact and other critical information assets to ensure data integrity in secure and resilient communities of the future.

Learn more about recently announced Volt-Age projects.  (external link, opens in new window) 

Learn more about the Volt-Age program at Concordia University.  (external link, opens in new window)