As modern societies become more populous and a variety of new technologies, the need for advanced and novel materials has been widely recognized.
This need for engineered materials is nowhere greater and more urgent than in the electric power sector where cost-effective, reliable and long-term energy generation and storage technologies are essential for keeping pace with the ever-growing need for electricity in Canada and elsewhere.
Renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar offer alternatives to conventional technologies. However, their intermittent production and relatively high cost have slowed widespread penetration into the electricity market. Affordable energy storage technologies have great potential to improve the existing electric power grid, to facilitate the expansion of renewable energy technologies, and to offer an alternative to fossil-based fuels in the transportation sector.
Dr. Shahram Karimi, the Industrial Research Chair for Colleges at Lambton College, leads a dynamic research team working on green energy conversion and storage technologies. This team designs nano-engineered materials and processes that are economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally benign. A major focus of Dr. Karimi’s research group has been the synthesis and optimization of new nano-materials for use in lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers and photo-reactors. This research group is working to develop simple, cost-effective manufacturing schemes, where smart, functional films and surfaces with unique properties are put together for a wide range of industrial applications, including oil and gas and renewable energy conversion and storage.
The Industrial Research Chair for Colleges (IRCC) grant has provided Lambton College an opportunity to enhance and expand its applied research program, help local and regional companies with their research needs, and train highly qualified workers. This applied research also increases faculty involvement and enhances the college’s technology and business programs. The IRCC program at Lambton College has been involved in a number of projects:
- State-of-Charge Estimation for Li-Ion and LiPolymer Batteries in collaboration with Volta Energy Inc.
- Development of High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Fuel Cell Stack for a novel BioGenerator in collaboration with BioGenerator Energy Solutions Inc.
- An Optimized Distributed LED Power Supply Model in collaboration with Volta Energy Inc.
- Optimization of Lithium Ion Battery as an internal technology development
- Innovative Accelerated Corrosion Technique for Industrial Protective Coatings based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in collaboration with Toolrite Engineering
As a result, the research program has made significant contributions and commitments in support of local innovation through renewable energy education and building a robust and dynamic applied research program that is responsive to the needs of local small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Our active collaboration with Dr. Karimi and his research team at Lambton College on clean energy generation and storage has provided us with a great opportunity to develop solutions to some of the most challenging issues facing humanity. These collaborations have presented immeasurable opportunities and rewards and we are looking forward to working with them in the years to come,” says Dr. Denis Kouroussis, President of Volta Energy Inc.
