Innovation Fall 2024

T he race to cut carbon emissions has caused a wellspring of clean electricity solutions, with water, solar, and wind-generated power taking up an increasing share of the global power supply. But as green electricity floods the grid, systems struggle to cope with the intermittent nature of some renewable energy sources. Cold winters or drought can cause a significant dip in supply, requiring high-emissions backup power alternatives, while breezy summer days have resulted in an oversupply of power with limited storage opportunities. Reliable storage of electricity has become a key component of grid stability. Dr. Walter Mérida, P.Eng., and his team at UBC are tackling the issue with their Smart Hydrogen Energy District (SHED), a $23-million testbed for renewable energy research. The city-scale facility, an ambitious project envisioned in 2016 and completed in 2024, emphasizes dynamically managing energy generation, storage, and usage optimally. The team has developed a novel integration of leading solutions, such as "green hydrogen" electrolysis, to convert electricity into a stored chemical fuel and to dynamically store solar energy in parked cars. While individual solar, hydrogen, and battery storage

Photo: Paul Joseph/UBC Applied Science SHED’s hydrogen fueling station at UBC is a testbed for renewable energy research.

Innovation Fall 2024

21