Toward technologically sound and sustainable energy systems: Tools in support of decision-making

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The sustainable supply of energy is one of the most significant challenges society currently faces. Decision-making in this area is extremely complex; not only are there a very large number of factors to consider, in many cases the decisions will have long-term implications. The aim of this work is to build on my previous research in this area to develop individual, modular tools that can be used by decision-makers individually, as well as in combination, to inform high-level decisions on energy systems planning and management. These tools (e.g., frameworks, methods) will be based in engineering fundamentals and technically rigorous, but also sufficiently transparent that non-experts will feel comfortable applying them. As such, decision-makers will be better able to identify energy system solutions that are both technologically sound and sustainable from environmental, economic and social perspectives. The overarching objective of this research program is to generate information and decision-making tools to help in the planning and management of sustainable energy systems, on municipal, provincial and federal scales. In the long-term, the aim is to leverage the systems analysis skills of engineers to both characterize existing and emerging energy technologies, to combine that knowledge with contributions from the social sciences, and to develop tools that can be used by non-experts to help them understand, plan and manage energy systems. In the short-term, the goal is to develop individual, modular tools that can be used by decision-makers in Ontario individually, as well as in combination. Specific objectives include: (1) To create a model linking available energy carriers and energy demands, subject to the constraints of sustainability, as well as technical and financial uncertainty; and (2) To develop a tool specifically for the design of flexible, and adaptable energy systems. This work is expected to have a significant impact on the development of policy related to energy systems planning and management, by providing insights based on strong engineering knowledge of energy systems and their sustainability, combined with an appreciation of the uncertainties under which decisions must be made. It is also expected that other engineering researchers will find these tools valuable, for example: They can be used early in the design of new technologies to consider how well they will perform in certain applications and how they compare to others; or, they can be used to examine possible future energy system scenarios and the challenges that will need engineering solutions. Engineers have a significant role to play in providing decision-makers with the information they need, in a usable manner. The intrinsic importance of energy to our society and the increasing challenges we continue to face in its sustainable supply and use require that we work toward technologically sound and sustainable solutions.