Applied research program in produced water treatment and waste water remediation

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Global sustainability requires a complete array of Clean Energy Technologies to be deployed across all industrial sectors to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the urgent need for effective energy, water and environmental technologies which form Clean Energy Technologies (CET). As global demand increases, the demand for CET and environmentally responsible energy production has doubled. However, conservative forecasts predict a seven decade transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. In the interim, the critical demand for CET worldwide presents a significant opportunity for Canada to become a global leader and demonstrate produced water treatment technologies from de-oiling to desalination for environmentally sustainable conventional oil and unconventional (oil sands) energy production. Energy and water are intricately linked: it takes water to produce most sources of energy, and it takes energy to extract, treat and transport water. Alberta's energy production uses roughly three barrels of water per barrel of oil produced and the annual demand for fresh water is projected to increase from 5 M m3/year (2004) to 13 M m3/year (2015) in Alberta . Concomitant increases in water consumption and low winter flows due to climate change will put significant additional pressure on water availability in the Athabasca River basin. Water challenges are a global issue which requires local technological solutions and operational practices to enhance water use efficiency and quality while delivering energy. SAIT's Applied Research Program in Produced-Water Treatment and Waste Water Remediation responds to the need for local technological solutions. This research will generate multiple benefits and tangible outcomes for industry and society such as reduced fresh-water usage and overall efficiency to reduce the energy footprint.