NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Northern Energy Innovation

北部能源联盟（NEC）代表整个北部地区的能源工业。

The Northern Energy Consortium (NEC) represent the energy industry across the northern territories. Comprised of Yukon Energy Corporation, ATCO Electric, Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and Qulliq Energy Corporation, the NEC agreed that the most effective way to find solutions for their common issues was to join together to combine knowledge and resources. The NEC understood in order to accomplish the scope of innovative solutions that was envisioned, an expert in the energy field was necessary who had an established history of working closely with industry. Over the five years, the proposed Industrial Research Chair (IRC) will execute an industry-led applied research program. The program will focus on investigating solutions to common issues of northern and remote energy systems. The IRC will provide a framework for sharing experiences, research guidelines, and solutions to help northern utilities plan for future expansion and improvement of their systems. The partnership has identified a need for applied research in several streams including: (i) better utilizing existing non-renewable infrastructure for improved efficiency; (ii) integrating a high penetration of volatile renewable energy; (iii) investigating the integration of energy storage and demand-side management solutions; and (iv) developing and/or improving energy technologies, methods and protocols that work in the North and benefit the industry members of the NEC, energy consumers, and the environment. The IRC will provide a research hub for the study of the integration of novel technologies in an economically, socially, and environmentally conscious and responsible manner. The goal of the project is to develop an industry-driven research program while increasing knowledge and technology transfer between Yukon College students, faculty, and staff and the pan-territorial energy industry. This transfer will equip the workforce with highly qualified personnel trained and versed with technological solutions pertinent to the needs for energy systems in the northern context.