Enabling the energy transition through applied research and innovation

The Centre for Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions at SAIT is advancing the energy transition, optimising conventional systems, and developing emerging technologies to meet sustainability goals

Environmental pressures are reshaping the energy sector as sustainability becomes a priority for governments, industry, and communities. Conventional energy systems have supported economic growth and industrial development for decades and are now evolving for efficient operations and reduced environmental impact. At the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS), the Centre for Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions (CERCUTS) is focused on enabling this energy transition by moving technologies beyond concept into application.

“The transition to more sustainable energy systems is already underway. However, it is not defined by the rapid replacement of existing infrastructure; it is a gradual transformation,” said Dr Robert Davies, Research Chair, CERCUTS. “Conventional systems must continue to meet immediate demand, while new technologies such as hydrogen, energy storage, and advanced industrial processes are developed and prepared for broader implementation. Many of these technologies remain in intermediate stages where scalability and real-world performance must be proven before they can be widely adopted.”

Through applied research and industry collaboration, the centre supports both the evolution of existing energy systems and the development of emerging technologies – how energy is produced, stored and used – by providing the facilities and expertise to test, validate, refine and scale energy solutions under real-world conditions.

Dr Davies added: “Bridging this gap is one of the most critical challenges facing the energy sector today. It is essential for new technologies to be tested and validated in environments that reflect real-world conditions before they can be deployed at scale. Without this step, even the most promising solutions risk remaining theoretical rather than practical.”

CERCUTS’ work across key focus areas is directly related to these challenges. Research in once-through steam generation (OTSG) and boiler performance optimisation supports the optimisation of conventional energy systems by improving efficiency and reducing operational and environmental impacts. In parallel, water and wastewater treatment research addresses one of the most critical constraints in energy production, the availability and quality of water. Energy storage systems and hydrogen technologies represent emerging pathways, enabling more flexible, low-emission energy systems while supporting the integration of renewables and new energy carriers.

CERCUTS is focused on bridging the gap between innovation and implementation to meet national and global priorities.

Advancing energy solutions

“As the energy industry evolves, there is a growing need to enhance existing systems while progressing new technologies that support sustainability goals. From improving operational efficiency to enabling alternative energy pathways, research and innovation are playing a key role in shaping how energy systems perform today and how they will develop in the future,” said Marlon Norona, Principal Investigator (OTSG), CERCUTS.

Norona added: “One area where this approach is particularly evident is in once-through steam generation (OTSG), a critical process in in-situ oil sands operations. Steam generation plays a central role in resource extraction, but is often challenged by issues such as scaling, fouling and corrosion, which can negatively impact system efficiency, reliability and lifespan. As operators seek to improve performance while reducing operational costs and environmental impacts, innovative and effective mitigation strategies are becoming increasingly important.

To address these challenges, CERCUTS researchers collaborated with the chemical manufacturing company ChampionX. This collaboration combines the research expertise of CERCUTS’ OTSG team and ChampionX’s knowledge in additive formulation and application.

This research explored the effectiveness of novel chemical additives in controlling scaling and fouling –  two persistent challenges that can impact the performance of once-through steam generation systems. A range of 15 polymer-based dispersant chemistries was initially evaluated through laboratory testing before and after thermal ageing under conditions representative of typical OTSG operations.

Building on these results, the highest-performing chemistries were selected for further evaluation using ARIS’ pilot-scale OTSG rigs. Designed to replicate the key operating conditions of full-scale industrial systems, these units operate at comparable pressures and temperatures, providing a realistic and dynamic environment for testing.

Through this approach, the research was able to move beyond controlled lab conditions and assess how these solutions perform in settings that closely reflect real-world operations, helping to advance more effective strategies for managing scaling and fouling in steam generation systems. These insights have helped shape more effective treatment strategies that balance performance with environmental and economic considerations.

This meant improving how these systems operate day to day. Enhancements in treatment approaches have supported better heat transfer, reduced downtime and lowered maintenance costs, while also extending the lifespan of critical equipment. At the same time, advances in additive chemistry have contributed to more efficient energy use and more effective water management.

The outcomes of this research demonstrate how targeted, applied research can translate into tangible improvements, strengthening system performance while supporting broader sustainability goals.

Energy storage systems

“Alongside efforts to enhance conventional energy systems, the role of energy storage is becoming increasingly important in shaping how energy is delivered and managed. At CERCUTS, we’re supporting the transition toward more adaptable and resilient energy systems,” said Dawson Bachand, Operations Lead, CERCUTS.

In partnership with Frog Lake First Nation, CERCUTS is exploring innovative approaches to long-term energy storage aimed at strengthening energy resilience in rural and remote environments. Central to this work is the development of a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB), in tandem with a wind turbine deployment led by ARIS’s Green Building Technology Access Centre, to create a system capable of storing and supplying energy as needed.

With testing planned in a variable climate setting, the system will demonstrate how renewable energy can be captured, stored and deployed to support both day-to-day operations and backup power needs. The battery is designed to recharge through wind generation while providing a reliable source of energy that can be drawn upon by the local grid when required, such as in emergent situations.

Beyond laboratory development and performance validation, site-based assessments for system operation, planning, maintenance, and safety are key aspects of this project as the battery moves closer to deployment. This collaborative approach ensures that the technology is supported for long-term use within the community.

By evaluating the feasibility of deploying clean energy technologies in real-world conditions, this work supports Frog Lake First Nation in advancing energy sovereignty, strengthening local infrastructure and building capacity for future sustainable energy initiatives. It also establishes a strong foundation for continued research and innovation in community-driven clean energy solutions.

Additionally, another CERCUTS partnership with Aqua-Cell Energy is advancing salt water flow batteries (SWFBs) to create a more affordable option for long-duration energy storage. This project is focusing on optimising battery design to boost performance and lower costs compared to traditional grid storage technologies. Unlike solid-state lithium-ion batteries, SWFBs use abundant, non-toxic saltwater liquid electrolyte, enabling cost-effective scaling. This innovation supports grid flexibility, renewable integration and energy self-sufficiency for remote communities and microgrids, paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

Water and wastewater research

“Water quality and management remain critical considerations across many industrial processes, where both input water specifications and wastewater discharge requirements must be carefully controlled. Access to water that meets specific quality standards is essential, while untreated or poorly managed wastewater can pose environmental risks,” said Dr Molood Barmala, Principal Investigator (Water Research), CERCUTS.

At CERCUTS, water and wastewater research is focused on addressing these challenges through applied testing and process development. This includes evaluating water quality to ensure it meets required operational standards, as well as supporting the development and refinement of treatment methods for complex wastewater streams generated by industry.

Dr Barmala added: “By supporting both water quality and effective wastewater management, this work enables industries to meet regulatory requirements, maintain system reliability and reduce their environmental impact.”

Meeting Pure Water Standards

In partnership with Arrowhead Abandonments, a First Nations-owned company specialising in oilfield abandonment projects, CERCUTS played a pivotal role in optimising and transforming the Hybrid Water Desalination System (HWDS), initially designed for seawater desalination, into a mobile, land-based solution capable of treating river water.

By integrating advanced technologies such as ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF), the system now ensures high-purity water production, a critical input for electrolysis-based hydrogen generation. Water desalination is a crucial pre-treatment step for hydrogen production to ensure high-purity water can be used for electrolysis. Desalination ensures salts and impurities are removed from the seawater, making it suitable for various industrial applications. The purified water then enters an electrolyser, where electricity splits it into hydrogen and oxygen. Since electrolysis requires ultra-pure water to prevent equipment damage and inefficiencies, desalination is essential, especially because seawater is too salty for direct use. By integrating renewable energy sources like solar or wind, water desalination enables a more sustainable approach to green hydrogen production, supporting clean energy initiatives and reducing environmental impact. During the process, CERCUTS implemented energy recovery and advanced filtration technologies, which significantly helped reduce operational costs and enhance sustainability.

This work establishes a foundation for integrating hydrogen electrolysers with enhanced HWDS, with future efforts focused on developing ultrapure water systems, scaling for larger hydrogen production, advancing energy-efficient technologies and exploring hydrogen storage solutions in abandoned wells.

Advanced wastewater treatment technology

“For decades, many contaminants in our water systems haven’t been consistently monitored or regulated, such as pharmaceuticals, not because they were unknown, but because conventional treatment systems weren’t designed to detect or remove them,” said Dr Barmala. “Now, that’s shifting. As emerging contaminants come into focus, their persistence in the environment, ability to accumulate in living organisms, and potential impacts are creating new priorities for monitoring and treatment.”

Over two years, CERCUTS brought together expertise in process engineering, chemical research and data analytics to enhance BioLargo Canada’s Advanced Oxidation System (AOS) for practical wastewater treatment applications for contaminated wastewater streams.

The project successfully demonstrated the removal of targeted pollutants, providing proof of effectiveness under real operating conditions. It also established recommended operating ranges and performance parameters to support more predictable outcomes and improved compatibility of the technology. These results create a more consistent approach to assessing additional pharmaceutical contaminants, while supporting the ongoing advancement of treatment technologies and analytical methods as part of future research and deployment.

Beyond the technical outcomes, the work supports technology adoption, business growth, and the creation of skilled jobs in Alberta as deployment expands. This is what applied research is all about: bringing together expertise and partnerships to support innovation that addresses today’s challenges, along with shaping more resilient systems for the future.

Advancing innovation by supporting emerging ventures

Alongside projects with industry, CERCUTS has a strong relationship with Avatar Innovations, a venture platform purpose-built for the energy industry, developing both the breakthrough technologies and the leadership talent required to deploy them. Avatar Innovations has been a key partner of CERCUTS for the past four years, assisting over 14 start-ups through the Studio phase of Avatar’s accelerator programme, including the following:

Turning waste into value

“Research driven by a growing challenge within the energy industry: how to manage oilfield tank sludge with large amounts of paraffin wax that is costly to handle and difficult to dispose of responsibly. Each year, significant volumes of this sludge are treated as waste because they require costly recovery or treatment processes to manage, resulting in both environmental and economic impacts. Recognising the potential within this material, RePhase set out to rethink how tank sludge could be approached – not as a disposal problem, but as a resource opportunity,” said Mojtaba Karimian, Senior Process Specialist, CERCUTS.

Born out of the Avatar Innovations programme, RePhase partnered with CERCUTS to explore new pathways for recovering value from oil sludge. Together, the teams focused on developing a solution that could extract usable paraffin wax and oil directly from sludge at the source, while minimising water use and reducing the need for off-site disposal.

Petroleum storage tank sludge, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, paraffins, resins and impurities, was investigated to assess paraffin wax recovery using solvent extraction and controlled thermal treatment. The research evaluated key process stages, including extraction, separation and purification, while examining solvent types, ratios and processing conditions. By combining chemical engineering principles with modular system design, the project demonstrated a more efficient and environmentally responsible approach. What emerged was a proven concept designed to reduce landfill reliance while enabling the recovery of high-value materials that would otherwise be lost. With further optimisation, the recovered material could be refined into Phase Change Materials, which can be used in energy-efficient and thermal storage applications.

The work establishes a foundation for continued development for waste reduction, materials recovery, and energy efficiency.

Chemical stripping solutions to optimise wastewater recycling and biogas production
Ammonia poisoning remains a key challenge in renewable natural gas (RNG) production. In collaboration with NanoStrip (previously known as Golden Bubble), a company focused on chemical stripping solutions to optimise wastewater recycling and biogas production, CERCUTS explored a transformative approach to addressing this issue through the integration of vacuum-assisted ammonia stripping (VaSA) and nanobubble technology.

Through applied research and pilot-scale testing, this combined system was evaluated across a range of agricultural and municipal waste streams. By leveraging vacuum conditions to enhance ammonia removal and using nanobubbles to improve gas-liquid interactions, the process demonstrated significant improvements in ammonia reduction and corresponding increases in methane production.

VaSA creates a reduced-pressure environment for ammonia volatilisation, while nanobubbles facilitate the rapid removal of ammonia by enhancing gas-liquid interactions. This novel synergy unlocks unprecedented efficiencies in ammonia stripping, supporting the development of more sustainable and scalable biogas solutions and contributing to broader decarbonisation efforts.

By supporting early-stage innovation, these collaborations help fast-track the development of emerging technologies, bringing practical solutions closer to real-world implementation. Other notable companies that have emerged from the Avatar programme: Avatar Ventures | Invest in Innovation Today — Avatar Innovations.

Critical infrastructure and the future

“Looking ahead, the future of energy innovation will be shaped by emerging technologies and by the environments in which they are developed and tested. Purpose-built infrastructure is essential to accelerate progress and enable researchers and industry partners to explore new approaches, validate performance and move solutions to real-world applications,” said Dr Davies.

At CERCUTS, a growing suite of advanced capabilities is supporting this work, strengthening the centre’s ability to drive innovation across energy, water and hydrogen systems.

OTSG rig novelty: as the first of their kind, 1/1000 scale OTSG rigs, they have been used for over 80 different experimental tests over the past seven years. Each run lasts approximately 96 hours and allows industrial operators to mimic and replicate industrial-scale performance on a smaller scale and at a low cost. This is essential for testing chemical additives, understanding scaling and fouling from salts and organic compounds and erosion and corrosion. These are the biggest challenges affecting industrial-scale OTSG rigs and all other kinds of boilers used for energy and steam generation. While often associated with oil operations, OTSG research also presents broader opportunities in boiler optimisation, extending its relevance across a wider range of industrial applications.

ICP-MS Triple Quad: one of the few in Western Canada, the Inductively Coupled Plasma with a Triple Quad Mass Spectrometer allows for extremely precise metal characterisation in all types of water samples. Capable of analysing to the parts per trillion limits, CERCUTS can analyse a variety of water samples with varying contaminants and matrices to understand the specific metals that exist in the water. This is especially helpful with the OTSG rigs, as scaling and erosion often happen at microscopic levels, invisible to the eyes, and can only be detected by chemical analysis.

Hydrogen/analytical laboratory: CERCUTS is in the process of developing a hydrogen testing lab, both for purity and quality measurements and for testing novel processes and catalysts for hydrogen production. Funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, this project will establish new capabilities in the hydrogen energy industry, with the goal of aiding worldwide companies in the industry by testing their samples, processes, and novel technologies.

“Advancing sustainable energy solutions is strengthened by collaboration across industry, academia and communities,” said Bachand. “At CERCUTS, partnerships are essential and bring together diverse expertise to address complex challenges and move solutions forward. By working closely with industry partners, start-ups, collaborators and communities, locally and globally, CERCUTS continues to translate research into impact, supporting the evolution of more efficient, resilient, and sustainable systems.”

Please note, this article will also appear in the 27th edition of our quarterly publication.