Clean Energy Research and Development and Energy Efficiency Working Group

Under Action Plan I of the Clean Energy Dialogue (CED), the Research and Development (R&D) working group focused on collaboration on future-generation biofuels, clean engines and vehicles, and energy efficiency. To take advantage of an expanded array of opportunities, both Parties agreed to give energy efficiency a greater emphasis in the second Action Plan and renamed the working group accordingly. Initiatives under Action Plan II will build on earlier work and aim to facilitate cross-border collaboration in priority areas, including: marine energy, advanced biofuels, transportation, buildings and communities, and energy efficiency.

The working group supports a range of joint R&D and demonstration (RD&D) projects, and developed a Clean Energy RD&D Collaboration Framework to provide mechanisms to help connect researchers and institutions.

Under Action Plan I of the Clean Energy Dialogue, the working group committed to the following seven priority actions (please note that this information will be updated shortly):

1. Canada and the United States developed a Clean Energy Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Collaboration Framework to identify resources and offer mechanisms to advance research, development and demonstration among technical laboratories, industry and academia.
2. Canada and the United States are continuing to cooperate on enhancements to the ENERGY STAR criteria and programs through the development of new and revised specifications for product categories and residential buildings.
3. A new Declaration of Intent Concerning Cooperation In Energy Science and Technology has been signed to provide a mechanism for developing and implementing collaborative projects between Canada and the United States under the CED in the areas of bioenergy and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
4. In order to harvest value from mountain-pine-beetle-killed trees, the United States and Canada undertook an analysis of the economic feasibility of converting mountain-pine-beetle-killed trees to biofuels using pyrolysis processes.
5. Canada and the United States conducted joint research to improve productivity and harvesting methods in the use of algal biomass, as a renewable bio-fuel.
6. In order to improve energy efficiency in the transportation sector, partnering agreements have been identified and secured to engage in coordinated R&D in the area of lightweight materials development.
7. Canada and the United States jointly developed a Demand Response Quick Assessment Tool for the use of utilities, aggregators, and building owners to evaluate the demand response potential of buildings, which will facilitate the establishment of buildings as integral components of the smart grid.