UPEI researchers receive funding from 2024 Climate Challenge Fund
Four UPEI researchers have received funding from the Government of Prince Edward Island’s 2024 Climate Challenge Fund.
Dr. Kuljeet Grewal, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, is leading a project that aims to leverage cutting-edge machine learning techniques to inform a data-driven decision-making tool for optimal energy efficiency and climate-sensitive urban design. Through in-depth analyses of zoning schemes, solar performance, and climate resilience, the project will provide invaluable insights for sustainable urban development. The methodology involves the use of drones, LiDAR data, and advanced energy modeling tools to develop zoning archetype models. Evaluation of solar performance and resilience under extreme weather events will inform the creation of indices, offering a data-driven decision-making tool for optimal energy efficiency and climate-sensitive urban design.
Dr. Stephanie Shaw, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, will explore PEI’s construction industry, material usage, waste production, and design practices to identify circular material opportunities, quantification of embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and make recommendations for reducing PEI’s GHG emissions in this industry. Materials extraction and use account for 70 per cent of global GHG emissions. The construction industry is one of the largest contributors to GHG emissions, accounting for 37 per cent of global GHG and 34 per cent of energy demand. While the construction industry represents about 10 per cent of PEI’s annual GDP, the embodied carbon in the materials represents a significant way to reduce PEI’s GHG emissions.
Dr. Yulin Hu, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, will investigate the feasibility of using seawater as the exclusive raw material for obtaining high-purity lithium through an electrochemical approach, and develop a lab-scale extraction setup. Due to the escalating global demand for electric vehicles, mobile devices, and grid storage, the necessity for lithium (Li)-ion batteries is rapidly intensifying, which poses a significant challenge toward conventional ore-based Li production. By leveraging its abundant resource of seawater, there is a great opportunity for PEI to become a crucial player in the Li market. Unlike traditional mining, Li extraction from seawater offers distinct advantages.
Dr. Xander Wang, School of Climate Change and Adaptation, will develop an educational resource package about climate change for K-12 teachers with accurate and straightforward information about climate change. The package will include teaching resources, such as introductory slides, short videos, interactive lesson plans, and infographics, that teachers can use to develop materials in their courses. The resource package will be designed in English and French and made available to all schools in PEI and the general public through an online platform.
These projects were possible with financial support from the PEI Climate Challenge Fund, co-funded by the Government of Prince Edward Island and the Government of Canada.
UPEI acknowledges the assistance of Canada’s tri-council of federal granting agencies—Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)—through its Research Support Fund, which helps fund services and infrastructure that support research activities at the University. In 2024–2025, UPEI’s RSF allocation is $1,041,691.
