CanmetENERGY in Devon

Clean Energy | Research | Innovation | Leadership

CanmetENERGY in Devon brings together scientists, engineers and technologists in a state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facility for innovation in energy technology. This research centre provides fundamental knowledge and innovative solutions for clean energy technology development, and to reduce GHG emissions and other environmental impacts of resource development.

Our research and development programs

Located outside of Edmonton, CanmetENERGY Devon strengthens energy partnerships with industry, provinces and academic institutions. With over 100 scientists, engineers, technologists, managers and support staff, CanmetENERGY Devon:

generates knowledge to provide solutions to industry, advice to government policy makers and regulators, and provides Canadians with relevant technical information on oil sands and heavy oil environmental impact issues
collaborates with industry, provincial/territorial governments, academic institutions and international organizations to develop and demonstrate new technologies

CanmetENERGY Devon’s expertise and research focus areas include:

Downstream and renewables R&D

Bioenergy and biofuels

Our R&D is developing technology pathways for the production of renewable transportation fuels, focusing on co-processing of biocrude with petroleum in refineries and biorefining for biojet and biodiesel/renewable diesel production.

Advanced chemistry and characterization, and artificial intelligence

Our R&D helps better understand the chemistry and composition of petroleum and renewable feedstock and products through developing and utilizing advanced characterization methods coupled with molecular-level modeling, computation, and artificial intelligence approaches.

Bitumen beyond combustion (BBC) and valorization

Our R&D is supporting valorization of low-value hydrocarbon feedstock through synthesis of high-value products and materials from bitumen, asphaltenes, petcoke, H₂S, and light hydrocarbons. If realized, BBC provides an opportunity for oil and gas workers to transition to producing non-emitting value-added products, such as metal carbides, carbon fibre, asphalt, from bitumen feedstock.

Modeling, simulation, and life cycle analysis on GHG emissions

Our R&D utilizes process modeling, simulation and optimization, and life cycle analysis, to analyze energy use during refining, biorefining, and co-processing to help reduce GHG emissions, and support policy and regulation development.

Processability for bio-refining and co-refining

Our R&D is addressing oil blend stability, compatibility, fouling tendency and corrosion issues when bio-oils/biocrudes are blended with petroleum for co-processing, thus reducing their impacts on upgrading and refining operations and performance, and GHG emissions.

Analytical services

Our standardized and specialized analytical services offer support to internal/external R&D and industrial operations.

Upstream and environment R&D

Oil spill science

Our R&D team is assessing the fate, behaviour and biological impact of various petroleum products spilled into a range of onshore and offshore environments; supporting the improvement of spill response technologies, the development of reliable remediation technologies and restoration end points.

Applied geoscience

Our R&D is identifying potential impacts of oil and gas development on surface water and groundwater resources related to geologic storage of CO₂, oil sands tailings, spills from pipelines, and drilling waste, the environmental fate and behaviour of trace contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and environmental remediation.

Modeling and simulation

Our R&D team is using pore-scale modeling to predict multiphase flow, using machine learning (ML)-enabled predictive engineering models, and researching chemical reactivity descriptors for the accelerated discovery of catalysts for CO₂ reduction reactions.

Emerging areas

Our R&D team are investigating new areas, including: energy storage systems; critical minerals from natural brines; carbon capture and utilization technology development; Internet of Things (IoT); and supporting indigenous activities.

Pilot scale operations

Batch processes, hydroprocessing and distillation

CanmetENERGY Devon houses a range of pilot plants to test various processes and conditions for both batch and continuous operations.

Collaborative research

Multi-Partner Research Initiative

Created under the Oceans Protection Plan to establish an international research program to advance Canada’s oil spill research; increase knowledge and support for technological improvements to help improve oil spill response; and support informed decision-making for oil spill response and remediation.

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Spotlight on CanmetENERGY in Devon

CanmetENERGY Collaborates!

Scientists from CanmetENERGY Devon supporting Canada’s Ocean Protection Plan (OPP) recently teamed up with public and private sector organizations to examine how crude oil spilled into water undergoes biodegradative chemical changes over time, and the toxic effects of the oil-contaminated water on fish populations.

Read the full article here