ARCHIVED - Sustainable Development

Report on Plans and Priorities 2011-2012
Electronic Layer of Reporting
Elements of NRCan's Sustainable Development Strategy

FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation

Relative to 2005 emission levels, reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) 17% by 2020.

FSDS Implementation Strategy - Clean Transportation

1.1.39 Develop improved materials and processes to achieve more energy-efficient, lower-emission vehicles. (NRCan)

You will find below details about NRCan's activities that contribute to this implementation strategy:

Materials for Energy

This activity is nested within NRCan’s Program Activity Architecture (PAA) as follows:

• Strategic Outcome 2 - 
  Environmental Responsibility
  
  
  • Program Activity 2.1 - 
    Clean Energy
    
    
    • Sub Activity 2.1.1 - 
      Materials for Energy
      
      

Description

There is a requirement to enhance the understanding of material properties to optimize research and development that supports energy efficiency in vehicles, power generation and pipelines in order to address transportation, nuclear and oil and gas industry issues. Sub Activity - Materials for Energy (PAA 2.1.1) involves multi-disciplinary collaborative research and development, directly contributing to the commercialization of innovative materials and processes that enable emission reduction and improved efficiency in areas such as next generation vehicles, power generation, and reliable and safe pipelines. Under this Sub Activity is a key Sub Activity that contributes to this FSDS implementation strategy:

• Sub Sub Activity - Innovative Materials and Processing Technologies (PAA 2.1.1.1): Current materials do not support the transportation industries’ new requirements for moving towards lightweighting vehicles and its powertrain to promote fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In order to accommodate the new requirements, the Vehicle Structural Materials (VSM) research program under this Sub Activity develops the advanced materials, processes and fabrication techniques required to significantly improve the energy efficiency of the next generation of vehicles.  The VSM program focuses on advancing the structural, powertrain and chassis materials now used on conventional vehicles for use on next-generation vehicles. Lightweighting is one of the major thrust areas that enables the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, increases fuel economy and enhances safety, a key enabling technology for the development of hybrid, fuel cell, bio-diesel and other eco-friendly fueled vehicles. Through substantial collaboration, this program will develop a new generation of researchers in metallurgical alloys and materials to enhance the competitiveness of the Canadian automotive industry and transfer key technology to the benefit of all Canadians.

Relationship to FSDS Target

The energy efficiency of the current vehicles can be improved by lightweighting and advanced powertrains. Advanced research into new materials, conducted in partnership with other stakeholders - including automotive manufacturers, universities and federal labs - promotes adoption of innovative new light-weight automotive structures powered by advanced powertrains that can significantly reduce the overall weight of a vehicle and improve the performance resulting in fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions. Thus, the Vehicle Structural Materials research program under Sub Activity - Materials for Energy contributes indirectly to FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation.

Non Financial Performance Expectations

FYs 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.

Expected Result and Indicator (Sub Activity 2.1.1)

Development and innovative use of materials that contribute to clean energy and energy efficiency is increased.

• Number of collaborative interactions measured by the number of demonstrations in private-sector facilities of technologies developed. (On-going)

Expected Result and Indicator (Sub Sub Activity 2.1.1.1)

Knowledge is transferred.

• Number of publications accepted in peer-reviewed conference proceedings. (Ongoing)

Outputs and Indicators (Sub Sub Activity 2.1.1.1)

New alloys or materials or processes developed and tested with industry.

• Number of new alloys or materials or processes developed and tested with industry. (Ongoing)

Demonstration projects in private sector facilities of technologies developed.

• Number of demonstration projects. (On-going)