ABCtech #53 29DEC15 Transitioning from Carbon and Our 2016 Wish List

ABCtech #53 29DEC15 Transitioning from Carbon and Our 2016 Wish List

As 2015 concludes, Alberta continues to feel the tremors following the oil price quake: an oversupply of oil and warnings of global warming, a worldwide economic slowdown and low interest rates, and sustained geo-political turmoil. Can it get any worse? Here are two cautionary notes for 2016: one, for the new Alberta government – heed the lessons learned from the Ontario debacle, and two, for troubled corporations – don’t go it alone. Innovation is mandatory, but innovation is more than an idea, to recover, to grow, and to prosper, requires a market and often a new partner.

Our 2016 forecast – Going small, swift, and supple: 1. Increased bankruptcy filings and a rise in M&A activity, 2. Increased public spending on infrastructure, 3. Increased investment activity targeting disruptive technologies, and 4. Public restructuring of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. – Editor

We’ll always have Paris by Klaas Rodenburg, President – Alberta Council of Technologies

On 12 December 2015 nearly 200 nations ushered in the “low carbon age” by agreeing to limit carbon emissions to keep global warming to 20C above pre-industrial levels. The COP21 agreement will force us to rethink our business models as we move into the next decade.

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How do we go from consensus to implementation? We must transition to a low carbon world in a quick yet smooth manner. COP21 relies heavily on technology to use energy much more efficient and produce energy without carbon or other harmful emissions. Now that we have agreed upon our destination it is time to get on the bus and begin our Journey.

A resilient economy

Global economies must become resilient enough to weather and adapt to changes in their environment. Stable and diversified economies, at all levels, must be able to prepare for, absorb, and recover from weather events that are more severe and frequent than in the past. We are already experiencing these events caused by a 0.90C warming and they will continue to build as we move towards a 1.5 or 20C cap.

A smooth energy transition

The transition away from fossil fuels must be achieved without shock. We need to develop a roadmap that will reduce our carbon footprint by becoming more efficient in how we currently use energy and develop new ways of producing energy without carbon. As we proceed we’ll rely on the best thinking of today, fully expecting these ideas to evolve over time as new technologies and solutions emerge and social, economic and environmental conditions change.

Leadership in innovation

Now is the time to re-imagine our business models so they can be adapted to a changing world. This will require collaboration, creativity, innovation and above all leadership. If we don’t come to work every day prepared to think about the future, there will be plenty of time to reminisce about the past. Just ask Kodak or Olivetti.

So how can we prepare for and shape the future? In Alberta we can redeploy the entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking and practical expertise that has made Alberta a global energy powerhouse and focus it on developing the energy of the future. We can start by taking the best thinking of today.

The sharing economy made possible by the digital data currently being collected and stored by hundreds of millions smart devices and sensors will make our energy consumption more efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. There is tremendous opportunity for developing these technologies locally and scaling them globally.

Renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and biomass provide low carbon energy sources that can be installed at a scale large enough to take advantage of improved economies of scale that will attract entrepreneurs and grow the renewables industry and drive down their costs thus further reducing our footprint.

fusion commercialization once ignition has been achieved and technologies become proprietary.

The benefits to Alberta in becoming a major player includes enhancing Alberta’s reputation as a leader in green futures and growing its economy by commercializing spin-off technologies such as lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, instrumentation, robotics, computer modeling and analytics, materials, nanotechnologies, and additive manufacturing.

As we start 2016 we recognize the uncertainty we face on the journey ahead. A journey we embark on bolstered by the knowledge that we have faced and overcome obstacles before, when citizens, companies and governments worked together to achieve a common goal – making this a better world our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

At the same time we must look beyond 2030 and explore emerging technologies such as fusion that will provide a clean high density power source. The multi-billion dollar global commitment to fusion development cannot be ignored and Alberta has an opportunity to become a fusion leader and harvest the economic spin-offs. Alberta has been invited to participate in international research programs and is ideally situated to become the aggregator of the best fusion know-ledge and build a collaborative framework that will guide

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A Resilient Economy

BC commits $100M to start-up ecosystem.  FOR MORE

Science fares well in US budget – 40% increse for fission, oil, solar, wind. FOR MORE

Leadership in Innovation

The Global Innovation Index 2015 –  Effective Innovation Policies for Development. FOR MORE

Near perfect translation, speech recognition, and object identification. FOR MORE

Energy Transitions

National policy confusion in nuclear energy policies. FOR MORE

Paris identifies fusion as the holy-grail of clean energy technology.

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Paris climate deal to include nuclear energy focus.  FOR MORE

Innovations continue in solar and wind technologies. FOR MORE

Uraguay to get 95% of its electricity from renewables within 10 years.  FOR MORE

2016 Wish List

“As we move into 2016 and beyond, it may be best to come prepared for some minor and seismic shocks that will challenge our values or reinforce them.  Either way, the journey to a more connected world will be more than a tour – and, more likely, a profound experience for many of us.” – Don Diduck, Verigon Canada

Amid game changing promises of disruptive technologies, I hope we never live to regret what we wished for. – Esir Pretne, Sophist

“That the Alberta government embrace a multi-decade VISION to develop a technology-based economy, especially in non-carbon energy.” – Allan Offenberger, Alberta/Canada Fusion Energy Program

“Understanding how leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises achieve sustained growth and performance will provide us all with knowledge on ways to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem to secure future economic success for Alberta”. – Simon Raby, University of Calgary

“Leadership in Innovation will mean two things in 2016.  First, leadership.  It will be found in the grassroots.  It starts with you.  Innovation itself, will be a process of unprecedented scope in 2016.  The economy demands it.  My wish is that YOU become a part of it.  What is your idea?  2016 needs ideas.  2016 needs you and your creativity.” – Michael Kryton, Author:A Briliant Idea Every 60 Seconds

“Building resilience in Alberta begins with helping our neighbours and communities.” – Derrick Rancourt, University of Calgary

“That ABCtech takes a leadership role in developing Alberta’s diversification plan, finds a willing sponsor to fund the building of the substantive plan, and builds a coalition of support that drives the creation of a new Alberta.” – Joni Avram, Cause & Effect Marketing

My wish for 2016 is that in the pursuit of innovation through technology, that we have the courage to defend the truth and fend off the threats to mankind’s very existence. – Perry Kinkaide, Alberta Council of Technologies Society