U of A awarded $75M for oilsands, new energy research

The University of Alberta will get$75 million in federal funding to further research into the environmental footprint of unconventional fossil fuels and developing greener energy sources.

The university said Tuesday itwill usethe money to set up theFuture Energy Systems Research Institute.

The institute will bring together researchers from across several disciplines to deal with issues related to oilsands mining such astailings ponds, greenhouse emissions, water use,land reclamation and transportation of oil and gas products.

The institute will also build on the university'sstrengths in advanced materials, smart electrical grids and biofuelstohelp Canada move to a low-carbon energy economy.

The work will push Canadian energy and environment research "onto a new level," U of Apresident David Turpin said.

"We will . deliver solutions to the world's most urgent energy challenges, reducing the environmental footprint of today's energy system and making the transition to a cleaner, safer and more abundant low-carbon energy future," he said in a news release.

The funding allows the university "to pioneer a made-in-Alberta solution to help solve the world's energy challenges, helping us to transition to a low-carbon economy," said U of A chemistry professor Jillian Buriak.

Buriak, whose research couldbeeligible for funding from the new institute, is developing low-cost solar cells, including a version that uses a spray-coating technology.

The institute will collaboratewith the University of Calgary, which also received a $75-million grant for research aimed at transforming oilsandsextractionto improve efficiency and reduce thecarbon footprint.

The grants arepart of a $900-million Canada First Excellence Research Fund, which will be divvied up among 13 Canadian universities.