Capstone projects showcase diversity of students' areas of focus in Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development

Graduates of the Class of 2024 Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development (SEDV) explored timely issues across a diverse range of topics, submitting capstone projects aimed at real-world impact through practical applications. Each piece of outstanding research tackled a problem or addressed an opportunity to incorporate sustainability towards improved policy, greater efficiency, and enhanced business models. 

The SEDV program resides at the School of Public Policy, where students benefit from interdisciplinary scholarship and the expertise of faculty members from across the University of Calgary. The Haskayne School of Business, Schulich School of Engineering, School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Law come together to offer a holistic approach to sustainable energy education. This collaborative master’s degree is the realization of bold thinking to energize change.

Annually, the School of Public Policy showcases the exceptional work of each graduating class to academia, industry, government, and community. Many students in the SEDV program work with industry and professional partners for their capstone projects, and these three stories capture the range of excellent contributions from the Class of 2024 SEDV Student Research Showcase.

Techno-Economic Feasibility Study for a Deep Geothermal System at YYC Calgary International Airport

Author:  Leanne Komaromi

At the airport, people typically gaze skyward. Leanne Komaromi looks down.

Deep below the runways and terminal buildings at YYC Calgary International Airport is a potential energy source that Komaromi wanted to evaluate for its potential to make the operations at one of Canada’s busiest airports more environmentally sustainable.

For her capstone project, Techno-Economic Feasibility Study for a Deep Geothermal System at The Calgary International Airport, she leveraged both her background in geology and an environmental co-op student placement at Calgary Airport Authority. Specifically, Komaromi took on a techno-economic feasibility study on the viability of a deep geothermal system for the airport to support net-zero targets.

“The project appealed to me because it forms part of the organization's decarbonization roadmap and had potential for tangible impact in decision-making,” said Komaromi, who earned an undergraduate degree in geology at UCalgary. “Geothermal development in Alberta is also still very much in its infancy so research in this area has a bit of that gold rush or oil boom feel. It's all very exciting.”

When most people think of Alberta and its energy resources buried deep underground, it tends to be oil and natural gas deposits. But abundant geothermal resources have the potential to help address energy demand and support the transition to lower carbon energy supply.

Working with her academic advisor and colleagues at the airport, Komaromi’s research focused on comparing a geothermal scenario to the modelled business-as-usual forecast, and demonstrated a positive impact on overall energy use, emissions, and energy costs.

In her work, she applied GEOPHIRES-X software from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to simulate reservoir, wellbore, and surface plant performance to estimate energy production and cost for a closed-loop geothermal system (CLGS) for direct-use heating. Results indicate it is both technically and economically feasible.

“Geothermal technology is advancing quickly, and this is making implementation in these less conventional areas much more feasible,” she said. “This project opened my eyes to the huge potential of geothermal development in Alberta and the exciting technology advancement taking place. There is a growing chorus of geothermal advocates in Alberta and Canada that I am now a part of.”

Komaromi intends to continue to refine her research findings and apply the learnings from her SEDV master's to contribute to Calgary’s pathway to net-zero and to advocate for geothermal in Alberta's energy transition. Her focus is to support the government policy, research, and demonstrations needed to realize its potential, and she sees huge potential for geothermal development in northern and western Alberta, traditionally oil and gas country.

Komaromi’s research for her capstone project has convinced her of the opportunities with geothermal energy and in a province renowned for extracting subsurface resources. Things are looking up for another energy source deep underground. 

Calgary as a Sustainable Tourism Destination 

Author: Kori Stosky

The sustainability of travel and tourism globally has come under increasing scrutiny given the unprecedented recent growth in the industry and Kori Stosky was curious about what Calgary could do to ensure it is a sustainable destination for visitors and events.

For her SEDV capstone project, Calgary as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Stosky was able to align her personal, academic, and career interests to better understand how tourism is a growing trend and how sustainability drives competition among destinations for leisure tourists, business meetings, events, and conventions.

Stosky applied learnings from her research in real time. She is completing  the SEDV Master's program through part-time studies alongside a full-time job as sustainability specialist for the Calgary Stampede.

For her capstone project, Stosky collaborated with Tourism Calgary to explore the business events and conventions industry, and increase her understanding of which sustainable initiatives and programs clients seek when looking to host their gatherings in a destination. 

“Tourism is somewhat of a paradox – it is the landscape, vibrant culture, and local community that drive people to visit a destination. In turn, those same systems can be degraded, exploited, or polluted if not managed properly,” said Stosky. “My research looked at ways to measure, design, and manage tourism that fosters net-positive outcomes for environment, social, economic, and cultural domains of the visitor economy.”

Stosky applied the Global Destination Movement’s Sustainability Index to measure how Calgary performs as a sustainable tourism destination. In that Index, sustainability is measured across 77 indicators in four categories aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Social, Environmental, Supplier, and Destination Management performance.

“Calgary is a clean, safe, vibrant, diverse, and welcoming place to visit. The destination is shaping programs and initiatives to support sustainable tourism in an effort to create positive impact locally, and remain competitive globally.”

Sustainable tourism has been a focus for Stosky for some time. As a UCalgary undergrad, she studied environmental science and participated in study-abroad opportunities focused on climate change in Ireland and Australia.

Throughout her master’s, she pursued her interest in gatherings and festivals, focusing her research on sustainable and regenerative motivators for Calgary’s tourism industry that drive business competitiveness.

“The increase in travellers is putting pressure on the planet’s natural resources and demands the sector re-evaluate how well the environmental, social, and cultural systems of a destination are managed and protected,” says Stosky. “We have the opportunity to design destination management plans, and create programs at the local level that decouple sector growth from negative impacts across a resource-intensive industry.”

Stosky’s studies focused on Calgary. Canmore and Banff have their own rankings, and so do over 100 destinations globally. Her research showed that Calgary ranks well within Canada, and there is opportunity for the city to share out its authentic narrative on sustainability to attract clients and capitalize on opportunities in emerging markets.

Renewable Energy Development on First Nations Lands in Western Canada

Author: Karan Wadhwani

With the drive for economic reconciliation, there are critical needs to improve quality of life in remote and First Nations communities across Canada to reach Canada’s net zero goals. Karan Wadhwani used his SEDV capstone project to better understand the potential for Renewable Energy Development on First Nations Lands in Western Canada.

Wadhwani came to Alberta from British Columbia and had spent more than eight years with the B.C Public Service in a variety of roles, and with ministries on large-scale transformational projects.

In his research, Wadhwani explores how timely and important it is for First Nations communities to achieve economic sovereignty and development within the contexts of the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Canadian 94 Calls for Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Specifically, he drew on article 3.32 of UNDRIP regarding Indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination and economic development, and rights for development of natural resources, as well as Call to Action #92, which focuses on long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.

Under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Wadhwani centered on Goals 7, 11, and 13, which represent Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action, respectively.

For Wadhwani, affordable and reliable energy is a human right given essential for everyday needs like heating homes, cooking, and access to the internet. His research focuses on the potential for wind, solar, or biomass to help address the long-standing energy challenges facing rural and remote First Nations communities as a game-changer.

Remote communities in Canada often must rely on costly diesel fuel for their power and heating. There is a growing demand for reliable clean energy and First Nations communities want to build their own energy supply to run and execute their own projects.

Working with his academic advisor, Professor Allan Ingelson from the Faculty of Law and Haskayne School of Business, Wadhwani highlighted the challenges First Nations communities face, such as access to capital, legal and regulatory frameworks, reclamation concerns, and partnerships for renewable energy projects on First Nations land or traditional lands.

“There is an opportunity to renew and foster Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples with a focus on negotiation, self governance, and independence,” Wadhwani said. “From a legal standpoint and with the Indian Act there are a lot of barriers to how land can be used. First Nations are working hard within that framework to create energy projects on their lands.”

Self-determined renewable energy projects, his research argues, need a different approach to legal and regulatory roadblocks, and financial barriers. Particularly, he has researched access to funding and funding mechanisms like sovereign wealth funds as opportunities allowing for independent ownership and economic sovereignty on energy projects.

Critically, he reinforces the need for potential business partners working with First Nations communities to genuinely and deeply understand that there must be connections to people and land in any business venture. Wadhwani emphasizes that relationships need to be rooted in respect and trust.

Wadhwani was born in Spain and spent his childhood in Nigeria before moving to Canada. He saw Canada as a place of opportunity and grew to understand its nuances, embracing learning about Indigenous cultures and the power of strong, Indigenous-led partnerships.