Insights How is clean energy shaping engineering in Canada?
It is widely acknowledged that the world is amid a climate crisis, and we must act fast to prevent further damage. Canada is one of 197 countries that signed the Paris Agreement in 2015. However, in 2019 it was reported that Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, with a loss of snow and sea ice. This in turn increases the absorption of solar radiation and causing larger surface warming than in other regions. Between this and the rising and ageing population that needs to be provided for, we have a big challenge ahead of us to prevent further damage.
Regarding the sustainable infrastructure opportunity, Mike Hayes of KPMG says ‘unlike COVID-19, there will never be a vaccine for climate change – it is only the actions we take today that will help to solve the problem’. One way in which we can do this, is to engineer construction and infrastructure projects with sustainability considered at every single level. Within AtkinsRéalis and our brands Atkins and Faithful+Gould, we are proud to employ astute engineers who create innovative solutions for sustainability that will enable a safe and healthy future for the next generation.
What is clean energy and why is it important?
Clean energy is another term for renewable energy which is used to describe energy that occurs from natural sources which are inexhaustible or available intermittently. Renewable energy comes from resources such as the sun, wind, waves, or tides and emits much lower levels of carbon dioxide emissions than those which are fossil fuel based.
Carbon emissions are contributing to the rising climate, and we all have a responsibility to change our behaviours to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees, as set out in the Paris Agreement. If we can achieve this goal, it is hoped that it will prevent further unpredictable weather patterns, rising sea levels and widespread flooding which can damage ecosystems and spread disease.
Currently, the construction industry makes substantial contributions to carbon emissions. Infrastructure projects such as power plants, buildings, and transport are responsible for around 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions and the Global Construction 2030 report reveals that over the next decade, construction output will expand by 85%.
How is clean energy transforming engineering?
To mitigate the impact of increased construction output, clean energy must be utilized on projects. John Chahwan, Director of Engineering – Power Delivery in Canada, believes that a series of changes in the energy sector will allow us to use energy resources more efficiently and effectively. ‘With many disruptive technologies on the rise, including energy storage, AI, carbon capture and hydrogen energy, energy sector professionals have the daunting and exciting task to look at complete systems, and come up with the optimal technology mixes that best serve communities and help preserve our planet.’
Engineers are taking steps to use recycled resources, including cement substitutes with lower carbon intensity on civil engineering projects. In addition, they are also using methods to safely capture carbon that is emitted during infrastructure building processes. This entails capturing carbon at its source and using or story it to prevent it damaging the atmosphere. We are also seeing an increase in innovative construction techniques, such as modular, prefabrication and offsite whereby materials and resources are made to measure away from project sites. This helps to increase efficiencies and performance whilst lowering costs, waste, and carbon.
On our projects, engineers within the AtkinsRéalis Group are also employing technology such as BIM to use resources more effectively and minimize the use of non-renewable materials. BIM enables professionals to reduce waste and the amount of energy used whilst also improving overall efficiency, accuracy and speed, just as we did on Project Neon in Las Vegas.
What does the future hold?
As the climate set to change over the coming years, engineers also need to take action today and plan for resiliency. With more extreme and unpredictable weather conditions expected such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and heatwaves, engineers need to consider specialized equipment and materials which may be necessary so that infrastructure is built to withstand these conditions. Trombe walls, heavyweight structures of concrete, stone, or other heavy material are already used to capture solar heat in China, Chile, and Egypt and in Kerala, India, flood-resistant houses are constructed on pillars to allow floodwater to flow underneath.
Former American Institute of Architects president Carl Elefante argues, ‘the greenest building is one that is already built’, claiming that the construction of new low-carbon ‘green’ buildings are no longer seen as the fastest path to mitigating climate change. Rather, retrofitting existing buildings can achieve up to 70 percent less energy use therefore it’s likely that we will see an increase in this as Governments across Canada are reintroducing incentives to retrofit buildings.
The Government of Canada recently launched a $964 million program to support smart renewable energy and grid modernization projects. It will focus on projects using non-emitting, cleaner energy technologies including storage and modernizing electricity system operations. The future is bright for renewable energy jobs in Canada as it’s hoped that they will deliver cleaner, more reliable electricity for citizens and that net-zero emissions will be achieved by 2050.
Make a tangible difference to the world as a renewable energy engineer
It’s clear that establishing clean energy solutions for sustainability is no easy task, but our teams of talented experts within AtkinsRéalis enjoy challenges that have tangible results. Gillian, a senior engineer in our offshore wind business at Atkins, focuses on the asset integrity of offshore wind farms. This is important because we are making it easier and less costly to run wind farms once they’ve been installed and are generating electricity. She enjoys that her work makes a real difference in the world, whilst also being interesting and technical.
We’re looking to grow our teams, and we need to brightest minds to help us deliver our sustainability targets. If you enjoy continuous learning and development and you’re looking to make a change in the world, apply for a job in engineering today and watch your career grow.
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
Preview
USAContent type
BlogsPublish date
05/02/2024
Summary
The structural engineering market is experiencing rapid changes, with Net Zero goals, advanced technology, and environmentally conscious building practices becoming the new bread and butter of t
Preview
USAContent type
BlogsPublish date
05/01/2024
Summary
Hydraulic engineering is a branch of civil engineering that specializes in building hydraulic engineering designs—‘hydraulic’ stemming from the Ancient Greek word for water. Hydraulic power, the
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/30/2024
Summary
In an ambitious and far-reaching declaration, Saudi Arabia has proudly announced 2024 as the 'Year of the Camel', a tribute to these timeless creatures that embody the heart of Arabian heritage
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/29/2024
Summary
As a hub of diversity and multiculturalism, the UAE boasts a thriving economy with rapidly growing infrastructure. Steering away from a reliance on oil and toward cutting-edge innovation, the UAE is
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/29/2024
Summary
Meet Tom from our D&AT (Design & Advanced Technology) team. He's an associate at AtkinsRéalis who has built an exciting career on diverse and career-defining projects, including work on the Lo
by
Shailaja Mantha
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/26/2024
Summary
By implementing reforms in the public sector and wider society, the KSA’s Vision 2030 has greatly improved government efficiency, bringing about new growth and investment opportunities. What is Visio
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of professional endeavours, finding a workplace that feels like your safe space is a rare gem. AtkinsRealis stands as a beacon in this regard, where talents not only
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of urban drainage modelling, AtkinsRéalis stands as the leaders with large highly skilled urban drainage modellers. Our focus on serving our clients around urban dra
Preview
CanadaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the skill of managing constantly changing environments has become more and more important. New construction project management software offers innovativ
Preview
AustraliaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/24/2024
Summary
In a momentous shift, SNC-Lavalin has transitioned to AtkinsRéalis, marking a new era of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in engineering consultancy. With this rebrand comes a fresh persp
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/23/2024
Summary
As Mumbai continues to evolve and expand, the demand for sustainable infrastructure and cutting-edge technology has never been more pressing. At the forefront of this transformative journey is Atk
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/22/2024
Summary
Hi there! I'm Paul, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience specializing in networks and drainage engineering. My role at AtkinsRéalis spans managing projects, directing major initia
by
Shailaja Mantha
AtkinsRéalis
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more