On February 11, Climate Positive Energy (CPE) was pleased to support University of Toronto’s Student Energy chapter in welcoming more than 40 guests for the sold-out Academic Panel titled Managing Grid Resilience in a Decarbonized World – Small Modular Reactors vs. Renewable Energy.
CPE student member Hugo Cordeau delivered opening remarks introducing U of T’s Student Energy chapter, a student-led, post-secondary hub that takes action on energy in the local community, supported by skill-building and mentorship. The Student Energy chapter offers a unique opportunity for students passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute actively to a just, equitable, and sustainable energy future. CPE was pleased to support the U of T student community that hosted and organized the panel.
The panel brought together academic and industry experts to explore the potential and limitations of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and renewable energy in ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy future. Panelists Joseph Arcuri (Chief Financial Officer, NRStor), Tom Chapman (Principal and Office Director, The Brattle Group Toronto), and Mark Winfield (Professor of Environmental and Urban Change, York University) joined moderator Shatha Qaqish-Clavering (Executive Director, CPE) to talk about Ontario’s energy transition, the electricity market, energy storage, and policy considerations.
The conversation featured topics relevant to Ontario’s energy sector. With energy and policy experts from around the GTA in the audience, the topic of nuclear energy’s role in a decarbonized future, and SMRs was of particular interest to all panelists as well as the audience, who engaged in a Q&A session following the panel. Given the transformation of the electricity market and the growing demand for electricity, the panelists also discussed various paths that Ontario and Canada could take – and the need to balance economic growth with decarbonization. The event concluded with a networking reception that fostered further conversation between the panelists and guests.
We look forward to future events focused on electricity, grid resilience, and student engagement in climate action at the university.