RECYCLEAN Canada

RECYCLEAN Canada: Electrochemical Technology Recycling Network

Climate Positive Energy researchers are exploring innovative recycling methods for clean energy technologies.

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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions plays a critical role in a clean energy future and Canada’s path to net-zero. The RECYLEAN Canada research team is exploring how to extract the critical metals and other valuable materials used within fuel cells and electrolyzers. RECYCLEAN Canada is focused on developing innovations in recycling technologies and processes across the entire membrane electrode assembly (MEA) recycling value chain.

Related news: U of T-led Research Team Receives $2M in Provincial Funding to Support Recycling Innovations

The Challenge

Water electrolyzers generate green hydrogen, which can then be used with fuel cells to produce on-demand electricity with zero-local emissions.

Electrolyzers can also be used for CO2 capture and conversion to produce useful products, helping to reduce society’s carbon footprint. Electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies have advanced significantly in recent years, becoming commercially available with potential for widespread adoption if costs can be reduced. Water electrolyzers are central to green hydrogen production when powered by renewable energy, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in industries like transportation and energy storage. However, recycling solutions for these technologies are lacking, and critical metal shortages pose a major challenge. RECYCLEAN Canada is leading efforts to develop recycling innovations to address this gap and improve the circularity of these technologies to make them more sustainable.

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Current Opportunities

Please check back for updates on career possibilities with RECYCLEAN Canada.

Climate Positive Energy has integrated into the Lawson Climate Institute.

Integration of the Climate Positive Energy Initiative (CPE) into the Lawson Climate Institute (LCI) represents a strategic evolution that amplifies University of Toronto’s collective impact on climate solutions. CPE's established expertise in sustainable energy research and innovation becomes a cornerstone of the Lawson Climate Institute's comprehensive mandate to address the climate crisis through technology, policy, and education.

Existing and ongoing grants, research projects, partnerships, and other activity under Climate Positive Energy will continue uninterrupted and will transition to operate under the Lawson Climate Institute brand in the coming months.