Integrated Energy Systems
To make the shift to clean energy, communities need more than just new technology - they need a big-picture view that connects everything from people and policies to power systems and economies.
ACET's Integrated Energy Systems research does exactly that. It brings together specialists from all our research areas to look at how energy change fits within the wider context of systems and structures.
Our team then works closely with community partners to ensure that their energy transformation makes sense for them and their local environment.
This integrated research approach includes five sub-fields of study, each of which focuses on a particular dimension of energy system transformation: complex systems, place-based transitions, worldviews, policy interactions and Indigeneity.
Complex Systems
Energy systems are changing at a time when the world is facing many connected challenges, from climate change and biodiversity loss to growing economic inequalities.
Using energy modeling and systems analysis, our research looks at how these overlapping pressures shape the way communities produce and use energy. This helps us understand how these complex systems respond under stress, anticipate disruptions, and boost community resilience in times of uncertainty and change.
Lead researchers: Thomas Homer-Dixon, Naoko Ellis and Madeleine McPherson
Place-based Transitions
Each community’s energy transformation is as unique as they are. Our research on place-based transitions focuses on how local contexts shape clean energy futures, recognizing that rural, urban, coastal and Indigenous communities have their own distinct sets of challenges and opportunities.
By collaborating with partners on the ground, we develop practical tools, policies and strategies that support energy resilience, autonomy and equity – ensuring that each community’s energy transformation is rooted in place and driven by the people who live there.
Lead researcher: Tamara Krawchenko
Worldviews
People make sense of the world in different ways. Our beliefs, values and experiences shape how we interpret change and decide what to do next.
These worldviews matter when it comes to clean energy. Even the smartest technologies can fall short if they don’t make sense for the communities they’re supposed to serve.
Our research explores how worldviews influence energy transformations—including the values and daily concerns of community members as well as how polarization and misinformation shape public perceptions. By understanding these social and cultural dynamics, we can support more meaningful public engagement about clean energy.
Lead researcher: Thomas Homer-Dixon
Policy Interactions
Lasting energy change depends on more than one policy. It requires a coordinated, flexible approach that reflects how real systems work.
Our researchers look at how different policies intersect and interact across sectors and governments, helping communities navigate the complex terrain of policy innovation with custom-built tools and strategies.
By centering local needs and drawing from a diverse range of expertise, we co-develop forward-looking energy policies that reduce risk, drive innovation and build public support for clean energy transformation.
Lead researcher: Tamara Krawchenko
Indigeneity
Indigenous communities are leading their own way toward clean energy. We aim to support these goals by working alongside Indigenous community partners to understand aspirations, advance energy planning, and help move promising ideas toward implementation.
These partnerships are built on relationships rooted in reciprocity and mutual benefit. As many remote communities transition away from diesel, which brings unique challenges and important opportunities for innovation grounded in Indigenous knowledge, their insights can also guide other Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada.
Indigenous community representation is embedded within our governance structures and we work directly with Indigenous nations and leaders to ensure our research stays aligned with community priorities at every stage of the journey.
Lead researcher: Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark
The Research Team
Strategic Research Managers: Dr. Gail Hochachka and Bill Kilgannon
Research Leads: Madeleine McPherson, Naoko Ellis, Thomas Homer-Dixon, Tamara Krawchenko, Heidi Stark