FEAS hosts the Energy Sustainability Research and Innovation workshop.
Leading experts recently came together at Toronto Metropolitan University to explore the latest innovations and challenges impacting energy sustainability. Organized by the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science’s (FEAS) Research and Innovation Office, the innovation and research workshop offered a full-day of knowledge sharing between industry professionals and engineering researchers.
Led by Dr. Bala Venkatesh, the workshop chair and the Academic Director at TMU’s Centre for Urban Energy, the day featured presentations spanning intelligent infrastructure, energy management, customer innovation, nuclear energy and other critical topics. These were followed by group discussions - led by interdisciplinary FEAS researchers, covering mechanical energy, electric energy and alternative energy.
Pratap Revuru, Senior Director, MicroGrid Solutions and Strategic Partnerships at Schneider Electric presented on edge computing for grid-aware building energy management.
Image credit: Sean Siddik
John Penaranda, Grid Operations Manager at Hydro One spoke about the impact of academia-utility industry partnerships in Ontario, outlining the opportunities that lie ahead.
Seth Dworkin, a professor and the Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Energy Modelling and Simulation, presented to the mechanical energy group.
Professors Hadis Zarrin and ChungHyuk Lee shared their latest research on alternative energy.
Professors Mohammadreza Arani (left) and Hadis Zarrin (right) were some of the many FEAS experts to take part.
The workshop ended with conversation, smiles and new connections.
Image credit: Sean Siddik
Bringing together industry representatives, professors, and students provided a valuable platform to examine key challenges facing the energy sector from multiple perspectives. The dialogue also highlighted how stronger collaborations between academia and industry can support and drive innovation across the sector Building on this momentum, FEAS will be hosting future workshops in 2026 to advance partnerships and address some of society’s most complex challenges.
A special thank you to our partners for joining us:
- Elocity
- Enbridge Gas
- ESRI Canada
- Hydro One
- Hydrostor
- Nuclear Innovation Institute
- Potentia Renewables
- Schneider Electric
- Survalent/Themis Intelligence
