[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_image=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/06/white-wind-turbines-on-gray-sand-near-body-of-water-3976320-scaled-1.jpg” parallax=”on” height=”960px” top_divider_style=”wave2″ top_divider_height=”59px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.7″ background_color=”rgba(135,135,135,0.41)” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_scale_linked=”off” transform_translate=”-35%|130px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”0%|130px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin=”100%|50%” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” width=”40%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”90%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”625px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”60px|60px|60px|24px|false|false” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_line_height=”1.8em” header_text_color=”#e29300″ header_font_size=”33px”]

We are the

Sustainable Systems Design Lab (SSDL)

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We develop advanced numerical analysis and optimization tools,
to innovate low-carbon component technologies
and synergize energy system integration,
while educating through research.

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Our lab is part of the
Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic)
at the University of Victoria (UVic).

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Open Positions

We are currently recruiting for the following positions to join the SSDL team.

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Methods & Tools

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_blurb title=”Uncertainty Quantification (UQ)” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%308%%” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”90px” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ header_level=”h3″ header_text_align=”center” body_text_align=”justify” custom_padding=”|10px||10px|false|true”]

We are developing a range of UQ approaches including polynomial chaos expansions (PCE), Guassian processes (Kriging), and Bayesian techniques. Uncertain model variables include environmental forcing, material properties 

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We make use of metamodeling techniques to encapsulate high-fidelity code predictions to aid design. In addition to standard regression and UQ methods, we use machine learning approaches to wrap expensive simulators.

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To take advantage of high and low fidelity simulators during optimization, we explore a range of techniques to fuse their outputs together to speed up the optimization process using both gradient-based and heuristic algorithms. 

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We have developed a number of test rigs: an airborne wind quad-plane, a trailer-based wind turbine rig, and tidal turbine rotor and porous discs for the flume tank. We have also jointly acquired a battery cell test facility, FliDAR, ADCP, and vehicle four-wheel drive chassis dynamometer.

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 Application Areas

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We work on all variants of wind energy, including HAWTs and VAWTs, onshore, floating offshore, and airborne wind energy. We also work on tidal and wave energy technologies, and solar integration.

[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_blurb title=”Carbon Capture & Utilization (CCUS) ” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%308%%” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”90px” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ header_level=”h3″ header_text_align=”center” body_text_align=”justify” custom_padding=”|10px||10px|false|true” locked=”off”]

We are approaching CCUS from a systems perspective, focusing on fully renewable energy powered offshore systems for both long-term sequestration and synthetic fuels production.

[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_blurb title=”Low-Carbon Transportation” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%308%%” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”90px” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ header_level=”h3″ header_text_align=”center” body_text_align=”justify” custom_padding=”|10px|0px|10px|false|true” locked=”off”]

 Our primary focus in on transport electrification including drivetrain analysis and charging control for both pure battery and hydrogen variants. We research E-bikes and personal vehicles, through to medium and heavy duty fleets, and E-buses. We are also exploring the impacts and potentials of autonomous vehicles.

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Systems integration is a key aspect of our research, including large-scale and micro-grid analysis and demand management algorithms including thermal and vehicle load shifting. We work on battery degradation models supported by in-house degradation experiments primarily for Li-ion cells, but more recently including flow batteries.

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 Current Projects

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 Past Projects

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Our People

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_team_member name=”Dr. Curran Crawford” position=”Lab Director” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/06/DSCF0805-scaled-e1591393777730.jpg” twitter_url=”https://twitter.com/currancrawford” linkedin_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/curran-crawford-5204b05/” module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

Dr. Crawford is a Professor and leads the SSDL by supervising students, attacting new partners, writing grants and administering projects. His SM (MIT) and PhD (Cambridge) were both in wind turbine multidisciplinary optimization.

[/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Graham Wilson” position=”MASc Student” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/07/Graham_headshot.jpg” linkedin_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-wilson-584783108/” module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

Graham’s research focuses on energy storage systems in the context of electric transportation.  More specifically, Graham looks at the technological and economic benefits of different battery and charging infrastructure combinations.

[/et_pb_team_member][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_team_member name=”Heather Norton” position=”PhD Student” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/07/heather_headshot.jpg” linkedin_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherrossnorton” module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

Heather works within the Solid Carbon project seeking to optimise renewably powered offshore carbon dioxide extraction and sequestration.  She comes from a background in physics and computer science, so agrees with Rad about Gaussian Processes.

[/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Michael Pullinger” position=”PhD Student” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/07/DSC1615-scaled-e1594423055769.jpg” module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

Michael started his PhD in 2020, focussed on optimising the value of simulation for turbomachinery design in clean energy applications. This research aims to minimise the cost of computational engineering for turbine and compressor design.

[/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Masoud Meshkini” position=”MASc Student” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/07/20200720_154710-scaled-e1595342511882.jpg” linkedin_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/masoud-meshkini-63b4221b3″ module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

Energy systems is a new, interesting, and appealing field for me and it’s like an amazing adventure.

Current research field: Zinc-air Flow Batteries

Research interests: Energy (Storage) Systems, Renewable Energies, Carbon Capture & Storage, Modeling, Optimization, FEM, Solid Mechanics

[/et_pb_team_member][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_team_member name=”Gerard Domene” position=”PhD Student” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/07/Gerard-Domene-scaled-1.jpg” linkedin_url=”http://www.linkedin.com/in/gerardad” module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

[/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Rad Haghi” position=”PhD Candidate” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2017/12/IMG_1929-e1591393749744.jpg” module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

Rad things PCEs are the best thing in the entire world! Although Guassian Processes are pretty cool too.

[/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Markus Sommerfeld” position=”PhD Candidate” image_url=”https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/ssdl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8675/2020/08/P1060532_cropped_portrait-scaled-1.jpg” linkedin_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-sommerfeld/” module_class=”person_module_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ position_text_color=”#e29300″ background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”4px|4px|4px|4px|true|true”]

I determine the wind energy potential of innovative, new airborne wind energy systems and tall wind turbines. My research combines LiDAR measurements, mesoscale weather simulations with non-linear optimization to characterize AWES power and scaling effect.

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Contact

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_contact_form email=”curranc@uvic.ca” success_message=”Message sent.” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ form_field_text_color=”#000000″ captcha_text_color=”#000000″ captcha_font_size=”12px” form_field_font=”||||||||” width=”81%” module_alignment=”center” border_width_all=”1px”][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Name” field_title=”Name” _builder_version=”3.16″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Email” field_title=”Email Address” field_type=”email” _builder_version=”3.16″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Message” field_title=”Message” field_type=”text” fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][/et_pb_contact_form][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]