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CALGARY — Genome Alberta is launching a series of projects aimed at improving environmental performance in the province’s energy sector through the use of genomics and advanced data tools.
The organization, with support from the Alberta government, announced five new initiatives with a combined value of $2.9 million. The projects are intended to accelerate the application of genomic technologies to address environmental challenges and improve efficiency in energy production.
Genome Alberta says genomics, combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence, can provide insight into how microbes interact with industrial processes, including land reclamation, oil recovery and hydrogen storage.
The projects are part of the Genomic Innovations: Energy and Environmental Solutions initiative, which brings together academic researchers and industry partners to move technologies from lab development to real-world use.
Among the initiatives is work to develop DNA-based indicators to assess the ecological health of oil sands pit lakes, aimed at supporting faster and more reliable reclamation decisions. Another project will study microbial activity in underground hydrogen storage to improve safety and reliability as Alberta expands its hydrogen sector.
Additional projects focus on developing tools to monitor soil health and support forest reclamation, creating biosensors to detect microbes that can damage hydrogen infrastructure, and using microbial processes to enhance oil recovery while lowering emissions.
Officials say the initiative is designed to support innovation, improve environmental outcomes and strengthen Alberta’s energy sector by bridging the gap between research and commercial deployment.
The projects began earlier this year and are expected to deliver results within two years.
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