About CSEE
Cape Breton University’s Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment (CSEE) was established to find innovative and sustainable solutions to energy and environmental issues.
The CSEE is uniquely positioned to confront these challenges.
As an early centre for Canada’s industrial development, Cape Breton is now responding to the environmental legacy left behind by large-scale coal mining and steel production: the area contains the Sydney Tar Ponds, abandoned steel mills, and 3,200 kilometres of underground mine tunnels. Underground mines fill with water and overflow; to avoid contamination, that flow must be managed.
With over $500 million committed to remediating and managing the integrity of these sites so far, Cape Breton is developing world-class expertise in environmental management.
The Cape Breton region is also energy rich – not only enormous coal reserves, but other sources – boasting some of the fastest average wind speeds in Canada (see map [link to nswindatlas.ca]), tidal power in the Bras D’Or Lakes, and the Nova Scotia end of the planned Lower Churchill submarine transmission link – helping to develop the largest untapped hydro resource in North America.
Capitalizing on these core strengths, the CSEE facilitates R&D in two key areas:
- Environmental Management (including mine water management and environmental remediation technology)
- Cleaner Energy (including renewable energy and clean carbon energy).
