Through all of our interviews we collectively learned a lot of new information, especially regarding what the individuals are currently doing in the world of energy today. Melinda Scotland, working with Inter Pipeline Ltd., informed us about their current project. They are using their surplus of propane to convert it to propylene, using a secret patented technology. Propane is low in value but high in potential – including potential for high paying jobs. They have created an innovative facility, located in Alberta’s industrial heartland. The facility houses 2 operations: propane dehydrogenation pdh facility and polypropylene pp plant that work together to convert the propane to the end product. At the PP plant the newly formed propylene molecules are put through a process called polymerization, which encourages the protein molecules to bond. This process creates a recyclable plastic. The plastic is then pressed through an extruder, and produces the polypropylene pellets. The pellets are then transported to potential clients in canada. These pellets are used to create yogurt cups, coffee cups, canadian money, car bumpers or even carpets. Through another interview we became aware that rapid exchange with other researchers enables faster progress, which is important as it could be a way to integrate a knowledge network. The same interview also gave insight regarding what could cause a significant impact; “Finding a more suitable material than single-crystal silicon (einfachkristallines Silizium) in semiconductor research (Halbleiterforschung) could be the decisive point for the energy turnaround.”
We also learned that one problem is that a lot of people think as soon as they do something good for the environment in one place they can compensate for that in a different field. For example if they don’t eat meat they can go on vacation with the plane all the time. But in that way nothing really gets better. There should be more political support, for example policies about solar systems. Now it’s very easy for a neighbour to complain about a planned solar system on the house next door, that should change. Our attention was also brought to the fact that we must not forget that the Climate change and the crisis we are facing nowadays because of our past actions, is a crisis that our past generations have caused and we have inherited.
Noa, Natascha, Kristina, Muskan and Andreas