He brings a star-studded CV to the table that’s as long as the Mackenzie River.

But credentials alone can’t explain why Robert Mansell is an ideal front man for a broadly based research initiative with a real chance to revolutionize the energy industry.

A former head of the University of Calgary’s economics department and ex-dean of graduate studies, Mansell is an unimpeachable authority on energy policy and utilities regulation. But it’s his collaborative impulse, implacable drive and firmly optimistic vision that make you believe the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) has the potential to make a profound difference.

As ISEEE’s managing director, Mansell speaks with quiet passion about a future in which:

Mike Sturk, Business Edge
Robert Mansell is leading the charge to revolutionize the energy industry at U of C-based ISEEE.

* Carbon dioxide emissions are captured, harnessed and re-injected into petroleum-producing assets and used to enhance production, thus actually creating a viable market for the environmental movement’s Public Enemy No. 1.

* “Dirty” hydrocarbons are converted into clean energy by means of research into solid- oxide fuel cells.

* The 93 per cent of Alberta oilsands resources that are currently inaccessible become recoverable by means of major advances in steam-activated gravity drainage (SAGD) technology – all in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Then he actually makes you believe that such a future can come about.

“For us to have an impact, we have to demonstrate that we can bring together like-minded organizations in collaboration, while imposing a very high professional standard and level of credibility,” Mansell said last week.

It’s a testament to ISEEE’s bold scope and almost audacious ambition that scientists around the globe are already besieging Mansell with questions about how they can emulate his operational model.

To begin with, Mansell declines to claim authorship. ISEEE’s spiritual godfather is University of Calgary president Harvey Weingarten, who has made the institute one of his top priorities.

Established in conjunction with both the University of Alberta and University of Lethbridge, but based on the Calgary campus, ISEEE is in the process of attracting both funding and expert researchers to four related fields of specialization: In-situ recovery and upgrading of oilsands; sustainable development technology, i.e. alternative energy sources; carbon management; and water management.

An enormous mandate, to be sure. But Mansell insists an integrated and collaborative research assault on these related but often divergent fronts is the only way to achieve success.

Long before Weingarten’s brainchild came to fruition last year, consultation with industry honchos indicated a collaborative model was the only logical way to proceed.

“They agreed the integrated approach is superior to a number of standalone solutions which may not be viable on their own. Industry and government both indicated they wanted us to cross inter-disciplinary lines,” Mansell said.

“So much of this kind of research is carved up. Somebody’s exploring hydrogen, someone else is exploring biofuels. It makes no sense unless this work can be integrated.”

As senior administrator, Mansell’s initial priorities have included building his research team while simultaneously trolling for external funding. So far, his marks are worthy of the honour roll.

The provincial government has committed to put up half the $130-million pricetag (over five years) for ISEEE’s sustainable development technologies component, if the feds will cough up the remaining $65 million. “It’s a harder sell than you might think,” Mansell flashed a weary smile. “We’re looking for results maybe 10 or 20 years down the road. There’s kind of an assumption that these issues will look after themselves.”

Meanwhile, Alberta Ingenuity has put up $9 million to kickstart ISEEE’s in-situ recovery/ oilsands upgrader component, which Mansell describes as a “huge challenge with a huge prize at the end of the process.”

On the personnel front, the ISEEE team has already landed several large fish, including its first visiting fellow.

With Weingarten’s blessing, Mansell set his sights on Michal Moore, chief economist at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Boulder, Colo.

“How did we recruit him? We just did it. We said, ‘Let’s go find the external funds, this is the person we want,’” Mansell said.

There is a worrisome aspect to this generally upbeat story, however. With the campus at large struggling under the strain of budget restrictions, ISEEE has been targeted for zingers aimed by colleagues who figuratively accuse Mansell of playing teacher’s (i.e. Weingarten’s) pet.

Mansell understands and sympathizes, while pleading not guilty.

“We’ve had to earn our keep,” he responds. “For every dollar the university has put in (about $16 million), we’re getting many, many times more than that from external sources.”

(Tom Keyser can be reached at tomk@businessedge.ca)