Jatin Nathwani, PEng

Jatin Nathwani, PEng
Professor, Professor
Location: CPH 4342
Phone: 519-888-4567 x38252

Biography

Jatin Nathwani, Professor and Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy for Sustainable Energy is the founding Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) at University of Waterloo. He is cross appointed to the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Environment. In the Faculty of Engineering, he is cross appointed to the Department of Management Sciences and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Professor Nathwani joined the University of Waterloo in 2007.
Professor Nathwani is currently leading a ‘Global Change Initiative - Affordable Energy for Humanity’ to address the challenge of enabling universal access. The focus of this global collaborative effort involves leading universities around the world. The twin goals are to drive the scientific and technological innovations required for energy transitions to a cleaner ‘low carbon’ energy system and to deliver affordable energy to the vast proportion of humanity that has minimal access to electricity and modern fuels for basic needs.
Professor Nathwani’s research interests include energy policy developments, entrepreneurial business innovations for sustainable energy solutions, life-cycle risk management of energy systems, decision-frameworks for managing life safety risks and assessment of strategies and policy instruments for achieving environmental objectives. He has contributed to national and global strategic planning initiatives for sustainability of energy options, including smart energy networks and grids.
He serves on several boards at the provincial and national levels including the Ontario Smart Grid Forum, the Ontario Centre of Excellence (OCE) and the Council for Clean and Reliable Electricity (CCRE). He is the Scientific Advisor to the Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI), a partnership of the Perimeter Institute and the University of Waterloo.
Professor Nathwani has appeared frequently in the media and has over 100 publications related to energy and risk management, including 7 books.

Research Interests

  • Engineering Design and Operation, Optimization of Safety and Economics, Planning for Energy Infrastructure, Risk Assessment, Engineering Code of Practice, Science and Energy Policy, Data Analytics Research

Scholarly Research

Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy for Sustainable Energy Management Executive Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy As the Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) I ensure WISE is recognized nationally and internationally in the field of energy research. The Institute promotes effective development of technology and policy solutions to the issues and challenges of energy use. Fostering collaboration across departments and faculties is a key aspect of multidisciplinary team research. Approximately 80 faculty members (Engineering, Environment, Science, Mathematics) across the university are members of WISE. A key aspect of my function is to assist, work with and provide leadership to faculty members across diverse disciplines, and to help shape proposal development and initiatives with industry and government agencies. Maintaining a strong external presence and bringing the expertise of university to business and industry is another aspect of the role. 1. Developed and implemented a research framework agreement between UW and Hydro One for a research chair, scholarships, and research ($2.5M). 2. Ontario Centres for Excellence, Centre for Energy, a key role in the development and shaping of the OCE flagship projects for Ontario. Three of the six major projects were awarded to UW (~$10M). • Decreasing Diesel Dependency in Remote Northern Communities. Goal is off-grid hybrid power system for a lower-cost, environmentally friendly solution for remote communities. • Energy Consumption Management System Gives Consumers Control. Develop a smart web-based tool to give consumers control to change the way they use energy, and move to on-site alternatives like solar and wind energy. • Connecting Solar Farms to the Grid. Develop comprehensive solutions to help grid operators incorporate large-scale solar farms to their networks. 3. Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles Ontario Action Plan. Develop early concept and a team to address the challenges of the emerging electrification of the transport sector. Expect research funding in the order of $1M 4. International Collaboration: Mission to Develop Affordable Solar for the Masses, foundational work to shape a major collaborative project in the area of solar energy with a vision to attract $20M+. 5. Foundational work for major research initiatives with private sector partners and working with Faculty of Environment (streamlining of planning approvals for improved policy response, innovation in the power sector for better asset utilization, smart grid technologies. 6. Developed and established an international agreement for collaboration with UPES, successfully concluded agreement with ISTP under Canada/India Collaboration (implementation in progress). 7. Co-developer of 'The Life Quality Index'- another University of Waterloo innovation. The index, similar to the United Nations Human Development Index, focuses on enabling policy and engineering decisions for managing life safety risk under the constraint of scarce resources. Dr Nathwani also spearheaded the largest North American pilot test of consumer propensity to conserve energy resulting in a large scale deployment of the technology that enables reduction in energy use through "real-time-feedback" of energy consumption. HOUSE OF COMMONS Expert Testimony, House of Commons Committee on Natural Resources The NRU and Medical Isotopes crisis Ottawa, ON Feb 07, 2008 Expert Testimony, House of Commons Committee on Natural Resources The need for a reliable supply of isotopes, governance aspects and public acceptance Jatin Nathwani - testimony Ottawa, ON June 18, 2009 ONTARIO LEGISLATURE "Energy, Environment, Economy: Cross-Currents" Presentation to Ontario Assistant Deputy Minister Policy Innovation and Leadership Cabinet Secretariat 7 Queen's Park Ave., Whitney Block Toronto January 15, 2008 "Partnering with Academic and Other Research Organizations" OPS Expert Policy Forum - Engaging Policy Research Ontario Room, MacDonald Block Toronto November 27, 2008 "Shaping Ontario's Energy Future: Charting a path to sustainable prosperity" Policy Engagement Series with the Legislators Ontario Centre for Engineering and Public Policy (OCEPP) 7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto Toronto October 29, 2009

Education

  • 1980, P. Eng. P. Eng., Ontario, Canada
  • 1979, Doctorate Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
  • 1976, Master's Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
  • 1974, Bachelor's Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada

Awards

  • 2007 Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy for Sustainable Energy Management

Teaching*

  • AE 224 - Probability and Statistics
    • Taught in 2021, 2023
  • CIVE 224 - Probability and Statistics
    • Taught in 2023
  • ERS 619 - Energy Sustainability
    • Taught in 2019, 2020
  • GEOG 669 - Energy Sustainability
    • Taught in 2019, 2020
  • INDEV 606 - Energy Sustainability
    • Taught in 2019, 2020
  • MSCI 433 - Applications of Management Engineering
    • Taught in 2021, 2023

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

Graduate studies