The Energy Modelling Hub (EMH) is a national network of energy and electricity modellers, industry professionals, policymakers, academic researchers, and other experts that aims to guide the transformation of Canada’s complex energy systems. Its mission is to support timely, evidence-based policymaking toward a net-zero economy by bringing together public policy and energy modelling communities as well as facilitating access to energy modelling expertise and tooling. In 2022, National Resources Canada (NRCan) invested nearly $5 million to establish the EMH to help realize a decarbonized energy system for Canada.
In 2025, NRCan renewed its support for EMH activities for a further four years, providing an additional $5 million to strengthen Canada’s capacity for transparent, evidence-based energy, climate, and energy transition policy development and planning. The new mandate, Reinforcing Canadian Energy Modelling Capacities: Enhancing Tools and Expertise for Canada’s Electricity and Renewable Energy Sector, is headquartered at the University of Calgary and delivered through a four-institution consortium: University of Calgary, Polytechnique Montréal, University of Victoria, and York University. Carleton University also joined the consortium this February.
The four-year project is led by Dr. Blake Shaffer from the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, Dr. Madeleine McPherson from the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems at the University of Victoria, Dr. Normand Mousseau from the Institut de l’énergie Trottier at Polytechnique Montréal, Dr. Daniel Rosenbloom from Carleton University, and Dr. Mark Winfield from the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University. Dr. Winfield is co-chair of York’s Sustainable Energy Initiative.
At York, Vanessa Smikle serves as Strategic Engagement Specialist for the EMH project. She facilitates strategic engagement activities, manages collaborative initiatives such as the Multi-Model Comparison Forum, and promotes awareness and understanding of EMH’s suite of open-source tools. Her work bridges the gap between energy modellers, policymakers, and stakeholders to support evidence-based decision-making for an affordable, decarbonized, reliable, and equitable energy system in Canada. She also plays a critical role in fostering collaboration and strengthening relationships between Canada’s energy modelling community and its diverse stakeholders.
On February 27, EMH will hold a half-day (8:30am-12:30pm) symposium on the Toronto Energy Modelling Exchange at Schulich, York University. The event will focus on assessing energy and electricity modelling capacities and needs in Ontario in an environment of growing uncertainty.
The program features two moderated panels. The first will examine modelling practices, needs, and challenges within Ontario’s energy agencies, utilities, and planning institutions. The second will highlight modelling work from post-secondary institutions and civil society and explore how independent analysis can complement official planning processes.
The symposium will bring together system planners, policymakers, utilities, academics, and independent analysts for a focused exchange on how modelling capacity in Ontario can evolve to better support future decision-making. For more information, visit the EMH event website. For more information, read the EMH press release here.