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A new $75-million institute at the University of Alberta promises a more holistic approach to energy research.

The Future Energy Systems Research Institute will bring together researchers from across disciplines to try to reduce the environmental footprint of fossil fuels and develop low-carbon power systems.

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But the approach will take a big-picture view instead of the more traditional piece-meal method, said Jillian Buriak, a U of A chemistry professor whose research on developing low-cost solar cells could qualify for funding through the new institute.

“When everyone thinks about energy, they think about the pieces — we need to make this more efficient or we need to make the conversion of oilsands lower in carbon emissions or what will be the impact on society,” Buriak said Tuesday.

“Very few people are thinking about this as one unit, and that’s what the university is going to do. This funding is going to bring in the resources that will enable the engineers to work with the scientists, to work with the economists, to work with the social scientists.