MéridaLabs

MéridaLabs have built a city-scale, innovation platform (Smart Hydrogen Energy District (SHED)) for energy system design. Located next to a sub-station at the corner of Wesbrook Mall and Thunderbird Boulevard on our Vancouver campus, the project will transform a city block into a smart-energy district. They have integrated common urban assets (e.g., electric vehicles, hydrogen refuelling stations, solar plants and buildings) to develop new technologies and economic models for individuals, cities and utilities. MéridaLabs are working on fuel cells, electrolyzers, and hydrogen generation technologies. They are developing the next generation of energy technologies and system architectures for a low-carbon economy. They focus on hydrogen because it can link renewable resources to scalable services. Beyond aviation and personal transportation, the future of air mobility includes aerial infrastructure monitoring, package delivery, search and rescue missions, natural disaster relief, and telecommunications. Using the campus as a living laboratory, MéridaLabs created an innovation platform for land-controlled drones. Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) delivery missions (medicines, packages, etc.) will be enabled by a 5G network.In early April 2021, they flew Canada’s first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over a 5G network. They are now working on zero-emission solutions for long-range operation.