Sara Hastings-Simon

Sara Hastings-Simon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Science, with a joint appointment in the School of Public Policy. She holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Geneva and specializes in energy transition policy and innovation systems.

Her research examines the intersection of technology, policy, and markets in electricity decarbonization, with specific focus on renewable energy integration, critical mineral supply chains, and electric vehicle adoption. She has conducted influential analyses of Alberta's Renewable Electricity Program and the economic implications of coal-to-gas switching in climate mitigation pathways.

Hastings-Simon regularly publishes policy analyses on emerging energy transition challenges including land use conflicts between agriculture and solar development, electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs, and designing effective innovation policies to overcome carbon lock-in. Her work informs provincial and federal energy policy development in Canada.