OTTAWA, ON (July 21, 2022) NGIF Industry Grants, a division of NGIF Capital Corporation, announces that 14 Canadian Energy Companies along the full gas value chain have signed on to allocate new grant dollars in its startup accelerator. The mandate of the accelerator is to support innovation and clean technology development by grants to startup companies.
The Origins of NGIF Industry Grants
NGIF Industry Grants evolved from the Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF), a project of the Canadian Gas Association started in 2016. The concept was to accelerate the development of technologies that improve the economic and environmental performance of Canada’s gas sector. Launched with five gas utilities as funders, within a year, seven energy producers joined. Two other companies have since joined. Four years later, the success of NGIF led to its evolution into NGIF Capital Corporation, which is wholly owned by CGA Enterprises, a venture of the Canadian Gas Association (CGA). NGIF Capital Corporation now operates NGIF Industry Grants, NGIF Cleantech Ventures, and The Emissions Testing Centre.
The 14 Prominent Energy Companies Committed to NGIF are:
From the upstream and midstream: Birchcliff Energy Ltd.; Canadian Natural Resources Limited; Cutbank Dawson Resources Ltd. (a 100% subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation); Perpetual Energy Inc.; PETRONAS Energy Canada Ltd.; Shell Canada Energy; Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd.; and Tourmaline Oil Corp.
From the downstream: APEX Utilities Inc.; ATCO Gas Ltd.; Enbridge Gas Inc.; FortisBC Energy Inc.; Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.; and SaskEnergy Inc.
“I am both excited and grateful for the confidence and support as NGIF Industry Grants renews its contract with 14 Leading Canadian Energy Companies who are committed to driving cleantech innovation through startups with solutions for Canada’s natural gas sector,” said John Adams, NGIF Capital Corporation President and CEO and NGIF Cleantech Ventures Managing Partner. “I congratulate Akhil Abat and the Industry Grants Investment Committee for securing this industry collaboration for Canada.”
“When the Canadian Gas Association launched NGIF, we had a vision of bringing the entire natural gas value chain together to advance innovation and environmental performance for the sector,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation. “I’m excited to see the array of companies that have come together to enhance the natural gas sector to benefit Canadians and ensure their continued access to clean, secure, and affordable energy.”
About NGIF Industry Grants
NGIF Industry Grants is a first-of-kind, industry-led grant organization to fund early-stage startups developing solutions to environmental and other challenges facing Canada’s natural gas sector. NGIF Industry Grants develops, demonstrates and de-risks these technology solutions through field trials and pilot projects to drive innovation and support environmental goals in Canada. NGIF Industry Grants’ investment focus is on existing natural gas production, transmission, distribution, storage, and end-use applications, as well as projects that will lead to the expanded production of emerging gaseous fuels like renewable natural gas and hydrogen. The organization has built a portfolio of startups, trusted partnerships with government for co-funding opportunities, and a robust technical evaluation investment model. NGIF Industry Grants is operated by NGIF Capital Corporation.
About NGIF Capital Corporation
NGIF Capital Corporation is a Canadian venture capital (VC) firm offering grant and equity financing for startups that deliver solutions to the environmental and other challenges facing the natural gas sector. NGIF Capital Corporation is unique in how it brings Canada’s energy industry leadership to every investment. Like other VCs, it takes new companies and their ideas from concept to commercialization. Unlike other VCs, NGIF Capital Corporation has strong connections to every part of the gas value chain, from production through to end-use, offering it a means to test, develop, and accelerate the commercial implementation of innovative gas technology wherever it fits in the sector. The model benefits consumers, investors, and Canadian society as a whole. NGIF Capital Corporation operates NGIF Industry Grants (the original Natural Gas Innovation Fund), the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre, and NGIF Cleantech Ventures. NGIF Capital Corporation is wholly owned by CGA Enterprises, a venture of the Canadian Gas Association.
About Canadian Gas Association
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gaseous energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen. CGA membership includes energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry. CGA’s utility members are Canadian-owned and active in eight provinces and one territory. CGA members meet 38 per cent of Canada’s energy needs through a network of over 573,000 kilometres of underground infrastructure. The versatility and resiliency of this infrastructure allows it to deliver an ever-changing gas supply mix to over 7.3 million customer locations representing approximately two-thirds of Canadians. CGA members ensure Canadians get the affordable, reliable, clean gaseous energy they want and need. CGA is also working to constantly improve that gaseous energy offering, by driving forward innovation through the NGIF Capital Corporation.
Fund Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
Managing Partner, NGIF Cleantech Ventures
613-748-0057
jadams@ngif.ca
Media Information:
Ayoola Ajibare
Communications Coordinator, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403) 389-2212
aajibare@ngif.ca
