CALGARY (February 3, 2026): NGIF Accelerator today announced the appointment of an Independent Committee of industry and technical experts to oversee TIER matching funding decisions for approved Industry Grants projects under its Methane Reduction Demonstration Program.
The $9MM Methane Reduction Demonstration Program is supported by funding from the Government of Alberta. The Government has committed $7MM from Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Fund to support NGIF Accelerator’s delivery of the Demonstration Program, alongside $22.4MM allocated to Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) as part of a joint Methane Reduction initiative. Under this initiative, ERA will lead the Deployment Program, while NGIF Accelerator is responsible for the Demonstration Program. An additional $3MM in matching funding will be provided by industry through the NGIF Accelerator Industry Grants Program.
The Independent Committee will assess eligible projects against Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) mandate, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity from industrial facilities. The committee provides independent oversight and expert evaluation to support transparent, rigorous, and outcomes-based funding decisions.
The committee will be chaired by Ray Kwan, former Chief Financial Officer of Tidewater Renewables, and includes senior industry leaders and greenhouse gas (GHG) specialists with deep expertise in operations, emissions reduction, and methane technologies. NGIF Accelerator management will support the committee’s work.
Independent Committee members include:
- Ray Kwan, former CFO, Tidewater Renewables Ltd. (Chair)
- John Adams, President and CEO, NGIF Accelerator
- Darren Gee, former CEO, Peyto Exploration and Development Corp.
- Chris Slubicki, former CEO, Modern Resources Inc.
- David Smith, former CEO, Keyera Corp.
- Darin Dunlop, former SVP, Whitecap Resources Inc.
- Deepika Mahadevan, Senior Manager, Brightspot Climate Inc. (GHG Reductions)
- Courtney Oishi, Senior Policy Advisor at Strategic Climate Policy, Government of Alberta
NGIF Accelerator Management:
- Akhil Abat, Chief Operating Officer, NGIF Accelerator
- Abdul Qadir, Chief Financial Officer, NGIF Accelerator (Secretary)
“Establishing an independent committee with deep industry and technical expertise is a critical step in ensuring funding decisions are rigorous, transparent, and aligned with the intent of the TIER program,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator. “This committee brings decades of operational, financial, and emissions-reduction experience to the table and will play a key role in accelerating the adoption of methane-reduction technologies that deliver measurable, real-world impact.”
The NGIF Accelerator’s Methane Reduction Demonstration Program provides methane-technology innovators with a clear, unified pathway to secure both industry and government funding, helping bridge the gap between demonstration and adoption. Approved projects are now ready for review, with the committee’s inaugural adjudication meeting targeted for mid-February 2026.
For more information: Methane Reduction Demonstration Program
About Industry Grants program
The Industry Grants program is an industry-led effort that offers non-dilutive grants to fund early-stage startups for technology development and field demonstration. The program specifically de-risks pre-commercial technology solutions that have the potential to increase the environmental performance of the natural gas sector. Each project in the program will progress through technology readiness levels through controlled pilot testing and field trials to advance commercialization.
About NGIF Accelerator
NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital and operates all of the latter organization’s technology and innovation programs. The NGIF Accelerator mandate is to de-risk and accelerate technology development by supporting startups through their pilot projects, field trials, and industry validation. It coordinates with federal and provincial governments to co-fund projects to advance market commercialization. NGIF Accelerator currently operates the Industry Grants program and administers the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre program.
Fund Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Accelerator
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
Media Information:
Dini Philip
Communications Coordinator,
