CALGARY, AB (January 18, 2024) NGIF Accelerator is pleased to announce that Convrg Innovations (Convrg), formerly known as Westgen Technologies, successfully demonstrated and validated its Engineered Power on Demand (EPOD) system through the NGIF Accelerator and its Emissions Testing Centre (ETC) program.
After more than 12 months of field operation, the EPOD-powered air compressors have successfully eliminated over 3,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions at two well sites.
Convrg, a Calgary-based company, developed the EPOD system with the aim of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fuel-gas-venting pneumatic devices by converting these systems from fuel gas to compressed air.
Image: Convrg Innovation’s EPOD
The EPOD pressurizes on-site pneumatic devices that are traditionally powered by fuel gas. These devices, including liquid level controllers and pressure controllers, are commonly used in upstream well-site facilities. Rigorous testing, conducted at two well-site facilities provided by Tourmaline Oil Corp. (Tourmaline), assessed the EPOD for its potential to reduce greenhouse gases and its capacity to reduce unprocessed fuel gas in real-world situations.
The ETC program is a plug-and-play testing platform for cleantech startups to validate their emissions-reduction solutions in both a laboratory-simulated and live operating test environment.
“Together with our partners, Perpetual Energy, Tourmaline, Natural Resources Canada, and the University of Calgary, we have created an unprecedented opportunity with this program for substantial reductions in methane emissions,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator. “Convrg was able to leverage our program and create results that can be shared with future customers and potential investors.”
Connor O’Shea, CEO of Convrg Innovations, notes, “The successful validation of our EPOD technology through the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre program is a testament to our commitment to greenhouse gas reduction in the oil and gas industry. This field testing, conducted in collaboration with Tourmaline, showcases EPOD’s practical contributions to emissions reduction.”
“Canadians want and need the affordable, reliable, clean energy service offering they have come to expect from the natural gas industry. When we created NGIF, it was our vision to bring the entire natural gas value chain together to support cleantech development that enhances environmental and economic performance for the sector. I am glad to see our vision in action as its Accelerator program continues to support technologies like Convrg Innovations,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
The public-facing reports about EPOD are accessible via www.cerinprojects.ca. The website houses all the reports of technology testing through the Emissions Testing Centre program and is maintained by the CERIN program.
About NGIF Emissions Testing Centre
The ETC Program is a collaborative industry, government, and academia initiative headed by the NGIF Accelerator, providing startups with a dedicated space to develop, test, and field-validate technologies to measure, monitor, and reduce methane emissions. The program is unique by providing technology innovators with free-to-test access to support a rapid scale-up of technologies from concept to commercial-ready deployment. The ETC lab at the University of Calgary provides capabilities to test and de-risk technologies in a controlled environment, complemented by live field trials at the West Wolf Lake Gas Plant (jointly owned by Tourmaline Oil Corp. and Perpetual Energy) along with other Tourmaline assets.
About NGIF Accelerator
NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital and operates all 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 will coordinate with federal and provincial governments to co-fund projects to advance market commercialization. NGIF Accelerator currently operates the Industry Grants program and the Emissions Testing Centre program.
About Convrg Innovations
Convrg Innovations is a trusted leader in emissions reduction solutions for the upstream oil and gas industry. Their flagship micro-grid solution, EPOD, empowers companies to pressurize on-site pneumatics systems with ease, achieving over 95% emissions reduction. Typical well operations benefit from a remarkable annual net emissions reduction of 500-1,500 tonnes of CO2e.
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.
Fund Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Accelerator
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
(613)-748-0057
jadams@ngif.ca
Media Information:
Dini Philip
Communications Coordinator, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403)-389-2090
dphilip@ngif.ca
