HARvEST SYSTEMS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATES WASTE HEAT RECOVERY FROM PIZZA PIZZA OVENS

June 22, 2023

HAMILTON, ON (June 22, 2023): HARvEST Systems has successfully demonstrated its innovative waste heat recovery systems within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. HARvEST’s clean technology system, installed and commissioned at three Pizza Pizza locations, enables the restaurants to efficiently manage their energy usage, cut down on operating costs, and reduce emissions.

Developed through a five-year research program at McMaster University, in partnership with Pizza Pizza Limited, the POWER (Pizza Oven Waste Energy Recovery) system is designed to repurpose waste heat from pizza ovens to offset heating needs within a restaurant and provide autonomous operations and resilience with the ability to generate electricity.

HARvEST’s POWER system repurposes waste heat from Pizza ovens to offset heating needs within a restaurant.

In parallel, the integrated performance measurement and data analytics provides unmatched insight into the subtle energy interactions within a commercial kitchen, thus allowing the ability to monitor system health and measure energy savings with the integration of the POWER system. The POWER system is not just a waste heat recovery system; it is backed with the expertise and tools within HARvEST to understand energy utilization and provide high-efficiency gains within restaurants.

With support from NGIF and its Industry Grants program, HARvEST has been able to successfully build the first prototypes of the POWER system.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to move beyond the research lab and showcase the POWER system within three Pizza Pizza restaurants, each representing exhaust venting arrangements found throughout the food service industry. Being a fuel-less, carbon-free water heating system, the POWER system harvests waste heat from cooking appliances, such as ovens and fryers, resulting in lower operating costs and reduced emissions,” said James Cotton, CEO, HARvEST Systems. “The continued support from programs such as the NGIF Industry Grants is instrumental in supporting the transition of Canadian university research to commercial services, systems, and products.”

NGIF Industry Grants supported this project, and I am pleased to see its successful deployment at the Pizza Pizza restaurants. HARvEST’s cleantech solution is poised to significantly reduce emissions and improve economics through direct cost savings,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Capital Corporation and Managing Partner of NGIF Cleantech Ventures. “Our Industry Grants program and its focus on de-risking clean technologies through field trials and pilots are part of NGIF’s integrated model of industry validation, customer creation, and market commercialization.”

“Harvest’s POWER system can increase pizza oven’s energy efficiency and reduce operating costs for restaurants. It is exactly the type of low-carbon solution that can help our customers make a positive impact on the environment while keeping affordability in mind. Enbridge is pleased to be able to support this project through NGIF Industry Grants and its industry partners,” said Scott Dodd, Director of Business Development, Enbridge Gas.

“As the initial commercial partner of McMaster and HARvEST, Pizza Pizza is proud to have played a key role in demonstrating successful proof-of-concept of this revolutionary technological innovation, which has the potential to provide ongoing environmental benefits and economic benefits for our restaurant operators across the country, a true win-win for all,” said Paul Goddard, President, and CEO, Pizza Pizza Limited.

“Canadians want and need the affordable, reliable, clean energy service offering they have come to expect from the natural gas industry. Through investments in technology companies like HARvEST, this industry is laying the groundwork to make that service offering even better, said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.

Industry Grants Participants and Project Partners

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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 the 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 HARvEST Systems
HARvEST Systems is a Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)-based company dedicated to making waste heat an everyday commodity. HARvEST specializes in the seamless integration of a unique waste heat recovery system into restaurants to reduce utility costs and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. For more details, visit https://harvestsystems.ca/

About Pizza Pizza Limited
Pizza Pizza Limited was founded in 1967 in Toronto, Ontario and has grown to become Canada’s leading national Quick Service pizza brand with over 730 restaurants across the country. In 2007, Pizza Pizza acquired the Pizza 73 brand and operates over 100 locations, primarily in Alberta. Pizza Pizza is guided by its vision of “Always the best food, made especially for you,” with a focus on quality ingredients, customer service, continuous innovation, and community involvement. For more information, visit www.pizzapizza.ca and www.pizza73.com or follow Pizza Pizza on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter @PizzaPizzaLtd.

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 percent of Canada’s energy needs through a network of over 577,000 kilometers of underground infrastructure. The versatility and resiliency of this infrastructure allow it to deliver an ever-changing gas supply mix to over 7.4 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 Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF).