CALGARY, AB (February 13, 2024): NGIF Accelerator is pleased to announce the Canadian Gas Association has entered into a contribution agreement with Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) to support the ongoing Emissions Testing Centre (ETC) program managed by NGIF Accelerator.
The ETC program provides a unique opportunity for technology developers to field test their innovations and advance their technologies to market. PrairiesCan’s non-repayable investment of $1,946,750 will help build capacity at the ETC so that more small- and medium-sized businesses can access its testing facilities.
“We are pleased to collaborate with PrairiesCan to create testing and deployment opportunities for innovative new technologies that help reduce emissions across the natural gas value chain,” said John Adams, CEO and President of NGIF Accelerator and Managing Partner, Cleantech Ventures Fund I. “Our goal at the NGIF Accelerator and the Emissions Testing Centre is to foster innovations that support the natural gas industry in reducing emissions and foster sustainable economic growth in the energy industry.”
The ETC offers a plug-and-play testing platform for both simulated and live operational emissions testing. This pioneering program owes its success to the collaborative contributions of Tourmaline Oil Corp. (Tourmaline) and the University of Calgary’s Gates Research Group’s Emission Test Lab. These partners provide essential technical resources and host facilities for the testing of various technologies. The University of Calgary’s Gates Research Group’s Emission Test Lab is specifically designed for early-stage technologies, while Tourmaline grants access to a diverse array of live operating environments for technology providers in upstream and midstream operations. The central hub for these live operations is the West Wolf Lake gas plant, a joint venture with Perpetual Energy Inc. (Perpetual).
PrairiesCan funding will enable the ETC program lab and live facility host environments to specifically support the development and validation of new methane emissions monitoring and reduction technologies. PrairiesCan funding is provided through the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF). The JGF is a $700-million federal program to support regional job creation and position local economies for long-term growth. The Fund provides businesses and organizations with either interest-free loans or non-repayable funding to help job creators and the organizations that support them prepare for growth, build resiliency, enhance competitiveness, and create jobs. PrairiesCan administers the JGF in the Prairies.
The ETC program was formed and previously funded by Natural Resources Canada under the Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network (CERIN) initiative. With the support of PrairiesCan, the ETC program will continue to provide small and medium-sized firms with support by providing a free platform to test their technologies.
“The ETC program allows cleantech developers to test their technologies in live operating environments with potential end users, thereby accelerating the commercialization process. They can gain valuable technical and industry expertise, collect data, and validate and modify their technologies according to industry needs,” noted Adams.
“As part of our government’s commitment to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050, we are working in partnership with industry to create new investment opportunities for clean technology innovation in Alberta and across the Prairies,” said the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan. “By investing in the Canadian Gas Association and further building the capacity of its leading-edge NGIF Emissions Testing Centre program, we are ensuring small- and medium-sized cleantech firms can access more opportunities to refine, validate, and commercialize their innovative emissions reduction solutions and create sustainable jobs in Alberta’s energy sector.”
“The Government of Canada is working with industry and experts to drive down methane emissions in the energy sector in order to fight climate change and enhance long-term competitiveness,” said The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “Today’s announcement is an important step in reducing methane emissions, building on Canada’s ambitious methane regulations and Canada’s forthcoming Methane Centre of Excellence.”
“Alberta’s small- and medium-sized technology firms will continue to play a critical role in enabling Canada to reach net-zero by 2050 while generating lasting economic benefits for our province,” said George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview. “I’m proud to see our government providing clean technology innovators in our community with a leg up in bringing their emissions monitoring and reduction technologies to market for the benefits of Albertans and all Canadians.”
“Tourmaline is pleased to partner with NGIF, Perpetual Energy, and PrairiesCan to continue building on the success of the ETC program, which has already supported 34 projects from 18 startup companies,” said Scott Volk, Director of Emissions and Innovation at Tourmaline Oil. “As a company, Tourmaline remains laser-focused on reducing methane emissions, and the ETC is an important enabler of the technology and innovations that will help us, and all of the industry, advance our methane mitigation targets.”
“The Gates Research Group at the University of Calgary has joined forces with NGIF, Tourmaline, and PrairiesCan on the Emissions Testing Centre. This collaborative research environment has many benefits, providing unique training opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral scholars in the area of methane emissions and its reduction not only at lab-scale but also in operating natural gas industrial settings,” said Prof. Ian Gates, Professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Calgary.
“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. PrairiesCan funding is dedicated to helping ETC in that regard, particularly with efforts to meet the emission control standards the Government of Canada has established,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
About NGIF Emissions Testing Centre Program
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 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.
About Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
PrairiesCan is the federal department that supports economic growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Its programs and services help businesses, not-for-profits, and communities grow stronger. Its mandate is to support economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the interests of the region in national economic policy, programs, and projects.
Contract Partners
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
