NORTH YORK, ON(June 4, 2024): NGIF Accelerator and its Industry Grants program is pleased to announce the successful completion of Point 3 Biotech Corp.’s (PT3) project. PT3 is an Industry Grants program funding recipient. The project, which aimed to process manure blends to identify maximum capacities of the technology and associated biogas production, has achieved significant milestones in the development of new renewable natural gas (RNG) solutions.
The project involved converting manure from cows, hogs, and chickens into RNG and high-value co-products, including fertilizers. The Hallam Lab at the University of British Columbia undertook advanced time-phased mapping of microbial community movements, which was then connected with performance data. Additionally, measuring and monitoring tools were created to support the consistently high performance of digester operations.
Manure-only on-farm biogas production is intensely carbon-negative and brings the strongest GHG reduction for energy. This project, through the development of community-scale manure management as a service, will open doors of opportunity for many Canadian farms that could not otherwise participate.
The project’s key findings include the identification of the most functional poultry manure usage recipes, which can now be used for production modelling. The project also provided vital insights into the process and function of reactors that convert large amounts of poultry manure. Sensors used in the research proved the possibility of enhancing annual RNG production by 10-20%.
Image: PT3’s Manure Digester
The outcomes of this project will pave the way for the development of new community-scale digesters (biogas clusters) and the offering of management services and solutions to existing facilities. This work tested and validated the vision for combining manures from diverse farms, overcoming barriers faced by individual dairy, hog, and poultry farms at the scale broadly present in Canada today. PT3 is actively seeking candidates for the first biorefinery based on the project outcomes, with a focus on advancing biogas opportunities in Canada.
“The valuable insights and advancements made during this project will help drive the development of renewable natural gas solutions,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator. “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 technology commercialization.”
James Irwin, CEO, PT3, notes, “We are grateful for the support of NGIF for this work that serves to eliminate emissions from Canada’s energy systems while also advancing the environmental and economic sustainability of Canadian farms. Sensor deployment, coupled with advanced life sciences (microbial community mapping), will allow us to make more gas (RNG) from available on-farm feedstock and dramatically increase the opportunity profile for carbon-negative fertilizers. There is even more than the coveted triple bottom line with this. On-farm biogas, with nutrient recovery, can impact at least 12 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
“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 NGIF continues to support technologies like PT3’s digester enablement,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
Industry Grants’ Participants and Project Partners
About Industry Grants program
The Industry Grants program is industry-led and 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 accelerate technology readiness level progressions 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 will operate 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 Point 3 Biotech Corp.
Point 3 Biotech is a privately held Canadian corporation founded by James Irwin and Frank Dionisi in July 2018. The company’s current main areas of research are terpenes and zero-waste agriculture. PT3 is participating in research and technology development for solutions in the bioeconomy. This includes a range of areas, including microalgae for nutraceuticals, full-spectrum terpenes for wellness formulations, and zero-waste agriculture.
About Canadian Gas Association
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gas energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen. Its members are distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers and other service providers. Today, natural gas meets 38 per cent of the country’s energy needs.
Fund Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Accelerator
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
Media Information:
Ayoola Ajibare
Communications Coordinator, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403)-389-2212
aajibare@ngif.ca
