CALGARY, AB (May 27, 2025): NGIF Accelerator, a catalyst for cleantech innovation in Canada’s natural gas sector, is awarding $102,500 in grant funding to Spherical Rotors through its Industry Grants program. The investment will support the advancement of Spherical Rotors’ expander technology, designed to generate zero-emission power from pressure drops at off-grid natural gas sites and strengthen decarbonization efforts through early-stage testing.
Spherical Rotors, a Global Cleantech Challenge finalist, is pioneering technology that captures waste energy from pressure changes in natural gas pipelines and converts it into electricity. This innovation enhances operational competitiveness while reducing emissions. The expander is designed to independently manage pressure fluctuations and provide full flow control, positioning it as the world’s first power-generating gas control valve!
The project will be executed in two phases to progressively de-risk the technology with respective testing in compression and expansion modes in a simulated environment. Successful completion will establish the operational confidence needed to advance to field pilot testing at committed producer and utility sites.
Looking ahead, Spherical Rotors aims to manufacture and deploy a suite of zero-emission equipment, including expanders, compressors, pumps, and control valves, that supports sustainable economic growth and reinforces the role of natural gas within a cleaner energy landscape
Image: Conceptual Rendering of Spherical Rotors’ Reversibly Operated Technology.
“Spherical Rotors’ expander technology represents a breakthrough opportunity to generate low-emission, off-grid power by capturing and converting waste energy from natural gas operations,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator. “Our Industry Grants program and its focus on de-risking technologies through field trials and pilots are part of NGIF’s integrated model of industry validation, customer creation, and technology commercialization.”
“At Spherical Rotors, our goal is to usher in a new era of pressure, power & heat for savings and sustainability. Natural gas sites, unlike hydroelectric dams, typically face challenges converting pressure to electricity. Electrically operated valves meet emissions goals and comply with new regulatory requirements which prohibit venting natural gas to operate valves,” said Michael Sereda-Mohr, founder of Spherical Rotors. “However, a gas site requiring 500W typically doesn’t have enough economic capacity or space for solar photovoltaic panels with sufficient battery backup to accommodate intermittent solar. Instead, gas is typically burned at less than 3% efficiency for site power. Our patented rotary valveless technology is a bit like a screw compressor/expander, except with a higher expected pressure rating, efficiency, and adaptability to reliably generate the electricity required. We are honoured to receive support from the NGIF Accelerator, which equips us with the resources essential to our success.”
“Canadians want and need the affordable, reliable, and low-emission 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 innovations like Spherical Rotors,” 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 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 administers the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre program.
About Spherical Rotors
Spherical Rotors is a Calgary-based technology company that is reimagining how pressure, power, & heat may be used or generated in various applications for savings & sustainability. The first product aims to convert pressure to electricity at off-grid natural gas sites or use electricity to generate pressure in compressor mode to avoid venting natural gas at tanks or to operate existing pneumatically operated valves. The technology is scalable and can be used across a wide range of compressor, expander, pump, and control valve applications spanning global markets. For example, advanced heat pumps may reduce driving range loss in electric vehicles and reduce emissions from heating both buildings and pipelines. Please visit https://sphericalrotors.com/ for more information.
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 almost 40 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:
Dini Philip
Communications Coordinator,
