CALGARY, AB (May 13, 2025): NGIF Accelerator, a leading driver of cleantech innovation in Canada’s natural gas sector, has awarded $205,887 to Prabhu Energy Labs (PEL) through its Industry Grants program to help bring PEL’s patented Oxiperator technology into the field. The project will demonstrate this tailpipe solution, which captures and oxidizes methane slip emissions from lean-burn gas engines at upstream and midstream sites in Alberta.
Based in Mission Viejo, California, PEL specializes in the capture and use of “weak” methane emissions—small leaks with very low methane concentrations (0.3% by volume), which represent more than half of global methane emissions. The Oxiperator is a first-of-its-kind porous, high-temperature heat exchanger and reactor that oxidizes methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide (CO) using gradual, catalyst-free oxidation for continuous, complete emissions removal.
PEL plans to demonstrate the Oxiperator on lean-burn engines at compressor stations at upstream and midstream sites in Alberta, with support from Industry Grants participant Birchcliff Energy and others.
Designed for rapid installation on both new and existing engines, the technology offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for reducing methane slip and other harmful emissions from lean-burn engines. The Oxiperator has the potential to reduce methane emissions equivalent to gigatons of CO₂e annually, a major step toward achieving industry-wide emissions reduction goals.
Image: Prabhu Labs’ Oxiperator, a high-temperature porous heat exchanger for the oxidation of methane emissions and VOCs.
“Prabhu Energy Labs’ Oxiperator technology shows real promise in methane slip mitigation, and we are proud to support their field demonstration,” 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.”
“We’re excited to receive this support from NGIF Accelerator as we take our Oxiperator technology into the field,” said Edan Prabhu, CEO of Prabhu Energy Labs. “This funding, combined with the industry backing from the Industry Grants program, will be crucial in helping us tackle methane slip emissions and make a real environmental impact on the natural gas sector. Our Canada–US partnership will help us move quickly to address the urgent need for methane mitigation across North America and beyond.”
“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 Prabhu Energy Labs,” 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 Prabhu Energy Labs
Prabhu Energy Lab is a California-based technology company that is developing the Oxiperator for methane slip in communication with several oil and gas companies that are interested in field testing the Oxiperator on their engines. PEL also plans to develop a Power Oxiperator, a pressurized Oxiperator that would drive a gas turbine to generate local power. Please visit www.prabhuenergy.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, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403)-389-2090
dphilip@ngif.ca
