OTTAWA, ON (January 26, 2023) Clean technology projects in hydrogen, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), value-added products, energy efficiency, digital technologies and renewable natural gas (RNG) are receiving funding from NGIF Industry Grants through its Round 8 Natural Gas Cleantech Competition.
The competition, which launched in May 2022, targeted cleantech startups with solutions that can create value and mitigate the environmental impact of the production, transmission and distribution of natural gas in Canada.
“I am excited for our finalists. Their cleantech solutions will boost Canada’s natural gas industry’s competitiveness and allow the supply of more sustainable and responsible natural gas,” said John Adams, NGIF Capital Corporation President and CEO. “NGIF Industry Grants and its focus on startups de-risking their clean technologies through field trials and pilots is a part of NGIF’s integrated model of industry validation, customer creation, and market commercialization.”
The competition received 61 project applications, and 11 projects were selected as finalists for a total of $3,682,634 in grant funding to advance technology innovations in the natural gas production, transmission and distribution sectors. The approved projects have a combined eligible project value of more than $42.7 million.
Apex Utilities Inc., ATCO Gas Ltd., Enbridge Gas Inc., FortisBC Inc., SaskEnergy Inc., Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., Birchcliff Energy Ltd., Cutbank Dawson Gas Resources Ltd. (a 100% subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation), Perpetual Energy Inc., PETRONAS Energy Canada Ltd., Shell Canada Ltd., Tidewater Midstream Ltd., Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and Tourmaline Oil Corp. will be supporting the industry grants for these projects from the upstream, midstream and downstream gas sectors.
“When the Canadian Gas Association launched NGIF, we had a vision of bringing the entire natural gas value chain together to advance innovation and environmental performance for the sector. These partnerships across the value chain are integral to NGIF’s work. I’m excited to see the diversity of projects receiving funding in this round of competition and I am looking forward to seeing how these solutions will enhance the natural gas sector to benefit Canadians and their continued access to clean and affordable energy.” noted Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
The projects approved will further clean technology development through pilots, field trials, and demonstrations.
The following projects were approved for funding:
HYDROGEN
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA,
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Prototype Deployment of Low-Cost, Low-Emission Hydrogen Plant from Natural Gas Pyrolysis
Total Eligible Project Value: $7,979,834 | NGIF Approved Funding: $435,000
HYDROGEN
MODERN ELECTRON
WASHINGTON, USA
Prototype Development of Distributed Production of Hydrogen from Natural Gas through Thermal Pyrolysis
Total Eligible Project Value: $1,893,656 | NGIF Approved Funding: $499,656
HYDROGEN
INNOVA HYDROGEN
ALBERTA
Technology Development and Validation of Hydrogen Production via Catalytic Pyrolysis with Near-Zero GHG Emissions
Total Eligible Project Value: $2,945,000 | NGIF Approved Funding: $397,000
HYDROGEN
UNIVERSAL MATTER
ONTARIO
Prototype Testing in Relevant Environment of a Natural Gas Conversion to Graphene by Flash Joule Heating Process
Total Eligible Project Value: $23,000,000 | NGIF Approved Funding: $500,000
CARBON CAPTURE UTILIZATION AND STORAGE (CCUS)
VORTIS CARBON
ALBERTA
Experimental Proof of Concept for a Novel Carbon Capture Process Using Mechanical Separation
Total Eligible Project Value: $363,338 | NGIF Approved Funding: $100,000
VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS
ANODYNE CHEMISTRIES
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Experimental Proof of Concept for Bioelectric Conversion of Natural Gas, CO2 and Water to Methanol
Total Eligible Project Value: $1,379,438.6 | NGIF Approved Funding: $122,000
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
HOMY BUILDING SOLUTIONS
ONTARIO
Prototype Testing in Relevant Environment of the Customization and Modification of a first-in-kind Residential Hybrid Gas Absorption Heat Pump (GAHP) Technology for the North American market
Total Eligible Project Value: $1,400,000 | NGIF Approved Funding: $ 462,000
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
STONE MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGIES
TENNESSEE, USA
Prototype Testing in Relevant Environment of the Development of a Hybrid Gas-Electric Heat Pump for Residential Heating, Cooling and Direct Water Heating (DWH)
Total Eligible Project Value: $1,089,000 | NGIF Approved Funding: $348,728
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
BKR ENERGY
ONTARIO
Prototype Testing in Relevant Environment of a Smart Fuel Switching Controller for Residential Homes
Total Eligible Project Value: $207,250 | NGIF Approved Funding: $93,250
RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS (RNG)
HIGHBURY ENERGY
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Field Pilot for the displacement of Natural Gas with Renewable Fuel Gas at the Cariboo Pulp & Paper Mill at Quesnel, British Columbia
Total Eligible Project Value: $1,295,000 | NGIF Approved Funding: $500,000
METHANE MITIGATION
PRABHU ENERGY LABS
CALIFORNIA, USA
Technology Development and Validation of the Oxiperator for Methane Slip from Lean-Burn Gas Engines and Much More
Total Eligible Project Value: $961,057.29 | NGIF Approved Funding: $225,000.00
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 CGA
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 per cent of Canada’s energy needs through a network of over 577,000 kilometres of underground infrastructure. The versatility and resiliency of this infrastructure allows 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).
Fund Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
Managing Partner, NGIF Cleantech Ventures
613-748-0057
jadams@ngif.ca
Media Information:
Ayoola Ajibare
Communications Coordinator, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403) 389-2212
aajibare@ngif.ca
NGIF Investors and Project Partners
