NGIF INDUSTRY GRANTS ANNOUNCES $300,000 IN FUNDING FOR RNG PRODUCTION

August 27, 2021

OTTAWA, ON (August 27, 2021) NGIF Industry Grants, a division of NGIF Capital Corporation, is supporting the upgrade of CHAR Technology’s operational high-temperature pyrolysis facility. Through $300,000 in approved funding, the project is forecasted to produce approximately 20,000 gigajoules of renewable natural gas (RNG) annually.

Challenging the boundaries of technology, CHAR is focused on developing high-efficiency bio-products that deliver cleaner energy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money for their customers. Their systems and services are helping to increase the environmental performance of the natural gas sector.

CHAR’s High Temperature Pyrolysis Plant

“I met Andrew about 10 years ago when CHAR was a newly formed spin-out from the University of Toronto. I have seen continued growth in both his leadership and the organization and I’m very excited to now see RNG being produced at CHAR’s high-temperature pyrolysis facility,” said John Adams, NGIF Capital Corporation President and CEO and NGIF Cleantech Ventures Managing Partner. “NGIF identifies and invests in opportunities that accelerate the clean technologies required to drive environmental performance in natural gas while also offering industry validation.”

CHAR’s High Temperature Pyrolysis technology converts wood and wood-waste to renewable natural gas and solid biocarbon products. Pyrolysis can broadly be defined as the thermochemical decomposition of organic materials at elevated temperatures in an inert atmosphere. The higher temperature allows for a more thorough chemical breakdown of materials, improving both yield and emissions.

“NGIF was one of CHAR’s early supporters, and we are pleased to receive their support and continue our productive relationship,” said Andrew White, CEO of CHAR. “The projects are vetted and supported by ATCO Pipelines, Enbridge Gas Inc., FortisBC, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., and SaskEnergy, allowing these utilities to see and validate CHAR’s high-temperature pyrolysis to RNG process.”

“When the Canadian Gas Association created NGIF several years ago, CHAR Technologies was one of the first startups to be supported by the Fund. Their technology to support RNG development is the type of innovation we continue to advance in the natural gas industry,” added Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation, which operates NGIF Industry Grants. “Renewable gas development is an important pathway to drive meaningful emissions reductions, while still supporting the customers’ need for reliable and affordable energy.”

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 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 is the voice of Canada’s natural gas delivery industry. Its membership includes natural gas distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers to the industry. Our utility members are active in eight provinces and one territory and meet 35 per cent of Canadians’ energy needs through a network of over 566,000 kilometers of underground infrastructure. This infrastructure can also be used to deliver renewable gases including renewable natural gas and hydrogen, in order to contribute to Canada’s greenhouse gas emission reductions. Today, over 7.2 million customer locations representing approximately two-thirds of Canadians, rely on natural gas for clean, affordable, and reliable heating and power. CGA owns CGA Enterprises, which in turn owns NGIF Capital Corporation.

About CHAR

CHAR is a cleantech development and services company, specializing in high temperature pyrolysis, converting woody materials and organic waste into renewable gases (renewable natural gas and green hydrogen) and biocarbon (activated charcoal “SulfaCHAR” and solid biofuel “CleanFyre”). Additional services include custom equipment for industrial water treatment, and providing services in environmental compliance, environmental management, site investigation and remediation, engineering and resource efficiency.