VANCOUVER, BC (November 15, 2022) Westport Fuel Systems has completed the design and testing of a revolutionary conformable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tank technology that offers an alternative to traditional cylindrical storage commonly associated with natural gas vehicles. This innovative technology reduces transportation emissions in the Canadian truck market and in the natural gas industry.
The project focused on the development, design verification, safety certification, vehicle integration and testing of the CNG storage technology. The results of the tests proved that the full-scale design was sufficiently adaptable to fulfill packaging requirements and demonstrated a 50 per cent packaging improvement over conventional cylinders.
This innovative conformable CNG storage system overcomes a key barrier when deploying natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG)as a transportation fuel by advancing a technology that meets customers’ expectations in utility, range and performance.
Image: Westport’s conformable CNG storage technology.
“Our development and testing of conformable CNG storage, funded by NGIF, is another demonstration that innovation is a core value at Westport Fuel Systems. With NGIF’s support, Westport has demonstrated the potential to deploy conformable storage to enable more applications of clean, affordable CNG technology while minimizing the impact on vehicle design. Westport remains focused on providing all possible technologies that support the adoption of our clean fuel solutions,” said David Johnson, CEO of Westport Fuel Systems Inc.
NGIF Industry Grants contributed $500,000 in grant funding towards the development and demonstration of Westport’s conformable CNG storage technology. “NGIF was excited to fund this project, and we are excited about the results. It is proof that when clean technology works with natural gas, the opportunities for emissions reduction are endless,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Capital Corporation and Managing Partner of NGIF Cleantech Ventures. “NGIF Industry Grants 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 market commercialization.”
“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 whole sector. I am glad to see our vision in action with NGIF supporting technologies like Westport’s innovative CNG tank,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
NGIF Investors and Project Partners
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 Westport Fuel Systems
Westport Fuel Systems is driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. A leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global automotive industry. Westport’s technology delivers the performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation applications and the environmental benefits that address climate change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America and South America, Westport serves customers in more than 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. For more information, visit www.wfsinc.com
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