Projects are worth over $162 million in public and private investment
CALGARY, AB – Building a testing facility that uses an alternative approach to processing biofuels is one of 21 projects led by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receiving a total of $44.4 million from the Government of Alberta through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)’s Emerging Innovators Challenge.
Funding is sourced from the Government of Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund. Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, made the announcement alongside ERA’s CEO, Justin Riemer, on Friday, July 12, in Calgary at SixRing’s production facility.
Funded projects, worth a combined $162.7 million in public and private investment, include piloting an approach to monitor wildfire impacts and detect methane leaks from space, deploying a treatment method for oil sands process-affected water, a new technology to recycle plastics, a novel facility to remove containments from soil, advanced digital solutions for energy efficiency, demonstrating the effectiveness of AI-powered lighting in commercial greenhouses and vertical farms, and more.
“We are giving Alberta’s clever, forward-looking small and medium businesses the resources and support they need to launch their innovation-driven technologies faster and grow their startups to create jobs, save money, and lower emissions here at home and around the world.”
Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
“Small and medium-sized enterprises are critical to Alberta’s economy. The Government of Alberta’s investment through ERA’s Emerging Innovators Challenge will provide 21 SMEs with access to capital and support services, allowing them to commercialize their technology, increase their competitiveness, and reduce emissions.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
Funding amounts range from $250,000 to $5 million and each project will be piloted, demonstrated, or deployed within Alberta. Projects span industrial sectors including power generation, agriculture, agri-food, forestry, oil and gas, fertilizer, construction, electricity distribution, and more.
If successful, the 21 projects have the potential to deliver annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of 217 thousand tonnes, cumulative reductions of 1.2 million tonnes by 2030, and 5 million tonnes by 2050. This funding is also projected to create 879 person-year jobs in Alberta and have a $238 million GDP impact in the province by 2027.
Funded projects include:
Archer BD Inc.
ERA funding: $410,000 | Total project value: $960,000
Demonstrate the viability of a new SAGD steam technology to offer more affordable and lower environmental footprint bitumen production potential through lab and field feasibility demonstration activities to prove commercial readiness.
ArkeaBio
ERA funding: $2,350,000 | Total project value: $4,900,000
Test a novel inoculant designed to target methane-producing bacteria in cattle with the aim of reducing methane generation from the digestion process.
Arolytics Incorporated
ERA funding: $1,000,000 | Total project value: $2,530,000
Develop software to help oil and gas operators record, reconcile, and report methane emissions data from various sources and optimize programs to monitor, detect and repair leaks efficiently.
Boundary Energy Inc.
ERA funding: $250,000 | Total project value: $500,000
Develop an ultra-low temperature Organic Rankin Cycle power generation prototype system that efficiently captures, stores, and converts energy from low-grade thermal sources.
DERBI Corp.
ERA funding: $620,000 | Total project value: $1,230,000
Demonstrate the benefits of virtual power plants for energy consumers and grid operators through a collection of software and hardware systems that work together to manage and optimize distributed energy resources at scale.
ElectroKinetic Soil Treatment Inc
ERA funding: $1,500,000 | Total project value: $3,510,000
Build and operate a commercial demonstration system for a treatment technology that removes contaminants from soil including salts, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals.
Etalim Inc.
ERA funding: $1,940,000 | Total project value: $4,830,000
Demonstrate the cost, reliability, and efficiency of powering well-head equipment with an advanced onsite electricity generation technology using waste methane that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere.
Great Northern Power Corp.
ERA funding: $450,000 | Total project value: $1,820,000
Demonstrate a waste heat recovery system specifically designed for the scale and type of engines used in natural gas compression.
H2nanO Incorporated
ERA funding: $1,850,000 | Total project value: $7,600,000
Deploy a floating solar catalyst technology as a low-energy treatment method for oil sands process-affected water at field pilot/pre-commercial scale.
Highwood Emissions Management
ERA funding: $2,230,000 | Total project value: $4,460,000
Develop and validate the Emissions Intelligence Platform, a software solution that helps companies use multiple data streams to prove their true methane emissions, quantify uncertainty, manage risk, and comply with emerging methane regulations.
Kathairos Solutions Inc
ERA funding: $250,000 | Total project value: $500,000
Validate the technical and economic feasibility of a nitrogen-powered vapour recovery unit to eliminate oil tank venting in remote areas.
Landmark Group of Companies
ERA funding: $1,950,000 | Total project value: $3,970,000
Demonstration of an innovative, high-performance Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) foundation in residential housing to evaluate structural performance of the mass timber product.
NTWIST Inc.
ERA funding: $700,000 | Total project value: $1,600,000
Use AI and Machine Learning to integrate data from many sources to help the resource sector optimize operations, reduce emissions, limit manual operator decisions, support sustainability of plants, and enhance energy efficiency.
OptiSeis Solutions Ltd.
ERA funding: $5,000,000 | Total project value: $16,200,000
Demonstrate the effectiveness of technology that can help significantly reduce the land footprint and GHG emissions associated with subsurface imaging programs.
Resolve Plastics Recycling
ERA funding: $2,000,000 | Total project value: $4,780,000
Build and demonstrate a novel technology for recycling all types of post-consumer plastics using a proprietary mechanical recycling unit that can accept highly variable and mixed plastic streams.
Rokk Energy Technologies
ERA funding: $5,000,000 | Total project value: $10,400,000
Design, test, and produce the components for an innovative new drilling system for multilateral wells in unconventional formations–reducing costs, emissions, and surface footprint by getting greater production from each vertical well.
SixRing
ERA funding: $5,000,000 | Total project value: $55,500,000
Build a commercial pilot facility deploying SixRing’s proprietary biomass processing alternative in Lethbridge county, to produce a range of sustainable industrial products, including biochemicals, replacing those from fossil sources.
SmartGRO Bioengineering Inc.
ERA funding: $1,600,000 | Total project value: $5,000,000
Validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of AI-optimized horticultural lighting products in commercial greenhouses and vertical farms to grow plants more efficiently while reducing energy use.
Sultech Global Innovation Corp.
ERA funding: $5,000,000 | Total project value: $13,300,000
Demonstrate the scalability and reliability of converting sulphur waste from the oil & gas sector into plant nutrient and soil amendment products.
Ultracoustics Technologies Ltd
ERA funding: $260,000 | Total project value: $620,000
Test, validate, and complete commercial design for a technology capable of using acoustic sensors to detect pinhole leaks in industrial refrigerant systems.
Wyvern
ERA funding: $5,000,000 | Total project value: $18,530,000
Pilot an approach to monitor wildfire impacts and detect methane leaks from space using high-resolution, hyperspectral satellites.
“Government of Alberta financial support through Emissions Reduction Alberta is an instrumental part of the process to bring private investors and key partners to the table and build a first-of-kind commercial demonstration facility in Alberta. This is a proud example of Alberta ingenuity helping to change the world.”
Scott Treadwell, president, SixRing Inc.
“Alberta is innovation: to invest in the province and to invest in innovation are one and the same. We are grateful for the Government of Alberta’s commitment to build a thriving economy by championing the ideas and drive of its people. Emissions Reduction Alberta is a true testament to this commitment.”
Dr. Jacqueline Peterson, chief climate officer, Kathairos Solutions Inc.
“Generous funding from the Government of Alberta and ERA will expedite the development and commercialization of our novel methane data and forecasting software solutions, which are helping demonstrate Alberta’s leadership in oil and gas emissions reductions. This funding is a critical support in scaling our resources to deliver Alberta-based clean technology to a local and global market.”
Liz O’Connell, chief executive officer and co-founder, Arolytics
“Support from the Government of Alberta through ERA is critical for advancing Wyvern’s innovative satellite imaging technology from the developmental stage to a global market presence. Together with our partners, we will develop new tools for wildfire risk management and large-scale emissions monitoring. With ERA’s backing, we are poised to deliver ground-breaking solutions that will reshape environmental monitoring and management worldwide
Kurtis Broda, chief operating officer, Wyvern
All ERA funding recipients must produce a final outcomes report shared publicly for the broader benefit of Alberta and other funding proposals. Funding recipients will be required to report on project outcomes, achievements, and lessons learned including GHG reductions, job creation, and other environmental, economic, and social benefits.
*A person-year is equal to one-year of employment for one individual.
For more information contact:
Kevin Duncan
Media Relations
Emissions Reduction Alberta
Cell: 403.431.2859 | kduncan@eralberta.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA (ERA):
For 15 years, ERA has been investing revenues from the carbon price paid by large emitters to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions. Since established in 2009, the organization has committed $986 million toward 299 projects worth $8.64 billion that are helping to reduce GHGs, create competitive industries and are leading to new business opportunities in Alberta. These projects are projected to deliver cumulative GHG reductions of 37.7 million tonnes by 2030 and 108.7 million tonnes by 2050.