Identification of regionally appropriate grazing systems for the reduction of greenhouse gasses in Alberta, now and in the future
Alberta’s grasslands span 93,000 square kilometres across the province, providing food for livestock and homes for hundreds of native species. Research shows that grasslands can store twice as much soil carbon as adjacent cropland, which means they are important in the battle to reduce GHG emissions, but the relationship between grazing and carbon storage is…
Eco-mimicry approach to methane capture in tailing ponds
The unique properties of biochar give it the potential to be applied to many different GHG-reducing applications. This project explores using biochar as a cap for tailings ponds to minimize methane emissions. It includes building a small bioreactor, creating tailings pond conditions, adding biochar with specific bacteria, and then carrying out analysis to measure effectiveness…
Control of point-source low-volume methane emissions using methane biofiltration technology
This project includes a market study to identify and evaluate the commercial feasibility of methane biofilter applications across several industry sectors and in various situations. The study includes a carbon offset evaluation to determine CO2e reductions of methane biofilter projects and the implementation of several full-scale pilot projects to demonstrate the technical feasibility of various…
Developing an Adsorbing Biocarbon to achieve GHG Benefits in the Remediation of Produced Water in Oil Sands Production
University of Calgary researchers are investigating the use of Alberta-grown biomass—agricultural and forest crop residues (straw and wood)—to clean up chemical contaminants in produced water from oil sands operations. The researchers developed an activated biocarbon (or biochar) tailored for adsorbing the naphthenic acids in tailings pond water, preventing the formation and release of methane. Previous…
Piloting the Days on Feed and Reduced Age at Harvest Protocols in Alberta /Piloting the Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reduction Protocol in Alberta
This project conducted validation studies on two offset protocols: The Alberta agriculture sector has several offset protocols for generating credits from avoided GHG emissions under the Alberta Offset System; however, few of the agricultural protocols were adopted by project developers. These Protocol Validation Studies were intended to provide a learning tool to move early adopters,…
Implementation of 4R Nutrient Stewardship and the NERP in Alberta (Phase 2)
Fertilizer Canada is an industry association representing manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers. Their mission is to be the unified voice of the Canadian fertilizer industry by promoting the responsible, sustainable and safe production, distribution and use of fertilizers. Farming 4R Land Phase II builds on the producer engagement and economic analysis…
Performance validation of RFI selected cattle under extensive cow/calf production systems
Reducing Methane from the Cattle Industry with Genetics Funded through the Biological Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management Program in 2014, this project provided information on how current genetic improvement programs for beef cattle may impact cow and calf production under open-range grazing, as well as the associated profitability and emission reductions as a result. Increasing the…
Area fugitive emission measurements of methane & carbon dioxide
Canadian Natural has partnered with Alberta Based LuxMux, Boreal Laser, RWDI Air, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), the University of Alberta, and others to conduct a comprehensive program to improve detection, monitoring and quantification of methane emissions from area sources such as mine faces and tailings ponds. By developing a holistic system of sensors…
Molten Sodium Upgrading Pilot Plant
Founded by oil and gas industry leaders, Guy Turcotte and Neil Camarta, Field Upgrading is a Canadian company based in Calgary, Alberta. Field Upgrading partnered with Ceramatec, a specialty ceramics company, to develop a new breakthrough heavy oil desulphurization and upgrading technology called de-sulphurization and upgrading (DSU). Field Upgrading’s DSU technology selectively targets the components…
Technologies for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Providing Offset Options for the Beef and Dairy Industries
Reducing Methane Emissions from Cattle Funded through Round 9: Biological Greenhouse Gas Management, this collaborative effort among researchers in Canada and Australia explored innovative dietary approaches to reduce enteric methane emissions from milk and beef cattle, while further increasing production efficiency. Cattle are a major source of emissions in Alberta and worldwide, producing what is…
