Four clean energy projects get $106M in federally-funded competition

Projects that could advance clean hydrogen, renewable diesel fuel and carbon capture have been selected for funding in Clean Resource Innovation Network’s (CRIN) low emission fuels and products technology competition.

The estimated combined project value is $106 million, including $30.37 million from CRIN that was made available through the Canadian government’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). Early analysis by proponents suggests that the four projects are anticipated to result in a combined accumulative emissions reduction of 55.43 megatonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2033.

The competition sought technologies that reduce carbon intensity of products and processes, including transportation fuels and other hydrocarbon-derived products from Canada’s oil and gas industry.

CRIN’s two-stage competition included a field of more than 35 eligible applicants in the expression of interest phase with 10 finalists invited to the full project proposal phase. Up to $10 million was available for each successful applicant.

“We applaud the collaborative partnerships and investments that allow knowledge to be shared across the oil and gas innovation ecosystem to deliver a sustainable energy future for Canadians,” said Ginny Flood, chair of CRIN, in a statement.

CRIN is a pan-Canadian network focused on the sustainable development of Canada’s hydrocarbon resources.

The successful applicants are:

• Ekona Power Inc. — Received $8 million for the pilot deployment of its Pulse Methane Pyrolyzer that uses combustion and high-speed gas dynamics to separate feedstock methane for clean hydrogen production. It is estimated to reduce emissions by 35.1 megatonnes of CO₂e by 2033. The technology delivers decarbonized hydrogen at costs on par with conventional steam methane reforming systems and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent. Its industry partners are Cenovus Energy Inc. and TransAlta Corporation.
• KWI Polymers Inc. — Received $10 million for clean hydrogen generation via natural gas pyrolysis, with estimated emissions reductions of 13.77 megatonnes of CO₂. KWI will work with partner Suncor Energy Inc. to scale up and de-risk its hydrogen technology to decompose natural gas into hydrogen and carbon black material that can be used as feedstock in tires and plastics. It offers a low-cost, low-emissions alternative, especially in regions where CO₂ storage is not available and low greenhouse gas (GHG) electricity is accessible.
• Enerkem Inc. — Received $5.53 million for the integration of Advanced Carbon Recycling Technologies to produce renewable low-carbon fuel from forestry biomass for the heavy transportation sector, with estimated emissions reductions of 3.34 megatonnes. Partners are Suncor Energy Inc. and Infra Synthetic Fuels Inc. The project will scale up and integrate Enerkem’s gasification technology and Infra’s proprietary catalyst system, while avoiding energy and cost intensive refining and upgrading processes.
• FuelCell Energy — Received $6.84 million through its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, Versa Power Systems, for a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) demonstration project. The project will be the first to employ the commercially available fuel cells to capture CO₂ from power generation flue gases. CO₂ will be sequestered at Shell Canada’s Quest CCS project. The partners are Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus, Chevron Canada, Canada’s Oil Sands Industry Alliance, Emissions Reduction Alberta, Shell and Suncor.

The competition was one of three CRIN oil and gas technology competitions for which SIF will provide up to $80 million this year. Funding for the digital oil and gas technology competition was announced in January, while the winners of the third category, reducing environmental footprint technologies, will be announced on March 9.

Project teams had to include a small- or medium-size enterprise (SME) technology solution developer in partnership with at least one oil and gas producer to demonstrate collaboration, industry investment and technical expertise, and facilities or sites that are necessary to scale innovation for commercialization.

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