CALGARY,
AB, July 3, 2024 /CNW/ - As nations globally
move to reduce carbon emissions and shift to non-emitting forms of
energy, investing in advanced technologies will help ensure
Canada remains a global energy
leader. Through and beyond the energy transition that is already
well underway, ultra-low carbon sources of energy such as wind,
solar, hydro and nuclear power will be key to seizing the enormous
economic opportunities that are available to Canadians in all
regions of the country.
It is in this context that federal, provincial and territorial
ministers are meeting in Calgary,
Alberta, from July 3 to July 5,
2024, at the annual Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference,
to share perspectives and continue driving momentum in the energy
and mining sectors.
Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources, announced $11
million in funding for nine energy technology projects
— $2.5 million in funding for small modular reactor research
and $8.5 million to support
innovation in Canada's clean
hydrogen sector.
Of this funding, $5 million will
be allocated to three projects in Alberta selected through the Energy Innovation
Program's (EIP) Clean Fuels and Industrial Fuel Switching call
for proposals, including:
- $3,000,000 to Aurora
Hydrogen Inc. to advance the use of microwave energy for
pyrolysis technology to convert methane to hydrogen and solid
carbon with minimal greenhouse gas emissions and no water use;
- $1,000,000 to Quantiam
Technologies for the production of carbon-negative methanol
and e-fuels from captured carbon dioxide and green hydrogen;
and,
- $1,000,000 to Innova
Hydrogen Corp for zero-carbon hydrogen production via
catalytic methane pyrolysis.
The remaining four projects, also in Alberta, are funded through the EIP and
support the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, a strategic initiative
led by Alberta Innovates. They include:
- $1,300,450 to ATCO Gas and
Pipelines Ltd., in partnership with Qualico, to conduct a
feasibility assessment of a pure hydrogen pipeline network to heat
new homes in the community of Bremner in Strathcona County,
Alberta, including constructing a
pure-hydrogen demonstration home;
- $1,264,550 to Innovative
Fuel Systems to reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by
developing a hydrogen and diesel dual-fuel retrofit system
applicable to 90 percent of heavy-duty engines;
- $508,935 to ATCO Gas and
Pipelines Ltd. to develop the Fort Saskatchewan Operating Centre
into the first commercial 100-percent hydrogen-heated building in
North America and as a
demonstration site for end-user heating technologies that utilize
pure and blended hydrogen with natural gas; and,
- $415,000 to New Wave
Hydrogen Inc. to accelerate the time of methane thermal
cracking for hydrogen production via shock wave heating technology
in preparation for successive field pilots.
These projects will drive progress in energy innovation across
Canada while positioning the
country to become a leader in hydrogen and other critical energy
technologies.
Nuclear energy is part of the suite of non-emitting technologies
needed for the world to transition to a net-zero future. NRCan
introduced the Enabling Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) Program in
2023 to support the development of supply chains for SMR
manufacturing and fuel and fund research on SMR waste management
solutions to ensure that SMRs, and the waste they generate, can be
safely managed, now and into the future.
As part of the Enabling SMRs Program:
- The University of Regina will
receive a total of $941,651 over
three years to study long-term disposal strategies for intermediate
level and non-fuel high level wastes from SMRs within Saskatchewan; and,
- The University of Alberta will
receive a total of $1,656,000 over
three years for its project on additive manufacturing (AM) of
next-generation functionally graded materials for use in SMRs.
Canada is committed to
achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and recognizes that close
collaboration with provinces and territories, Indigenous partners
and key stakeholders is crucial to building a thriving, inclusive,
low-carbon economy. By working together through gatherings such as
the annual Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference, Canada is advancing the most promising
competitive advantages in every region of the country to drive a
prosperous and sustainable economy for the future.
Quotes
"This week's announcements are part of a series of significant
steps the Government of Canada
continues to take to support good jobs and promote sustainable
growth, including the launch of the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada
Progress Report, Canada's Critical
Minerals Strategy and Canada's
founding of the Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance last fall. I
will continue to work with all partners to ensure Canada remains a global supplier of choice for
clean energy in a net-zero world — ensuring a prosperous and clean
future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast."
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources
"New Wave Hydrogen is honoured to be a part of the Canadian
clean energy transition. The vision and benefits of these funding
programs offer vital support to emerging companies. This funding
stimulates growth, not just for the New Wave technology — it
extends to support Canada's
innovation ecosystem and networked growth through engineering,
manufacturing and clean energy sectors."
Kathleen O'Neil
CEO
New Wave Hydrogen, Inc.
Quick Facts
- According to an independent ranking from BloombergNEF,
Canada has surpassed China as the world's most promising
jurisdiction for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries such as those
used in electric vehicles.
- The EIP advances clean energy technologies that will help
Canada meet its climate change
targets, while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.
It funds research, development and demonstration projects and other
related scientific activities.
- Interest in low-carbon hydrogen in Canada has increased significantly since 2020,
with over 80 low-carbon hydrogen production projects announced,
representing over five million tonnes of hydrogen production
capacity and an economic expression of interest of over
$100 billion in potential investment
in domestic clean energy opportunities and jobs.
- Since 2020, British Columbia,
Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick
have published hydrogen strategies, identifying hydrogen as a
provincial clean energy priority and describing provincial actions
and objectives to realize regional low-carbon hydrogen objectives.
Hydrogen has been identified as a key opportunity area by a number
of jurisdictions as part of the Regional Tables and features
prominently in the recently released British Columbia
Regional Energy and Resource Table – Framework for Collaboration on
the Path to Net-Zero.
- There are now 13 low-carbon hydrogen production facilities in
operation across Canada, able to
produce over 3,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen per
year.
- NRCan was allocated $29.6 million
over four years in Budget 2022 for research and development to
support the conditions and frameworks necessary for SMRs to
displace fossil fuels and contribute to climate change mitigation.
Funding announced today complements work taking place with a number
of jurisdictions through the Regional Tables, as well as through
the Canada-Alberta Working Group and a sub-working group on
SMRs.
- The nuclear sector helps Canada avoid approximately 45 million metric
tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, compared to
electricity produced from natural gas. In a country where 82
percent of our electricity already comes from low- or non-emitting
sources, nuclear continues to be a complement to the
strong renewables sector in continuous development.
Related Information
Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy Hydrogen Strategy for
Canada and Progress Report
Energy Innovation Program
Hydrogen Centre of Excellence - Alberta Innovates
Enabling Small Modular Reactors Program
Budget 2024 – Attracting Investment for a Net-Zero Economy
Backgrounder: Economic Growth and Productivity
2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy
Net-zero emissions by 2050
Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit
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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada