Chris Clarkson, professor in the Department of Geoscience, and Alberta Innovates Technology funding Futures/Shell/Encana chair in unconventional gas and light oil research, and his group of geoscientists have developed new technology that measures, at an extremely fine scale, the interaction between water and other fluids and rock, called “wettability,” from an unconventional oil reservoir.
Over 175 funding submissions from small and medium-sized enterprises were received through two separate competitions
The Kaye Edmonton Clinic and the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital will be test sites for a project looking to improve the efficiency of large commercial buildings, reducing GHG emissions and energy costs, according to a press release.
This is just one of 11 projects focused on innovative clean energy and water technologies receiving $28.8-million in joint federal and provincial support.
For the first time, Alberta Innovates (AI) and Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) are combining efforts with Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to fund technology from small and medium enterprises that enhances environmental stewardship and supports economic development in Alberta. The 11 projects are expected to create 300 new jobs.
“By providing a single window to access funding, Alberta and Canada are leveraging resources to stimulate investment and advance GHG-reducing technologies. By accelerating innovation, ERA is helping Alberta be successful both economically and environmentally in a lower carbon future,” said ERA CEO, Steve MacDonald.
For this opportunity, ERA and SDTC will fund up to 66.7 per cent of a projects’ eligible expenses. This is more than an applicant could get by applying for funds from either organization individually.
“This joint funding opportunity demonstrates how by working together, our innovation ecosystem can provide all of the supports needed to move ideas into market solutions,” said Alberta Innovates CEO, Laura Kilcrease.
ERA and SDTC are committing up to $22.6 million to four projects. The projects have a total combined value of more than $39 million.
The technologies support energy efficiency and conservation, new and better uses of carbon dioxide, methane reduction and cleaner energy production and usage.
There is potential for these technologies to reduce cumulative market GHG emissions by more than 300,000 tonnes by 2030. That amount is roughly equivalent to reductions achieved by switching more than 10 million incandescent bulbs in households to LEDs or bringing 76 wind turbines online.
Projects include:
- Testing technology to improve the efficiency of large commercial buildings
- Low energy water treatment for steam assisted heavy oil recovery
- Demonstration of the Near Zero Emission well control system
- Commercialization of a heating technology with potential to reduce oil sands production costs, GHG emissions and water use.
In addition, AI and SDTC are providing $6.2 million to seven companies developing and demonstrating new and innovative water technologies, with a maximum of $1 million per project.
Funding will accelerate commercialization of water-related technologies that benefit Alberta and Canada. Projects are focused on water treatment for municipalities, hydraulic fracturing and oil sands operations.
Over 175 submissions from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were received through two separate competitions, ranging from prototype development, field pilots and commercial scale demonstration projects.
The companies selected for support are from across Canada, but all technologies are being tested in Alberta. Projects are required to secure a minimum of one-third of the total funding for any project from non-government sources.
These two joint-funding programs invited submissions from organizations incorporated and operating in Canada with less than 500 employees and less than $50 million in annual gross revenue. Each funding process offered applicants a streamlined, harmonized model with one window of access to two pools of money.
The funds available are more than applicants could get through the organizations individually. This is the first time the organizations have worked together to allow companies to access funding through a single application process.
