ERA’s new Partnership Intake Program helps leverage funding and streamline support for innovators
EDMONTON, AB – A $285 million, first-of-its-kind, wheat-based, biofuels facility is being developed by Carbon Clean Energy Inc. The project aims to create low carbon intensity ethanol in response to Alberta’s new renewable fuel standards. Known as Project Wheatland, the state-of-the-art plant features an energy self-sufficient design that will also generate clean power from biogas production.
The project received $5 million in funding from ERA. It is one of three announced through ERA’s new Partnership Intake Program, a referral-based initiative that allows organizations with rigorous, fair, and transparent processes to share projects for funding consideration. These three projects are estimated to deliver cumulative GHG reductions of 9 million tonnes by 2030—equivalent to the GHG emissions from 1.9 million passenger vehicles driven for one year.
“ERA’s Partnership Intake Program supports promising technologies outside our traditional Call for Proposals approach, enabling us to better respond to the needs of Alberta’s innovation system and leverage the funding and due diligence of our partner network. Through this strategic approach, we bring together the resources and relationships required to accelerate technologies and remove barriers to get later-stage technology to market.”
Steve MacDonald, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta.
“This project meets the provincial and federal government’s mandate to focus on new technologies that assist in the overall economic diversification of the province. With the support of both governments, CCE will continue to be a catalyst for local companies to test their innovation for scalability purposes in the energy, agricultural, supply chain, and transportation industries in an operational setting.”
Bruno Rizzuto, Vice President of Corporate Development, Carbon Clean Energy Inc.
ERA is also committing over $2 million to SYLVIS Environmental Services Inc.’s novel approach to reclaiming mine sites. The innovative BIOSALIX process will utilize municipal biosolids and other waste organics in the production of wood biomass. The project will be demonstrated on Westmoreland Coal Company’s Paintearth Mine.
“This as an opportunity to meet federal and provincial carbon strategy policy targets. It also provides sustainable management of municipal biosolids, while offering the prospect of small community transition and growth from a mining hub to a clean technology industry.”
John Lavery, Principal Scientist, SYLVIS Environmental Inc.
ERA is also committing $5 million in funding to Titanium Corporation Inc. This adds to previous support of $5 million, bringing the total investment to $10 million. The project aims to remediate oil sands froth treatment tailings at Canadian Natural’s Horizon Oil Sands site. Titanium’s technology has the potential to create new economic opportunities by recovering high-value minerals contained in this tailings stream. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Environment and Climate Change Canada have contributed $45 million to the project through the Clean Growth Program and the Low Carbon Economy Fund.
“This significant funding commitment is a critical step in advancing the first implementation of our Creating Value from Waste™ clean technology. Government and industry support and collaboration has been invaluable in moving our project forward and developing this made-in-Canada solution for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Scott Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Titanium Corporation.
Launched in 2018, ERA’s new Partnership Intake Program has provided $28.4 million in investments to projects worth over $652 million. The process allows proposed projects to be evaluated outside of ERA’s traditional funding opportunities. When applicants provide ERA with a funding submission, they also have the opportunity to have it shared and considered by other funding organizations, giving technology innovators more exposure to funding streams and access to later stage funding opportunities.
ERA currently has the following partnership agreements in place: Government of Alberta, Alberta Innovates, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan),Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Ontario Centres of Excellence, Evok Innovations, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), and Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF).
For more information contact:
Emissions Reduction Alberta
Kevin Duncan
Cell: 403.431.2859
kduncan@eralberta.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA (ERA):
The Alberta government provides grants to ERA from the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund. ERA takes action on reducing emissions and supporting economic growth and diversification by investing the carbon levy paid by large industrial emitters directly into later-stage clean technology solutions that reduce GHGs, attract investment, and create jobs in Alberta. To date, ERA has committed more than $572 million in funding to 164 projects with a total value of approximately $4.3 billion. These projects are estimated to deliver cumulative GHG reductions of 43 million tonnes by 2030.