$27M supports clean tech projects in BC

Richmond, BC – Ten clean technology projects in British Columbia are receiving a total of $27.3 million in funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).

The projects are as follows:

• West Fraser Mills Ltd. based in Vancouver will receive $6,100,000 to construct Canada’s first LignoForce commercial demonstration recovery plant, where pulp mill waste will be recovered and used in a variety of applications;
• BBCP Conductor Inc. in Richmond will receive $3,660,000 to develop a way to add nanotubes to aluminum wires, making them stronger and reducing the amount of electricity lost due to resistance;
• David Bromley Engineering in Burnaby will receive $3,225,000 towards the development of a new system for filtering wastewater, lowering energy use by 65% and the use of chemicals by 86%;
• Carbon Engineering Ltd. will receive $3,000,000 to conduct a demonstration project in Squamish, testing its new technology for extracting carbon dioxide from the air. This captured CO2 can be used to produce ultra-low carbon fuels as well as for enhanced oil recovery;
• ZincNyx Energy Solutions in Vancouver will receive $2,900,000 towards developing a battery that runs on zinc and air that could augment or even displace diesel generation in our power grid;
• Saltworks Technologies Inc. in Vancouver will receive $2,500,000 for developing two processes for treating water that could cut electricity consumption in half and reduce chemicals used in the oil sands;
• SWITCH Materials Inc. in Burnaby will receive $2,500,000 towards creating a new glazing for car windows that reduces the need for air-conditioning, which will save energy, reduce emissions and, in the case of electric cars, extend how far they can be driven;
• Terramera Inc. in Vancouver will receive $1,985,000 to develop a Neem-oil based pesticide with extended shelf life that works better against target pests. This will fill an important gap as synthetic pesticides are phased out;
• Polymer Research Technologies in Vancouver will receive $1,116,826 to demonstrate its innovative technology that converts waste polyurethane foam into a petroleum-based product called polyol that can be re-used in other products; and
• Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd in Okanagan Falls will receive $344,217 together with its consortium, to build lighter, more efficient drive trains for mass transit systems.

SDTC recently also announced funding for similar projects in Ontario ($26.8 million), Alberta ($20.6 million), and Quebec ($29.5 million).