The Alberta government is investing $28 million into six projects aimed at strengthening the region’s energy future.
These projects will advance technologies that help reduce emissions, improve the energy sector’s environmental performance, strengthen Alberta’s competitiveness, and create jobs, according to a statement.
Alberta is “increasing energy production and protecting the environment at the same time,” suggests Grant Hunter, who serves as Minister of Environment and Protected Areas for the Province.
“The world wants our energy, and these technologies can help us deliver while lowering emissions and keeping our industries competitive for decades to come,” he continued.
For example, the University of Calgary is getting $750K to advance electrokinetic remediation for inactive oil and gas sites by expanding the system’s ability to remove salts and hydrocarbons simultaneously.
“With this funding from the Government of Alberta, we will move the needle on a truly in-situ remediation technology to remove hydrocarbons and salts from soils that are impacted by industrial operations,” commented Dr. Anne Benneker, an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering.
Central Farms in Coaldal, meanwhile, is receiving $10M to develop a first-of-its-kind facility that converts agricultural byproducts into renewable natural gas and soil additives.
“With this support and our capital commitment, we can proceed with a first-of-its-kind fully integrated renewable energy and carbon capture and sequestration project in the heart of Alberta’s cattle farming region in partnership with Kasko Cattle and KCL Cattle companies,” remarked Phillip Abrary, CEO of Taurus Canada Renewable Natural Gas, which owns Central Farms.
Cnergreen garnered $1.5M to pilot ArmorFoam technology to improve enhanced oil recovery performance while reducing energy use and supporting permanent CO2 storage.
ArmorFoam is “an Alberta-developed nanoparticle foam that improves CO2 and waterflood efficiency while reducing emissions intensity,” according to Cnergreen cofounder Ali Telmadarreie.
Ruminant Biotech received $2.8M to develop a new approach to reduce methane emissions from livestock, with tests focused on effectiveness, safety, and producer benefits.
“This support from ERA and the Government of Alberta allows Ruminant Biotech to validate our scalable, long-lasting methane reduction solution across the province’s beef herd,” stated CEO Tom Breen.
Total Containment in Suffield garnered $625,000 to advance its Envirolock Pipeline Reinforcement System to prevent ductile running fractures in CO2 pipelines, supporting future CCUS infrastructure.
“Total Containment is proud to be partnering with Emissions Reduction Alberta and C-FER Technologies to bring CO2 pipeline demonstration testing to Canada for the first time, through the validation of our cost-effective Envirolock Crack Arrestors,” stated CEO Larry Young.
And Tourmaline Oil in Yellowhead County received $12M to test carbon capture technologies on compressor engines at the Banshee Gas Plant.
“This funding will enable Tourmaline to build out a fully integrated CCS value chain that will mobilize industry partners and private capital to lower emissions from Alberta’s world-class natural gas production,” noted the firm’s Director of Emissions and Innovation, Scott Volk.
These investments “reflect the momentum of emission reducing technologies across Alberta, from renewable natural gas and methane reduction in agriculture to safer pipeline infrastructure and more efficient resource recovery,” according to Justin Riemer, chief executive officer of Emissions Reductions Alberta.
If successful, these projects are estimated to deliver average annual greenhouse gas emissions reductions of up to 1,675,000 tonnes by 2050.
Since its establishment in 2009, ERA has committed nearly $1 billion toward 316 projects valued at over $10 billion.
These projects are estimated to deliver cumulative reductions of 93 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.