Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Government of Canada Investing in Green, Clean Economy Sustainable Development Technology Canada Funds 16 New Projects

Home > Press > Government of Canada Investing in Green, Clean Economy Sustainable Development Technology Canada Funds 16 New Projects

Brian Mergelas (centre), President and CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC), shows Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt (left) and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) President and CEO Vicky Sharpe (right) around the company's facility. SDTC and the Government of Canada announced today $53 million in funding to 16 emerging Canadian clean technologies. (MARKETWIRE PHOTO/Derek Oliver, CP)

Abstract:
The Canadian economy became cleaner today as 16 new projects that develop and demonstrate emerging clean technologies were awarded $53 million. The announcement, confirming the decision of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), was made today by the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources and Vicky Sharpe, SDTC's President and CEO.

Government of Canada Investing in Green, Clean Economy Sustainable Development Technology Canada Funds 16 New Projects

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, Canada | Posted on March 7th, 2009

"It's especially important now for this government to support clean technologies such as these that provide opportunities for economic growth while offering innovative solutions to help tackle climate change," said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. "Our government is working to accelerate key investments in Canada's infrastructure in order to create jobs and help stimulate our economy."

"The investments of federal funding that we are announcing today also demonstrate the Government of Canada's action to help protect the jobs of today while readying our economy to create the jobs of tomorrow," added the Honourable Minister Prentice, Minister of the Environment. "Federal funding for Sustainable Development Technology Canada also demonstrates our commitment to the development of science and technology applications that offer the potential to improve environmental quality, human health and economic growth."

The promising Canadian clean technology projects included in this funding round offer technological solutions to the challenges Canada is currently facing in strengthening the economy while responding to environmental issues. These innovations can be used in multiple major economic sectors ranging from power generation to agriculture and waste management.

"The projects we are adding to our portfolio this round have great potential and they can really make a difference to the lives of Canadians," said SDTC Chairman Juergen Puetter. "SDTC's financial support will help them get through the development and demonstration stages, paving their path to commercialization so that the environmental and economic benefits they bring can be enjoyed by all."

The breadth of technologies and the cross-country representation of this funding round addresses multiple sectors of the Canadian economy. For example:

Clean energy production using a process that will facilitate the complex production of lignocellulosic ethanol while reducing the amount of energy required. This process will be integrated into an existing ethanol facility on a pre-commercial, pilot scale using corn cobs - the non-food residuals from harvesting corn - as the feedstock.

There are several advanced technology projects applicable to the forestry, wood products, and pulp and paper product industries coming from BC and Ontario. One converts forest waste into a more usable bio-carbon for energy production while the other uses sophisticated processes to create a biolatex binder for paperboard manufacturing which is potentially superior to the petrochemical alternative.

The agricultural community needs ways to reduce costs and environmental impacts which, in this example, can be achieved using a disruption nano-technology platform for delivery of agricultural chemicals in food production.

An energy-efficient building technology that has the potential to cut home heating costs by 10% while simultaneously improving indoor air quality.

These new investments bring SDTC's total portfolio value to over $1.3 billion. SDTC's SD Tech FundTM has completed thirteen funding rounds, committing $376 million to 154 clean technology projects, and leveraging $905 million from project consortia members. These figures include adjustments made to the portfolio.

"Clean technologies provide us the necessary tools to green our economy," said SDTC President and CEO Vicky Sharpe. "Increasing the amount of clean technologies that are developed, demonstrated and ultimately commercialized here in Canada is the key to a vibrant and sustainable Canadian economy."

The newly funded projects are representative of the investment priorities established in the SD Business CasesTM, a series of five reports published by SDTC and which provide strategic insights into specific economic sectors, including clean conventional fuels, biofuels and commercial buildings.

SDTC launched its latest call for Statements of Interest (SOI) for the SD Tech Fund on February 25, 2009. Applicants with projects that bring technological solutions which fall under the investment priorities established in the SD Business CasesTM (available in the Knowledge Centre section of the SDTC website at www.sdtc.ca) or that address climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil issues are encouraged to apply. Solutions that address more than one focus area are of greatest interest.

About SDTC

SDTC is an arm's-length foundation which has received $1.05 billion from the Government of Canada as part of its commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of life for all Canadians.

SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech FundTM supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels FundTM supports the establishment of first-of-kind large demonstration-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels.

SDTC operates as a not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the public and private sector including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the financial community and all levels of government to achieve this mandate.

Detailed information on the 16 projects, including their descriptions, can be found at www.sdtc.ca .

Round 13 Funded Projects:

1. Lead organization: Alterna Energy Inc., Prince George, British Columbia

Economic Sector: Forestry, Wood Products and Pulp & Paper Products

2. Lead organization: A.U.G. Signals Ltd., Toronto, Ontario

Economic Sector: Energy Utilization

3. Lead Organization: dPoint Technologies Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia

Economic Sector: Energy Utilization

4. Lead organization: ECOSYNTHETIX Inc., Milton, Ontario

Economic Sector: Forestry, Wood Products and Pulp & Paper Products

5. Lead organization: General Fusion Inc., Burnaby, British Columbia

Economic Sector: Power Generation

6. Lead organization: Greenfield Ethanol Inc., Toronto, Ontario

Economic Sector: Energy Exploration and Production

7. Lead organization: Innovente inc., St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Quebec

Economic Sector: Waste Management

8. Lead organization: Integran Technologies Inc., Toronto, Ontario

Economic Sector: Energy Utilization

9. Lead organization: Nexterra Energy Corp., Vancouver, British Columbia

Economic Sector: Power Generation

10. Lead organization: Paragon Soil and Environmental Consulting Inc., Edmonton Alberta

Economic Sector: Agriculture

11. Lead organization: Performance Plants Inc., Kingston, Ontario

Economic Sector: Agriculture

12. Lead Organization: REGEN Energy Inc., Toronto, Ontario

Economic Sector: Energy Utilization

13. Lead organization: SunCentral Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia

Economic Sector: Energy Utilization

14. Lead organization: SyncWave Systems Inc., Pemberton, British Columbia

Economic Sector: Power Generation

15. Lead organization: TROPE DesignResearch Ltd., Halifax, Nova Scotia

Economic Sector: Energy Utilization

16. Lead organization: Vive Nano, Toronto, Ontario

Economic Sector: Energy Utilization

####

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Media Relations:
SDTC
Patrice Breton
Director, Communications
613-234-6313 x295

or

Natural Resources Canada - Ottawa
Office of the Minister
Jasmine MacDonnell
Press Secretary
613-996-2007

or

Application Process:
SDTC
Sebastien Prince-Richard
Manager, Applications
613-234-6313 x232