Emissions Reduction Alberta Announces $100 Million Funding For Clean Technology Projects

An innovative clean technology to transition Alberta’s diesel-powered transit buses to electric is getting a boost in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA).

eCAMION’s first-of-kind charging system is expected to reduce e-bus impact on the electrical grid and lower installation and operating costs, which should allow for broader and faster adoption across the province. A trial of this fast-charge technology will take place in partnership with the City of Edmonton.

This is just one of the projects selected through ERA’s BEST Challenge, a $100 million funding opportunity for biotechnology, electricity, and sustainable transportation innovations. The combined value of these new clean technology projects is $600 million. If successful, these innovative clean technology investments will lead to cumulative GHG reductions of more than 2.5 million tonnes of CO₂e by 2030 — equivalent to the GHG emissions from 530,786 passenger vehicles driven for one year. These projects will reduce operating costs, the cost of energy and create new economic opportunities.

Innovation is a key part of Alberta’s economic and environmental success, and our industries continue to show tremendous leadership on this front. Clean technology investments lead to made-in-Alberta solutions that support jobs, protect our environment, and point Alberta toward a healthy, prosperous future.”      

Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks and Minister responsible for the Climate Change Office.

Our BEST Challenge is about accelerating the most promising clean technology solutions across multiple sectors—from new solar opportunities in coal-impacted communities to electrification of bus fleets to energy storage and bold new uses for hydrogen. These projects will help demonstrate and scale-up innovative technologies that can be adopted in communities across Alberta and around the world. They support economic growth, community health and demonstrate environmental leadership on a local, national and global scale.”

Steve MacDonald, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta.

This funding, along with our purchase of 50 electric buses, the single largest purchase in Canadian history, puts ETS at the forefront of bus electrification in Canada. ETS is fully committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, leading the way toward a lower carbon economy, and helping the City of Edmonton achieve its climate resilience goals.”

Eddie Robar, Branch Manager, Edmonton Transit Service.

Projects announced include:

Biotechnology

• LanzaTech, Inc.: Carbon Sequestration via Next-Generation Bioreactor Technology
• Shell Canada Energy: Shell Alberta Bioenergy Project
• Sultech Global Innovation Corp.: Production of Micronized Sulphur and Formulation of a Sprayable Elemental Sulphur Fertilizer.

Electricity

• TransCanada Energy: Saddlebrook Solar and Storage
• ENMAX Generation Portfolio Inc.: ENMAX Midstream Industrial Solar and Storage
• AltaLink Management Ltd.: Whitecourt Transmission Deferral Battery
• FortisAlberta Inc.: FortisAlberta Waterton Energy Storage
• ATCO Ltd.: Hanna Solar
• Longspur Developments: Drumheller Solar and Battery Storage
• Natel Energy: Bow River Irrigation District (BRID) Drop 5 Hydro.

Sustainable Transportation

• Alberta Newsprint Company: GHG Reduction for Supply Chain Improvements for Oil & Gas Hydraulic Fracturing
• ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd.: First of Kind Commercial Deployment and Demonstration of 100 Class 7 or 8 Commercial Compressed Natural Gas/Renewable Natural Gas Powered Vehicles
• eCAMION: Demonstration of Battery-Based Bus Charging Routes
• ENMAX Generation Portfolio Inc.: ENMAX E-Fleet Pilot
• City of Calgary: Electric Bus On-Route Charging Deployment
• Alberta Motor Transport Association: Alberta Zero Emissions Truck Electrification Collaboration.

The Whitecourt Transmission Deferral Battery project can save Alberta ratepayers $37 million over the cost of building a new transmission line and will eliminate the associated land impacts that a new line would bring. Innovative energy storage projects like this one will be critical to making the transmission grid more flexible and responding to the changing energy needs of our province.”

Gary Hart, Chief Operating Officer, AltaLink.

At ENMAX, we are actively exploring technology advancements and the potential they can create for our customers and our communities. The funding received from ERA will enable us to implement an E-Fleet pilot and a Midstream Industrial Solar Storage pilot, and these first-in-Canada demonstrations will test innovative and environmentally-responsible technology in real life environments, providing learnings that can be transferred to broader applications in support of a lower carbon future.”

James McKee, Executive Vice President, Energy Services, ENMAX.

This is a very exciting project for the AMTA and our member companies. This initiative is primarily about moving freight on Alberta’s highways with zero emissions, but it is also about the future of the Alberta economy. Alberta is in the transportation fuel business, and that business is changing. The AZETEC project demonstrates that Alberta’s commercial transportation industry is leading the transition towards innovative, zero-emission transportation that meets the province’s unique needs.”

Chris Nash, President, Alberta Motor Transport Association.

ERA received 180 expressions of interest in September 2018 through its BEST Challenge. Twenty-four were shortlisted and invited to submit Full Project Proposals and made in-person presentations. Projects were selected through ERA’s competitive review process. A team of experts in science, engineering, business development, commercialization, financing, and greenhouse gas quantification conducted an independent, rigorous, transparent review overseen by a Fairness Monitor. The ERA Board approved funding recipients in February of 2019.

All recipients are required to produce a final outcomes report shared publicly for the broader benefit of Alberta. All projects involve field piloting, demonstration, or commercial deployment of technology within Alberta, including Fort McMurray, Crossfield, Rimbey, Whitecourt, Hanna, Calgary, Edmonton, Waterton, Drumheller, Aldersyde, and Fox Creek.