Section A: Introduction
1. Animated Intro Video (3.5 min.):
a) Combining Complementary Tech to Maximized Impact in a Sustainable and Profitable Way (22 min. video):
Selected Segments in Presentation:
- 0:00:48 Current Climate Warming Trend
- 0:01:26 Why are the CO2 levels rising?
- 0:01:44 Solution
- 0:02:56 Accelerating Development and Scale-up By Collaborating with Relevant Technology Communities
- 0:06:27 Increasing Collaboration Between Technology Communities to Accelerate Transition to Low Carbon Economy
- 0:06:59 Integrating Technologies
- 0:07:31 1st Example Combined Power Generation with Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CPG+CCUS) Facility
- 0:08:39 2nd Example: Generating Reliable Power and Renewable Low Carbon Fuel
- 0:10:15 Organizations Accelerating Carbon Tech (Part 1)
- 0:11:07 Range of Clean Tech including Carbon Tech Companies
- 0:11:41 Billionaires Investing in Clean Tech including Carbon Tech Companies
- 0:13:05 Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Clusters
- 0:15:07 A Comprehensive Map About Canada’s Oil & Gas Innovation Ecosystem
- 0:15:51 Funding to Accelerate Technology Development and Scale-up
- 0:17:12 Simplified Flow Chart of Project Financing
- 0:18:46 How Canada’s CarbonTech Ecosystem Can Help Accelerate Canada’s Transition to NetZero
- 0:19:47 Conclusions
- 0:20:53 Recommendations


a) Development of a breakthrough technology (Allam Cycle) that generates power from natural gas and captures 100% of CO2 created.
b) Development of technologies that can capture CO2 from outside air (Direct Air Capture or DAC) at a relatively low estimated cost. Given below is a list of companies with innovative DAC technologies along with some related notes:
ii) Climeworks – Recently installed a 4,000 tonnes/year DAC facility in Iceland with Carbfix
v) Carbyon
vii) Heirloom Carbon Capture
viii) Mission Zero
ix) AirCapture
x) Carbon Capture
xi) Agora Energy Technologies
c) There has been a rapid growth in the number of locations where CO2 can be stored. These locations are often associated near clusters of industries that are implementing carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). Given below are two examples of CCUS clusters:
i) Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) system
ii) Net Zero Teesside.
Each of these CCUS clusters already has several companies working together to utilize a common CO2 sequestering service and are inviting more companies to join them to utilize this same sequestering service. To view a more comprehensive list of these types of clusters around the world, see: Global Status of CCS 2020 report by Global CCS Institute. Also, see the CCS Database managed by Global CSS Institute. For some additional background about these types of clusters around the world, see: Understanding Industrial CCS hubs and clusters by the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute.
d) There has been a Rapid growth of Green Bonds to finance projects that can be sold to financial organizations that have committed to investing in climate action such as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, which has a combined total of over $130 trillion US dollars under management.
Advancements in several complementary technologies including power generation with carbon capture, biochar production, conversion of CO2 to renewable fuel, direct air capture, energy storage and renewable energy are now making it possible to create facilities that generate reliable energy with negative carbon emissions. For example, an existing biomass-fueled power station can be enhanced to include carbon capture, biochar production, conversion of CO2 to renewable fuel, energy storage and renewable energy. This set of enhancements will enable this facility to provide reliable power to the local electric grid, produce biochar and use its surplus power to produce renewable fuel.
There are many more ways complementary technologies can be integrated to lower costs and maximize impact. To view information about more technology combinations that produce reliable carbon-negative energy, visit: Integrating Technologies to Produce Reliable Carbon-Negative Energy. As well, there are technology combinations that produce food products and reliable electricity. To view information about some examples of these combinations, visit Integrating Technologies to Produce Agricultural Products and Reliable Electricity.
7. Example Complementary Technologies:
Given below is a list of example complementary technologies that can be integrated with fossil or biomass fueled power-plants that are fitted with carbon capture systems:
a) Renewable Energy Systems – Companies can take advantage of solar and wind to be integrated with multiple complementary technologies to enhance their facilities and lower their carbon footprint
b) Energy Storage Systems – Energy Storage helps to manage short term differences between power generated and power needed.
c) Biochar Production Equipment – Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (also called biomass) in a controlled process called pyrolysis.
d) Low Carbon Fuel Production Equpment – Low Carbon Fuels are a traditional fuel alternative, with lower carbon intensities and emissions than traditional petroleum-based fuels.
e) Direct Air Capture Systems – Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a process that involves capturing and sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere on a global scale.
f) Indoor Farms – Indoor farming includes greenhouses, vertical farms and other automated indoor crop systems and can grow carbon-neutral crops.
g) Algae Growing and Processing Systems – There are different strains of algae that can be grown for produce a wide range of products including high-quality medicines, food supplements, biofuel, animal food and bio-degradable materials.
h) Sustainable Fish Farms – There is a wide range of fish farms being implemented. One effective combination is to integrate a fish farm with algae and hydroponic plant production system. To view a schematic of this combination, visit: Biomass power plant combined with indoor, fish and algae farms.
Since there are so many Carbon Tech options to choose from, it is not easy for an individual or company in the private sector to select the best technology options for their specific project. To provide you with an idea of just how large and diverse the Carbon Tech industry has become, our team at Climate Solutions Advancement Network (ClimateSAN) prepared this webpage: Carbon Tech Companies and Related Information. As a result, individuals and companies can greatly benefit by collaborating with organizations that are helping to accelerate Carbon Tech, such as the ones indicated in the below section.
9. Organizations Helping to Accelerate Carbon Tech:
Given below are some organizations in Canada that are helping to accelerate Carbon Tech:
a) In addition to Innovate Calgary, there are many more organizations that are helping to accelerate Carbon Tech in Alberta. Given below is a list of some of the leading ones in no particular order:
b) Given below are some organizations advocating for increased implementation of Carbon Tech:
- Alberta Enterprise Group includes many member organizations developing and implementing Carbon Tech.
- Modern Miracle Network advocates for responsible oil and gas development including the utilization of Carbon Tech.
- DMG Events hosts conferences about Carbon Tech related topics such as carbon capture.
d) Further more, there are other associations and alliances in Canada that would likely support initiatives to accelerate Carbon Tech across Canada. For example, the Canada Cleantech Alliance is a Canadian coalition of 22 clean-tech industry associations and accelerators representing over 2,000 cleantech manufacturers, innovators, investors, industry adopters and researchers across the country. This alliance includes associations such as the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association, which would likely be interested to support accelerating Carbon Tech in Canada.
Since there is so much activity in the development and implementation of technologies relating to carbon in Alberta, it can be argued that Alberta has become Canada’s “Silicon Valley” for Carbon Tech. Therefore, companies that do not want to miss out on the huge business opportunity in Carbon Tech, should explore how they can benefit from this ecosystem that has emerged.
10. Online Channels about Climate Solutions:
There are many sources of useful information about climate related technologies. This includes dedicated climate solution platforms and video channels by YouTubers. Given below are some examples:
- We Don’t Have Time
- Just Have A Think YouTube Channel by Dave Borlace
- Two Bit da Vinci YouTube Channel by Ricky Roy
There are a considerable number of incentive programs to support Carbon Tech. Given below are some links to information about these programs:
a) Federal Gov’t Clean Growth Hub webpage summarizing federal programs for clean growth: Clean Growth Hub.
b) A range of funding programs for businesses by the Gov. of Canada: Grants and funding from the Government of Canada.
c) Environment-related funding: Environment and Climate Change Canada funding programs
d) A substantial funding program for indigenous communities: Indigenous clean fuels projects – Clean Fuels Fund
e) Tax credits allocated for carbon (CO2) capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS): Federal Budget Section about the CCUS Tax Credit
From 2022 through 2030, the investment tax credit rates would be set at:
- 60 percent for investment in equipment to capture CO2 in direct air capture projects;
- 50 percent for investment in equipment to capture CO2 in all other CCUS projects; and
- 37.5 percent for investment in equipment for transportation, storage and use.
- 60 percent for investment in equipment to capture CO2 in direct air capture projects;
f) Overview article about CCUS tax credits: Canada Introduces Tax Credit For CCUS Investments, Apr 11, 2022.
g) Private foundation funding: Ivey Foundation to distribute $100 million endowment over next five years, Nov. 29, 2022
h) CLIMAtlantic – Funding Opportunities for Climate Change Adaptation
i) Retooling for Climate Change – Funding Programs for Climate Resilience
j) Ontario Business Grants – Find grants, loans & more for your Ontario business
k) City of Toronto – Toronto Atmospheric Fund
l) Canada Infrastructure Bank
m) Wage Subsidy Programs funded by Governments:
The forecasts about the expected growth of the carbon capture market are creating considerable investor interest in Carbon Tech (which includes CCUS). For example, in April of 2022, it was reported that Exxon sees carbon capture market at $4 trillion by 2050. Therefore, it is likely that companies implementing Carbon Tech can obtain an increasing amount of funding from private investors.
To implement Carbon Tech on a substantial scale, many large facilities utilizing these technologies will need to be funded. Fortunately, a pathway has emerged to help project developers obtain this funding. Prior to a substantial ($50m+) project getting funded, it can be certified as “Green Bond” eligible. After this facility becomes operational, it can be re-financed with a Green Bond that institutional investors can purchase. This enables the original investors to receive their capital back and build their next facility, which makes investing in this type of project much more attractive. In this way, large-scale climate action can be accelerated with private sector funding instead of government funding.
To view information about steps to issue a Green bond, visit: Steps to issue a Green Bond by Sustainalytics. There are many companies that are now facilitating the issuing of Green Bonds. To view a list of them, visit: ClimateBonds.net/partners.
According to the ClimateBonds Initiative, over $500 billion in Green (Climate) Bonds were issued in 2021. This organization is now leading an initiative to increase this amount to $5 trillion in Green Bonds by 2025. There is a large pool of buyers of Green Bonds in the global financial system. For example, the members of The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), which includes firms that collectively have over US$130 trillion under management, are likely buyers of this type of bond.
12. Initiatives by Think Renewables Group Relating to Carbon Tech:
To help organizations integrate complementary technologies to maximize climate impact and profits, Think Renewables Group has launched a new company called Integrated ClimateTech (iClimateTech). It will begin by focusing on these types of projects: Integrating Technologies to Produce Reliable Carbon-Negative Energy and Integrating Technologies to Produce Agricultural Products and Reliable Electricity.
Think Renewables Group prepared some articles about combining complementary technologies to produce reliable energy with negative carbon emissions, which were published in industry magazines. To view these articles, visit:
a) Biomass Magazine article: How Companies Can Profitably Create Carbon-Negative Energy from Biomass, April 13, 2022.
b) OilPrice.com article: How Oil & Gas Companies Can Profitably Create Carbon-Negative Energy, January 5, 2022.
13. Range of Clean Tech including Carbon Tech Companies:
assets under management
b) ImpactAssets 50 – An Annual Showcase of Impact Investment Fund Managers
c) Global Impact Investor Network (GIIN)
- Learn more about Canada’s Oil & Gas Innovation Ecosystem Map
- Watch a recorded version of the January 10, 2023 launch event webinar.
- View the webinar slides from the January 10, 2023 launch event webinar.
Generating Reliable Power While Creating Negative Carbon Emissions
21. Introduction to Accelerating Canada’s Transition to NetZero:
As a result of many complementary government and private sector initiatives underway in the carbon-related technology (Carbon Tech) area in Canada, especially in Alberta, an ecosystem relating to this area has emerged. Components of this ecosystem include research centres, business accelerators, technology demonstration centres, companies developing Carbon Tech, buyers, investors and funding agencies. At the same time, rapid and simultaneous advances in technologies in several complementary areas have occurred, which is enabling many innovative combinations to be integrated with each other to lower costs and maximize impact. The combination of these developments can be harnessed to help accelerate Canada’s transition to net zero carbon dioxide emissions (NetZero). To view an illustration of how this ecosystem can integrate complementary technologies and leverage climate finance to accelerate this transition, see below:
For more information, visit:
How Canada’s CarbonTech Ecosystem Help Can Accelerate Canada’s Transition to NetZero (climatesan.org/hcce )
Leveraging Canada’s CarbonTech Ecosystem, Climate Finance and Integrating Technologies to Accelerate Action
22. Comparing the terms CleanTech, CarbonTech & ClimateTech to Each Other:
a) Diagram Comparing CleanTech, CarbonTech & ClimateTech to Each Other
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Note2: Short link to this webpage: ClimateSAN.org/tmci