Section A: Introduction

1. Animated Intro Video (3.5 min.):

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.

8. Carbon Tech Options:

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:

• • Carbon Management Canada (CMC)
  • Innovate Calgary
  • Alberta Innovates
  • Foresight Canada, 
  • Transition Accelerator
  • Canadian Resource Innovation Network (CRIN)
  • Platform Calgary
  • Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC)
  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

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.

• • Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre of Urban Energy
  • University of Waterloo’s Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE)
  • York University’s Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI)
  • Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS)
  • University of New Brunswick’s Energy Transformation Innovation Research Group.
  • CanmetENERGY

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

11. Financing Carbon Tech:

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.

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:

• • • Electricity Human Resources Canada – Wage Subsidy Programs
    • ECO Canada – Work Placements: Training & Wage Subsidies for Environmental Jobs
    • TechNation Canada – Career Ready Program (Developing the Next Generation of Tech Talent)
      

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.

22. Comparing the terms CleanTech, CarbonTech & ClimateTech to Each Other:

a) Diagram Comparing CleanTech, CarbonTech & ClimateTech to Each Other