Webinar: Climate Tech Opportunities for Students and Recent Graduates
Date and Time: February 2, 2023 at 2 pm EST
Hosted by: Integrated ClimateTech (iClimateTech) in partnership with the Clean Energy Zone and Science Discovery Zone at the Toronto Metropolitan University as well as Climate Solutions Advancement Network (ClimateSAN). iClimateTech is a member of Clean Energy Zone.
Introduction:
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. To view a simplified schematic of this example, see the below image:
The system shown above is only one configuration that includes a biomass-fueled power plant to produce reliable power and renewable fuel. The exact configuration will depend on the local regulatory framework and prices of products sold through long-term off-take agreements. For example, in BC, BC Hydro is not entering into power purchase agreements (PPAs) at this time (2022) but the natural gas companies in BC, such are FortisBC, are doing so.
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.
Example 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:
1) 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
2) Energy Storage Systems – Energy Storage is the key to economic and reliable renewable energy
3) 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.
4) Low Carbon Fuel Production Equpment – Low Carbon Fuels are a traditional fuel alternative, with lower carbon intensities and emissions than traditional petroleum-based fuels.
5) Direct Air Capture Systems – Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a process that involves capturing and sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere on a global scale.
6) Indoor Farms – Indoor farming includes greenhouses, vertical farms and other automated indoor crop systems and can grow carbon-neutral crops.
7) Algae Growing and Processing Systems – Algae can solve many global challenges. It could be used in medicines, food supplements, biofuel, animal food and in the creation of synthetic materials.
8) Sustainable Fish Farms – Fish Farms can be integrated with a variety of technologies to improve profits and decrease the carbon footprint of facilities.
Accelerating Carbon-related Technology (Carbon Tech) Implementation in Canada:
As a result of many complementary government and private sector initiatives underway in Alberta in the carbon-related technology (Carbon Tech) area, an ecosystem relating to this area has emerged in this province. Components of this ecosystem include research centres, business accelerators, technology demonstration centres, companies developing Carbon Tech, buyers, investors and funding agencies. This ecosystem can collaborate with other Canadian research centers, companies and business accelerators, such as Toronto Metropolitan University’s Clean Energy Zone and Science Discovery Zone, to accelerate Carbon Tech across Canada to help it reach NetZero. For more information about this opportunity, see:
How Alberta’s CarbonTech Ecosystem Can Help Accelerate Canada’s Transition to NetZero
Leveraging Alberta’s CarbonTech Ecosystem, Climate Finance and Integrating Technologies to Accelerate Action
Recently, some articles we prepared about combining complementary technologies to produce reliable energy with negative carbon emissions were published in industry magazines. To view them, 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.
How Students and Recent Graduates can Benefit from the Climate Tech Field
During this webinar, students and recent graduates will be introduced to the various amounts of carbon climate technologies that are available. They will learn about the different technologies that these organizations and companies are working on and the way that they are able to gain finance through various funding programs. Students and recent graduates have an opportunity to be exposed to these various organizations and companies which they can possibly get into contact with about potentially joining their initiatives. Other possibilities are that students and recent graduates can be inspired to create or pursue their own carbon climate tech innovations and have guidance on how to access funding programs or organizations that will help build up their innovations.
PS: Our team at ClimateSAN created a webpage with a quick fact about rapidly rising atmospheric CO2 levels along with information about the opportunity that has emerged to accelerate climate action due to simultaneous advances in technologies in several complementary areas. To view this webpage, visit: Quick Fact About Rapidly Rising CO2 Levels and an Opportunity to Accelerate Climate Action on a Global Scale. We also created a similar webpage that also includes links to related articles about rising CO2 levels. To view it, visit: Quick Fact About Rapidly Rising CO2 Levels and Related Info.