The governments of Canada and Alberta together have announced investments in twelve cleantech projects, including several to improve water in natural resources projects, totalling $28.8 million.
A federal investment of $13.5 million, through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), will be used to advance technologies being developed by small and medium-sized clean tech enterprises. Another $15.3 million from the Government of Alberta will come through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) and Alberta Innovates.
The projects were selected through two joint calls. The funded projects related to water are:
- $8.2 million ($3.2 million federal, $5 million provincial) for PurLucid Treatment Solutions, Inc. to develop a new process to cool steam created during oil production, reducing energy demand and lowering costs;
- $1 million ($500,000 each from federal and provincial governments) for Agar Corporation, Ltd. to develop new systems for water treatment in oil extraction operations;
- $1 million ($500,000 each from federal and provincial governments) for waterStrider Treatment Inc. to develop a new process to treat water recovered during oil and gas production;
- $1 million ($500,000 each from federal and provincial governments) for Saltworks Technologies Inc. to build a water desalination plant to eliminate the freshwater needed for oil production;
- $1 million ($500,000 each from federal and provincial governments) for Forward Water Technologies to develop a new water treatment process to lower costs and reduce the need for wastewater disposal during oil production;
- $1 million ($500,000 each from federal and provincial governments) for Ground Effects Environmental Services Inc. to develop a new process to reuse water in oilfield operations and reduce the demand for freshwater;
- $950,000 ($475,000 each from federal and provincial governments) for Fossil Water Corporation to adapt water treatment processes to reduce costs associated with the transport and disposal of wastewater produced during oil production; and
- $322,000 ($161,000 each from federal and provincial governments) for SewerVUE Technology Corp. to develop new technologies to detect failing asbestos cement pipes.
Investments in clean technology are part of the federal government’s Innovation and Skills Plan.
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi, stated, “Our government’s investments in clean technology reflect our commitment to innovation and protecting the environment. Being innovative and investing in the clean tech sector leads to the development of products and services that benefit all sectors of the economy and creates thousands of well-paying jobs for Canadians.”
