The funding will support CHAR Technologies’ SulfaCHAR project, a zero-waste and cost-effective approach to purifying biogas generated in landfills and transforming the byproducts into a valuable sulfur-rich agricultural fertilizer to benefit crop yields.

This is the first-ever investment of the SD Natural Gas Fund™, which supports the development and demonstration of new downstream natural gas technologies. The fund receives contributions from the Canadian Gas Association’s Energy Technology Innovation Canada Initiative and SDTC’s SD Tech Fund™ — resulting in a combined total of up to $30 million over three years.

Quick Facts

• Natural gas has a central place in Canada’s energy mix meeting over 30 per cent of the country’s energy needs.
• According to the Canadian Gas Association, today over 6.6 million customers representing well over half of all Canadians rely on natural gas for heat and power in homes, apartments, buildings, businesses, hospitals and schools.
• In 2013, Canada was the second-fastest growing clean energy market in the G20.
• In 2013, the Government of Canada announced $325 million over eight years in support for SDTC for development and demonstration projects resulting in a cleaner environment.
• SDTC supports clean tech as a driver of jobs, productivity and economic prosperity through funding aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative technological solutions.
• SDTC works with the private sector, the financial sector and government to help advance the Government of Canada’s commitment to support clean tech as a driver of jobs, productivity, economic prosperity and a healthy environment and high quality of life for all Canadians. SDTC operates as a not-for-profit corporation.
• CGA is the voice of Canada’s natural gas distribution industry, comprising distribution companies, transmission companies, equipment manufacturers and other service providers.

Quotes

“Our government is positioning Canada as a global leader in the clean technology sector by supporting innovative projects aimed at growing our economy while contributing to a cleaner environment. We are proud to invest in the SulfaCHAR project, which will create jobs right here in Cambridge and continue to place Canada at the forefront of the clean tech industry.”
Gary Goodyear
Canada’s Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario)

“SDTC is committed to using different models of support, in this case our first-ever investment by the SD Natural Gas Fund, a collaboration with a leading industry association, to get Canada’s innovative clean tech to market. Today’s joint investment in CHAR Technologies allows SDTC to leverage the public money entrusted to it by the Government of Canada with private funds from Canadian Gas Association members. We welcome CHAR Technologies to the SDTC portfolio and look forward to future co-investments in the near future.”
Leah Lawrence
President and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada

“Natural gas is an affordable and clean energy choice for Canadian consumers that is abundantly available from a variety of sources, including renewable natural gas. Canadian gas utilities are delighted to be working with SDTC and the Government of Canada on initiatives like the CHAR Technologies SulphaCHAR renewable natural gas technology to build even greater value for the Canadian energy consumer.”
Timothy M. Egan
President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association

Project:

Demonstration of a Novel Activated Biochar for H2S removal
Environmental Benefits: Clean Air, Climate Change
SD Natural Gas FundTM funding: $750,000
Total project value: $2.4 million

Biogas, a product generated in anaerobic digesters and landfills, can be used as renewable natural gas for heating or as a transportation fuel. In order for the biogas to be of use, contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) must be removed from it in a ‘scrubbing’ process. It is estimated that over $1 billion is spent worldwide each year on this process, as many of the scrubbing products currently available are both costly and must be landfilled after use. In an effort to meet the demand for a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable approach, CHAR Technologies has created SulfaCHAR — a zero-waste and cost-effective way of purifying biogas. This project has three parts: designing and building a SulfaCHAR production facility; using SulfaCHAR in scrubbing units to remove H2S from biogas; and finally testing the SulfaCHAR as an agricultural fertilizer.

Consortium Partners:
CHAR Technologies Inc.
Boreal Agrominerals Inc.
Grober
Kentech Automation
Marl Creek Renewable