Sustainable Technology Development Canada (SDTC) is getting topped up by $40 million with each of the federal and British Columbia governments contributing $20 million. SDTC also announced $23 million in funding for two projects in BC.
The federal and BC money will go to support pre-commercialization firms in the province with prototyping, field testing and demonstrations. Parties interested in applying for the funding will be able to submit their applications in early April.
As part of the announcement from Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC), a Burnaby BC-based joint venture with Germany’s Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company, secured $10 million to continue the development of its hydrogen fuel cell technology. Private sector partners are contributing more than $78 million towards the project. The work has the potential to reduce the cost differential between hydrogen fuel and conventional combustion engines.
Building on previous-generation technology, in this project AFCC will design, produce and demonstrate its GEN 4 fuel-cell stack technology as well as conduct advanced engineering on its next-generation GEN 5 technology. Daimler AG will roll out the GEN 4 fuel-cell stack demonstration vehicles upon their completion. Additionally, AFCC will deliver the detailed design for the proof-of-concept GEN 5 fuel-cell stack.
“Fuel cells offer a full-performance, high-range, high-efficiency, zero-emission vehicle alternative to combustion engines. Canada has a strong history of and world leading expertise in designing and manufacturing automotive fuel cells. Continuing to develop and establish roots ensures that Canadians are major players,” said Thorsten Wesse, chief executive at AFCC.
The second SDTC funding award went to Canfor Pulp Products Inc. The company, which owns and operates three pulp mills in Prince George BC, landed $13 million to further develop and demonstrate a technology that will take what is a currently a waste product from its production processes and develop it into a low-cost biofuels product.
The project, a joint venture with Canfor and Licella Fibre Fuels Pty Ltd., an Australian biofuels production start-up, aims to convert low-value forestry and pulp mill waste into biocrude. The biocrude would then be refined by existing refineries into next-generation biofuels and biochemicals. Canfor and Licella are contributing more than $26 million to the demonstration.
“We have the opportunity to create a truly renewable biofuel that can easily integrate with conventional fuels to dramatically lower environmental impacts. This funding from SDTC provides critical support as we look to operationalize this truly transformative green technology,” said Martin Pudlas, VP of operations at Canfor.