COSIA members sign new deals to cut oilsands GHG emissions
by Cleantech Canada Staff
Deals could see as much as $18 million invested to develop new technologies to cut GHG emissions, water use in oilsands
CALGARY—members of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) have put pen to paper on a pair of deals that could see as much as $18 million invested to develop new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water use in Alberta’s oilsands.
General Electric Co. (GE) and Suncor Energy Inc., members of COSIA, said one agreement covers a “promising” water treatment pilot project that is expected to cut water use, energy consumption and GHG emissions, while reducing capital and operating costs for in situ oilsands operators.
The plant, an existing partnership between GE, Suncor and Alberta Innovates-Energy and Environment Solutions (AI-EES), is currently running at Suncor’s MacKay River facility north of Fort McMurray, Alta.
The new agreement involving the plant will see it extended into a joint industry project made up of COSIA members Devon Canada Corp. and ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.
$5 million in new funding will be chipped into the project.
The second agreement, involving six COSIA member companies, will see “other” undisclosed projects pursued that have a combined potential investment of as much as $13 million.
The projects covered under the second agreement are expected to develop technologies aimed at further environmental performance improvements, mainly focused on GHG reductions and water treatment technologies.
“We have a world-class resource in Canada’s (oilsands) that will supply energy for decades to come,” Suncor president and CEO Steve Williams said in a statement.
“And, responsible development of this resource is as important to everyone in the industry as it is to our stakeholders. By collaborating with our industry peers, cooperating with government bodies … we are continuing to take steps toward implementing innovative technologies that will make a difference in continued environmental improvements.”
A group oil and gas producers representing almost 90 per cent of oilsands production, the 13 members of COSIA are committed to working together to accelerate “the pace of improvement in environmental performance” in the oilsands, according to the organization’s website.
