CCEMC hands funding to 7 GHG-reducing projects in Alberta

EDMONTON—Seven projects that address greenhouse gas emissions from biological sources have received funding from The Climate Change and Emissions Management Corp. (CCEMC), an Alberta-based not-for-profit corporation with a mandate to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and help Alberta adapt to climate change.

“The biological program is an important part of the CCEMC portfolio,” said CCEMC managing director Kirk Andries. “These diverse projects demonstrate the range of opportunities available to tackle GHG emissions from biological sources, from reducing emissions in Alberta’s agriculture sector, to examining the potential for completely new sources of costly diluents in the oil and gas industry.”

Through the Biological GHG Management Program, the CCEMC is providing nearly $1.6 million in funding to the projects that have a combined value of $3.2 million. The Biological GHG Management Program is delivered in partnership with Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions.

“The CCEMC knows that there is great potential to reduce GHG emissions from biological sources,” said Susan Wood-Bohm, executive director of the Biological GHG Management Program. “We’re pleased to be able to support these practical projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta’s agriculture, construction and oil and gas sectors.”

Four of the projects will help address GHG emissions in Alberta’s agriculture sector. They include:

• Measuring methane from beef cattle bred for low residual feed intake and determining cost-effective techniques to identify low methane-emitting animals, University of Alberta
• Improving efficiency of open range cattle production to reduce GHG emissions, University of Alberta
• Developing Intelligent NanoFertilizers that improve nitrogen use efficiency by crops, reduce GHG emissions and lower costs, Carleton University
• Developing best manure management practices that include nitrogen inhibitors to reduce GHGs while optimizing crop productivity and eligibility for carbon credits, University of Alberta

The other three projects include:

• Commercializing bio-based spray foam insulation (using plant oils) to reduce GHG emissions, by Sprayfoam Co.
• Developing a geospatial map of carbon in wetlands in key regions to help assess impacts from agriculture, forestry and oil and gas development on the carbon sinks, Ducks Unlimited Canada
• Assessing cost effectiveness and potential for reducing GHG emissions in producing diluent and hydrogen using algae as a feedstock, University of Alberta

The CCEMC is interested in projects at the demonstration, pre-commercial and commercial stages of deployment that aim to achieve near-term greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Funding for the CCEMC is provided by Alberta’s large industrial emitters.

Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions is a board-governed research agency funded by the Government of Alberta. It invests in science and innovation to grow prosperity in Alberta’s agriculture, food and forest sectors through new technologies, products, services or industry practices.