Technology and innovation key components to climate change plan implementation

Climate Change Plan for Canada

The federal government is providing more information on how it plans to spend $250 million earmarked for technology and innovation (T&I) projects related to climate change. The funding details are part of an August 12 announcement explaining how $1 billion out of $2 billion in climate change funding announced in the last federal Budget will be allocated. The Budget provided details on another $300 million but there is still no information on the remaining $700 million and little of the money allocated to date has begun to flow.

The T&I initiatives are spread over five areas (see chart) and each will have an R&D and demonstration component. Of the $90 million allocated for the hydrogen economy, the majority ($60 million) will be used for an early adoption program. The government has also allocated a further $100 million from the budget of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). That organization has been requested to dedicate $50 million towards hydrogen-related initiatives and an equal amount towards cleaner fossil fuels.

SDTC received a $250-million boost to its funding in the last Budget while an additional $50 million was added to the budget of the Canadian Foundation for Climate Change & Atmospheric Sciences.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Industry Canada are the joint lead departments on T&I project development, although representatives from all science-based departments and agencies participated in the process.

“The science and technology institutions in the federal and provincial governments are invited to join with the private sector to develop and deliver the projects,” says Mary Preville, acting director of NRCan’s Program of Energy Research & Development (PERD). “We’re looking for significant leveraging … We’re still working out the finer details and we hope to announce those ASAP.”

Of the $130 million allocated for initiatives related to the hydrogen economy, the majority will flow to the fuel cells sector. Industry Canada worked with the industry to develop a commercialization road map last year and many of its recommendations have found their way into the T&I budget.

“We’re looking to work with industry on R&D and demonstration projects, particularly through the fuel cells innovation program of the National Research Council,” says Bruce Bowie, DG of Industry Canada’s energy and marine branch. “A key recommendation of the road map was an early adopter program. The key objective is to try and further development of Canadian industry and commercialize the great Canadian technologies we have.”

For the $65 million allocated to cleaner fossil fuels, the government will consider technologies relating to production, conversion and combustion. Advanced End-Use Efficiency Technology pertains to those that can be used in the industrial, commercial, community and transportation sectors.

Biofuels projects can encompass a range of technologies including biomass and waste conversions, ethanol fro biomass, bio processes, biomass production, harvesting and production. Decentralized energy production includes wind, solar and landfill gas.

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