16 clean technology projects awarded $53 million

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO - The Canadian economy became cleaner today as 16 new projects that develop and demonstrate emerging clean technologies were awarded $53 million.

The announcement, confirming the decision of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), was made by the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources and Vicky Sharpe, SDTCÂ’s President and CEO.

“It’s especially important now for this government to support clean technologies such as these that provide opportunities for economic growth while offering innovative solutions to help tackle climate change,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. “Our government is working to accelerate key investments in Canada's infrastructure in order to create jobs and help stimulate our economy.”

“The investments of federal funding that we are announcing also demonstrate the Government of Canada’s action to help protect the jobs of today while readying our economy to create the jobs of tomorrow,” added the Honourable Minister Prentice, Minister of the Environment. “Federal funding for Sustainable Development Technology Canada also demonstrates our commitment to the development of science and technology applications that offer the potential to improve environmental quality, human health and economic growth.”

The promising Canadian clean technology projects included in this funding round offer technological solutions to the challenges Canada is currently facing in strengthening the economy while responding to environmental issues. These innovations can be used in multiple major economic sectors ranging from power generation to agriculture and waste management.

“The projects we are adding to our portfolio this round have great potential and they can really make a difference to the lives of Canadians,” said SDTC Chairman Juergen Puetter. “SDTC’s financial support will help them get through the development and demonstration stages, paving their path to commercialization so that the environmental and economic benefits they bring can be enjoyed by all.”

The breadth of technologies and the cross-country representation of this funding round addresses multiple sectors of the Canadian economy. For example:

Clean energy production using a process that will facilitate the complex production of lignocellulosic ethanol while reducing the amount of energy required. This process will be integrated into an existing ethanol facility on a pre-commercial, pilot scale using corn cobs - the non-food residuals from harvesting corn - as the feedstock.

There are several advanced technology projects applicable to the forestry, wood products, and pulp and paper product industries coming from B.C. and Ontario. One converts forest waste into a more usable bio-carbon for energy production while the other uses sophisticated processes to create a biolatex binder for paperboard manufacturing which is potentially superior to the petrochemical alternative.

The agricultural community needs ways to reduce costs and environmental impacts which, in this example, can be achieved using a disruption nano-technology platform for delivery of agricultural chemicals in food production.

An energy-efficient building technology that has the potential to cut home heating costs by 10% while simultaneously improving indoor air quality.

These new investments bring SDTCÂ’s total portfolio value to over $1.3 billion. SDTCÂ’s SD Tech Fund has completed thirteen funding rounds, committing $376 million to 154 clean technology projects, and leveraging $905 million from project consortia members. These figures include adjustments made to the portfolio.

“Clean technologies provide us the necessary tools to green our economy,” said SDTC President and CEO Vicky Sharpe. “Increasing the amount of clean technologies that are developed, demonstrated and ultimately commercialized here in Canada is the key to a vibrant and sustainable Canadian economy.”

The newly funded projects are representative of the investment priorities established in the SD Business Cases, a series of five reports published by SDTC and which provide strategic insights into specific economic sectors, including clean conventional fuels, biofuels and commercial buildings.

SDTC launched its latest call for Statements of Interest (SOI) for the SD Tech Fund on February 25, 2009. Applicants with projects that bring technological solutions which fall under the investment priorities established in the SD Business Cases (available in the Knowledge Centre section of the SDTC website at www.sdtc.ca ) or that address climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil issues are encouraged to apply. Solutions that address more than one focus area are of greatest interest.

SDTC is an armÂ’s-length foundation which has received $1.05 billion from the Government of Canada as part of its commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of life for all Canadians.

SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech Fund supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund supports the establishment of first-of-kind large demonstration-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels.

SDTC operates as a not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the public and private sector including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the financial community and all levels of government to achieve this mandate.