Canada’s oil and gas industry is recognized as having a level of cooperation on cleantech research and development that is unprecedented globally, according to an article from the Canadian Energy Centre.
Today that cooperation is resulting in a flood of new cleantech development projects. Here are a few emerging partnerships in cleantech initiatives to watch: Turquoise Hydrogen
If you’re starting to get lost in all the colours of hydrogen – grey, blue, green – there are multiple pathways for hydrogen production. Each pathway is differentiated by the colour spectrum from black to yellow; however, most have not been commercialized.
Hydrogen can be generated from biomass (yellow), water (green, pink), and fossil fuels (black, brown, grey, blue, turquoise). The colour designation relates to the cleanliness of the power source used in generation, the associated emissions, and whether or not they are captured.
Baker Hughes has announced an investment in Vancouver-based Ekona Power Inc. to advance development of a unique low-cost methane pyrolysis technology platform to produce cleaner turquoise hydrogen.
Compared to traditional steam methane reforming processes used to produce industrial scale hydrogen, Ekona’s process can produce hydrogen at costs on par with current systems while reducing emissions by more than 90 per cent.
The technology will be applicable to many markets including upgraders, refineries, chemical plants, and natural gas transmission and distribution companies looking to reduce their GHG emissions footprint.
Decarbonizing existing assets
TC Energy and Irving Oil announced they will work together to lower emissions by decarbonizing existing oil and gas operations and deploying new technologies.
The partnership’s initial focus will consider a series of upgrades at Irving Oil’s refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick, with the goal of significantly reducing emissions through the production and use of low-carbon power generation.
Other opportunities such as the production and distribution of low emission hydrogen and establishing a world class carbon capture and sequestration network will aid in decarbonizing local industries and position Atlantic Canada for development and job opportunities well into the energy transition.
TC Energy and Irving Oil have a history of working together, including the development and operation of the Grandview Cogeneration plant, reducing the carbon intensity of the top-tier Saint John refinery resulting in up to 750,000 tonnes of avoided GHG emissions – the equivalent of taking over 160,000 vehicles off the road.
Solar farm to power refinery
Shell Canada has announced plans to build a 58-megawatt solar farm adjacent to the company’s Scotford refinery and chemicals park near Edmonton.
Shell subsidiary Silicon Ranch will build and operate the solar farm which is expected to produce enough renewable electricity to provide 20 per cent of the refinery’s energy needs for at least the next 25 years.
While most solar farms are typically built in the southernmost portion of the province, this project will mark the first large-scale solar installation in Alberta’s industrial heartland and be designed with panels that can capture sunlight reflected off snow.