FREDERICTON, NB, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - A Canadian consortium led by
Atlantic Hydrogen Inc. of Fredericton confirmed today a $2 million
contribution from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) for a
project to develop and demonstrate a technology to produce hydrogen and
remove solid carbon from natural gas without releasing harmful
greenhouse gases. Many industry analysts believe that the successful
transition to the hydrogen economy will depend on extracting hydrogen
from fossil fuels using more environmentally sensitive processes.
SDTC's support has been leveraged by a contribution of $4 million
from private consortium members including the University of New
Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton, Energy Reaction Inc. of Montreal,
PrecisionH2 Power Inc. of Montreal, the Canadian energy firm Enbridge
Inc. and Hydrogen Engine Centre of Iowa. The value of the project is $6
million.
Atlantic Hydrogen Inc.'s technology (AHI), the CarbonSaver(TM), will
feed hydrogen-rich natural gas to internal combustion engines that
generate electricity. At the same time, this innovation removes the
carbon in solid form rather than return it to the atmosphere as carbon
dioxide. The new technology being developed in this three- year project
is expected to be of particular importance for its efficacy in
distributed power and refuelling applications linked to the existing
natural gas distribution grid.
"This funding marks a significant advancement for Atlantic Hydrogen,"
says Bill Stanley, Chairman. "The successful development and
demonstration of these integrated systems will be our first move into a
market of sustainable energy demands and environmental protection
issues. We expect the CarbonSaver(TM) will provide solutions to both."
"The mix of skills and experience being contributed by the various
partners makes this a collaborative project," says Stanley. "The
CarbonSaver(TM) will be the front end of an integrated system that
includes a specially designed internal combustion engine coupled with an
electrical generator and power conditioning device. The end result will
be cleaner systems for generating electricity from natural gas for use
as operating power, peak-shaving power and emergency backup power for
commercial buildings."
"Innovations such as this will help broaden Canada's mix of clean,
reliable sources of electricity," said the Honourable Andy Scott,
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on behalf of the
Government of Canada. "This technology will help reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, build expertise in clean energy and help us move toward a
greener future. It's also very encouraging to see Atlantic Canada on the
leading edge of this technology through Atlantic Hydrogen, UNB and other
partners."
"Today's announcement is evidence of our country's rapidly evolving
capacity for green technology innovation and the strides that can be
made when partners along the supply chain come together - product
developers, distributors and customers," said Vicky J. Sharpe, SDTC's
President and CEO. "SDTC does more than fund projects. Our strategic
support is facilitating the assembly of such consortia so that we may
accelerate the market success of clean technologies, and bring the
derivative economic, social and environmental benefits to Canadians
swiftly."
About SDTC
Sustainable Development Technology Canada is a foundation created by
the Government of Canada that operates a $550 million fund to support
the development and demonstration of clean technologies - solutions that
address issues of climate change, clean air, and water and soil quality
to deliver environmental, economic and health benefits to Canadians.
An arm's length, not-for-profit corporation, SDTC fills the void in
the innovation chain between research and commercialization - helping
clean technology developers move through the development and
demonstration phases, in preparation for commercialization.
SDTC encourages collaboration among private, financial, academic,
public sector partners and with the Government of Canada and all levels
of government to build a sustainable development infrastructure in
Canada.
To date, SDTC has completed six funding rounds, committed $126
million to 60 clean technology projects, and leveraged $354 million from
project consortia members. SDTC currently manages $480 million in
projects. This represents a 3:1 ratio of industry-partner contribution
to SDTC investment.
About Atlantic Hydrogen Inc.
Atlantic Hydrogen Inc. (AHI) is a New Brunswick-based company
involved in research and development of an environmentally friendly
energy technology, the CarbonSaver(TM). Research is being conducted
under contract to the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
AHI expects that the successful demonstration of the made-in- Canada
CarbonSaver(TM) technology over the next three years will lead to a
commercially viable bridge to the sustainable clean energy promise of
the global hydrogen economy.