McGuinty Government Greening Ontario's Economy

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 23, 2007 -- Canada NewsWire

The McGuinty government is investing $3 million in six new projects designed to bring innovations to market that will help make Ontario industry more environmentally sustainable, Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Harinder Takhar announced today on behalf of the Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty.

"We are on the side of Ontarians who want a strong economy and a clean environment," said Premier McGuinty. "These projects will help keep Ontario on the cutting-edge of the green revolution."

"These projects will help key industries in Ontario - the auto, energy and telecom sectors - reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and petrochemicals," said Takhar. "They will also help develop a strong, competitive green sector in this province, an emerging market with global potential."

Ontario's $3 million investment will help commercialize six new clean technology projects:

Together, these projects demonstrate the role innovation is playing in the creation of a cleaner, more prosperous economy.

"Ontario's support for our backup power and material handling initiatives will help grow emerging commercial opportunities," said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics President and CEO. "These represent stepping stones on the path to a cleaner energy future where Ontario can be a real contributor in providing global products and solutions."

"Enbridge Gas Distribution has a long history of serving customers with dependable energy and delivering conservation programs in Ontario," said Al Monaco, President of Enbridge Gas Distribution. "This alternative energy project is a global first, and it is an example of our commitment to sustainability. Along with several Enbridge projects that support new gas-fired generation projects in the province, the Ontario Fuel Cell Innovation Program assists industry in showcasing how ultra-clean technologies can meet the province's electricity needs."

"The environment continues to be at the forefront of challenges that face industries," said Dr. Hamdy Khalil, Woodbridge's Global Director of R&D and Product Development. "As a leading supplier of automotive urethane technologies, Woodbridge is working hard to improve the environment. With the Ontario government's support, we plan to bring to market light weight urethane products that will be made from renewable soybean oil derivatives and reduce our use of conventional petroleum based chemicals."

"Ontario's support will help us demonstrate the commercial viability of our Green Inside composites," said Geoff Clarke, President & CEO, GreenCore Composites Inc. "The composites provide automakers, and manufacturers of consumer and industrial products such as furniture, toys, and containers with an alternative to conventional plastics that provide high performance, are recyclable and more environmentally friendly.

The Ontario Fuel Cell Innovation Program and the Innovation Demonstration Fund are part of the McGuinty government's strategy to help turn research and ideas into new products and services for the marketplace.

The government created the Ontario Fuel Cell Innovation Program (OFCIP) to build on the province's strength of developing cutting-edge alternative energy technologies. The goal of the program is to move Ontario's best scientific and technological ideas and discoveries from the lab to the marketplace by turning them into products and services that can be sold to the world.

Fuelled by hydrogen and oxygen, fuel cells can produce electricity with water as the only emission. They are a vital technology in realizing the promise of a growing, environmentally sustainable Ontario economy.

The government has invested $2.26 million in the development and commercialization of six fuel cell technology projects this year.

The Projects

Hydrogenics Corporation, a Mississauga-based company that is commercializing hydrogen and fuel cell products, leads three of the newly announced projects:

The fourth new project is led by Enbridge Gas Distribution. This project will result in a double win for the environment: using fuel cell technology to generate 1.2 megawatts of clean energy - enough to power up to 900 homes - and using by-product heat to reduce natural gas consumption at the facility. Enbridge will coordinate the integration of a large stationary fuel cell with its natural gas high-pressure pipeline energy recovery system.

The company expects that this project will assist in establishing a sales demand for its waste energy recovery technology throughout North America, a market estimated at between 500 to 600 megawatts.

Previously Announced Fuel Cell Innovation Projects

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, the local economic development agency, in partnership with Lambton College and with the involvement of various local end users, will deploy a number of Ontario-based hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the community. These applications will include fuel cell golf carts and utility vehicles, as well as portable and stationary backup power systems. Hydrogen will be produced from a solar electrolyser developed by Electric Hydrogen of Burlington. Ontario will contribute $500,000 to this project.

The Hydrogen Village

The Hydrogen Village is a market development program comprised of a public/private partnership of 35 companies and organizations with the goal of creating commercially sustainable markets for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Over the last three years Ontario has contributed $130,000 to this project.

The four-year, $24-million Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF) helps companies develop promising new technologies by supporting them at the pilot or demonstration project stage. The fund focuses on new bio-based (made from biological or renewable materials), environmental and alternative energy technologies.

The pilot or demonstration phase is a critical stage in the commercialization of a new innovation. Success in this phase indicates to potential customers or investors that the innovation will be competitive when brought to market.

The maximum support that eligible projects are able to receive is $4 million per project.

Investments focus on early-stage technologies that have strong potential to succeed. Priority is given to projects that have the potential to generate a global business.

The Innovation Demonstration Fund has committed $5.4 million so far this year to help commercialize new technologies.

The Projects

The Woodbridge Group: BioFoam

Ontario is committing $1 million to support the research and commercialization of soy-based polyol in polyurethane automotive products. The project will help commercialize the use of polyols - a key ingredient in the production of the polyurethane material used in automotive seats and interior pieces - produced from renewable soy oil. Currently, these materials are made using polyols derived from non-renewable petroleum. The project will be led by the Woodbridge Group, a leading supplier of automotive urethane technologies, who will bring the product to market.

GreenCore Composites: Green Inside

Ontario is committing $400,000 to Greencore Composites to set up a demonstration plant in Mississauga for the production of its Green Inside material - a high-performance natural fibre reinforced composite.

By replacing petroleum-based materials with sustainable natural fibres, Greencore's Green Inside composite offers environmental benefits while more than doubling the strength of the base synthetic material. Greencore is working to commercialize the material for use in Ontario's auto sector.

Previously Announced Innovation Demonstration Fund Project

Plasco Energy Group

On April 27, 2007 the McGuinty government announced the investment of $4 million to Plasco Energy Group in support of a clean waste to energy project. The plant will operate for two years and divert 85 tonnes of waste per day. The clean fuel will be used to generate electricity onsite. About 20 per cent of the electricity generated will power the plant; the rest will be sold to the Ontario electricity market.

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation

News Provided By