CHAR Technologies Ltd. will be upgrading its high temperature pyrolysis facility to produce approximately 20,000 GJ/yr of renewable natural gas (RNG), with the support of a strategic new investment.
CHAR, a cleantech development and services company based in Toronto, Ontario, specializes in high temperature pyrolysis, converting woody materials and organic waste into renewable gases (renewable natural gas and green hydrogen) and biocarbon (activated charcoal “SulfaCHAR” and solid biofuel “CleanFyre”). Additional services include custom equipment for industrial water treatment, and providing services in environmental compliance, environmental management, site investigation and remediation, engineering, and resource efficiency.
The recent approval of a $300,000 industry grant from the Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF) will support the upgrades to the CHAR facility. The grant funding will be partially disbursed at the commencement of each of three milestones: detailed engineering design, fabrication and commissioning, and validation. CHAR anticipates project commissioning to commence in March 2022.
Andrew White, CEO of CHAR Technologies.
“NGIF was one of CHAR’s early supporters, and we are pleased to receive their support and continue our productive relationship,” said Andrew White, CEO of CHAR.
“The projects are vetted and supported by ATCO Pipelines, Enbridge Gas Inc., FortisBC, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., and SaskEnergy, allowing these utilities to see and validate CHAR’s high temperature pyrolysis to RNG process.”
CHAR’s operational high temperature pyrolysis facility will be upgrade to produce approximately 20,000 GJ/yr of renewable natural gas.
NGIF Capital Corporation is a Canadian venture capital firm offering grant and equity financing for start-ups that deliver solutions to the environmental and other challenges facing the natural gas sector. NGIF is wholly owned by CGA Enterprises, a venture of the Canadian Gas Association and the voice of Canada’s natural gas delivery industry. Its membership includes natural gas distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers to the industry.
“I met Andrew about 10 years ago when CHAR was a newly formed spin-out from the University of Toronto and have seen continued growth in both his leadership and the organization and now very excited to see RNG being produced at CHAR’s high temperature pyrolysis facility,” said John Adams, president and CEO of NGIF Capital Corporation and managing partner of NGIF Cleantech Ventures. “NGIF identifies and invests in opportunities that accelerate the clean technologies required to drive environmental performance in natural gas while also offering industry validation.”
Timothy Egan is president and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association and chair of the NGIF Capital Corporation, which operates NGIF Industry Grants. According to Egan, when the Canadian Gas Association created NGIF several years ago, CHAR Technologies was one of the first start-ups to be supported by the fund.
“Their technology to support RNG development is the type of innovation we continue to advance in the natural gas industry,” said Egan. “Renewable gas development is an important pathway to drive meaningful emissions reductions, while still supporting the customers’ need for reliable and affordable energy.”
Featured images courtesy of CHAR Technologies.
