CCEMC announces $15 million in funding for renewable energy projects in northern Alberta

Three projects valued at more than $129.9 million
EDMONTON – Slave Lake is one of three communities in northern Alberta that will benefit from renewable energy projects supported by the Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation. Projects in High Level and Hairy Hill, near Vegreville, are also receiving funding.

“The CCEMC is advancing clean technology by supporting projects that are innovative and reduce GHG emissions,” said CCEMC Chair Eric Newell. “By supporting projects like the world’s largest commercial fast pyrolysis plant and the world’s first large scale carbon neutral biofuel plant, CCEMC demonstrating the promise of clean technology.”

Combined the three projects are estimated to reduce GHG emissions by more than 2.3 megatonnes over 10 years, the equivalent of removing 46,000 cars off the road. For every dollar CCEMC invests in these three projects, about another $7.50 is also invested.

“Alberta’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is stronger than ever,” said Environment Minister Rob Renner. “Incorporating a technology fund in Alberta’s regulatory approach has proven vital to advancing our clean energy story. The latest investment by the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation in these renewable energy projects demonstrates another meaningful step forward to reducing emissions in Alberta.”

The High North RTP Project in High Level will be the world’s largest fast pyrolysis plant, converting wood waste from Tolko’s sawmill at High Level to Pyrolysis oil, which generates power for a series of modified diesel engines. Waste heat will be recovered and used for drying lumber. Growing Power Hairy Hill will be the world’s first large scale carbon neutral biofuel plant.

The integrated biorefinery also includes other operations such as fertilizer manufacturing and biofuel feedstock production with systems powered by waste.

The Slave Lake Pulp Bio-Methanation Project will integrate an energy efficient anaerobic digestion system into an existing effluent treatment system. The new system will treat effluent and produce biogas that will generate electricity and heat for use in the pulping process.

The CCEMC issued its third call for proposals in September 2010, with $50 million for renewable energy projects. Sixty-three projects were evaluated, 17 applicants were qualified to submit full project proposals and 14 proposals were received.

The CCEMC strives to build a balanced portfolio over time. With this announcement the CCEMC is supporting 25 projects at all stages of innovation with a total planned investment of $113.2 million and a total combined project value of more than $594 million. For all projects combined, for every dollar CCEMC invests approximately another $4.25 is also invested. The CCEMC will make an additional announcement regarding support for two more renewable energy projects before the end of the month.

Since 2007, Alberta companies that annually produce more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions are legally required to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by 12 per cent.

One compliance option is to pay into the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund at $15/tonne.

Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation announces $15 million in funding for renewable energy projects in northern Alberta

Three projects valued at more than $129.9 million
• The CCEMC in an independent not-for-profit organization that was incorporated in 2009.
• The CCEMC’s mandate is to establish or participate in funding for initiatives to reduce emissions and improve Alberta’s ability to adapt to climate change. Advances in clean technology provide the best opportunity for the CCEMC to fulfill its mandate and promote the transformative change necessary to reduce emissions and build a lower carbon economy.
• Targeted investment areas include greening energy production, energy conservation and efficiency, carbon capture and storage, and climate adaptation and knowledge. The CCEMC investment in any project and the project life is specified in each of the RFP’s. Project proponents must contribute a minimum of one-half of project funding to be eligible.
• In May 2010 a Conference Board of Canada report commissioned by the CCEMC identified found that the CCEMC’s technology fund model will make a meaningful contribution to Alberta’s environment by promoting a greener economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report also suggests that new jobs will be created, Alberta’s exportable products and technologies will increase, and the province will be better positioned to compete in the
global marketplace.
• The CCEMC announced its first call for proposals in August 2009 and received 223 submissions that combined to represent a total funding request of more than $1.6 billion. In June 2010, the CCEMC announced $71 million in support for 16 projects from the full project proposals. The total value of the funded projects is more than $190 million.
• In June 2010 the CCEMC issued a second call for proposals for industrial energy efficiency projects. In total, 52 proposals were received and 17 were invited to submit full proposals.
Six projects received funding of $27.2 million. The projects are valued at more than $161 million.
• The CCEMC issued its third call for proposals in September 2010, with $50 million available for renewable energy projects. Sixty-three projects were evaluated and 17 applicants were qualified to submit full project proposals. CCEMC announced plans to provide $15 million in support for three projects on June 21 with plans to announce additional projects later in the month. The total value of these three projects is more than $129 million.
• This is the second time CCEMC announced plans to support renewable energy projects.

In June 2010, the CCEMC announced plans to fund five renewable energy projects with morethan $37.5 million.

Organization: Growing Power Hairy Hill L.P.
Project: GPHH Integrated bioRefinery(TM)
Location: Hairy Hill, Alberta
CCEMC funding: $5 million
Total project value: $60 million
Estimated GHG emissions reduction over 10 years: 932,078

Growing Power Hairy Hill L.P. (“GPHH”) is a four-year old company. It is part of the 4BEL Group of Companies. 4BEL Corp. promotes, develops and helps finance utility-scale, clean energy projects around the globe. The corporate family includes www.Highmark.ca which owns patented waste-to-energy (bioGas) technology developed over 11 years at a cost of $25 million, much of which is showcased in the GPHH Integrated bioRefinery(TM). It uses waste from agriculture, food processing & distribution, slaughterhouses, and municipalities (sewage and organics) while destroying pathogens and delivering soil nutrients. Sister company Alpha-J L.P. is patenting proprietary algae-growing and algae-harvesting technologies which dramatically enhance the economics of any algae-tech company. Further details can be found at www.GrowingPower.com.

GPPH is the world’s first large scale carbon neutral bioFuel plant. By using waste to power its systems, and by producing byproducts that are all useful for agriculture, GPPH achieves “net zero” status. The GPPH Integrated bioRefinery ™ is powered by IMUS ™ from www.Highmark.ca, a technology for extracting useful energy from agricultural waste, while destroying all potentially harmful pathogens and reclaiming water. The plant will produce ethanol based on local cattle feed wheat, and will also produce a high-nutrient by-product that will supply food to a local cattle feedlot. The GPPH BioFuel plant will have an energy balance of 7:1, much higher than so-called “Generation 2” ethanol at 4:1, and far higher than conventional ethanol at 1.4:1 or gasoline from conventional oil at 0.8:1. Construction of the GPPH Integrated bioRefinery will also create 200 person-years of employment.

Media inquiries:
Evan V. Chrapko, CA, JD
Co-CEO
Growing Power Hairy Hill LP
202-656-3826
evanchrapko@gmail.com

The CCEMC is a not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to establish or participate in funding for initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support adaptation. The CCEMC invests in discovery, development, and operational deployment of clean technologies.

http://ccemc.ca/2011/06/21/ccemc-announces-15-million-in-funding-for-renewable-energy-projects-in-northern-alberta
For additional detail on the projects and contact information for funding recipients, see our backgrounder on ccemc.ca.
Media contact:
For more information or to arrange an interview with CCEMC Chair Eric Newell contact:
Celia Sollows
Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation
Cell: (780) 239-4150
celia@ccemc.ca