Category: Sustainability

The construction sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, with concrete at the forefront of the challenge. As one of the most widely used building materials in the world, concrete production accounts for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, largely due to the energy-intensive process of making cement, its key ingredient.

This environmental toll poses a critical challenge as urbanization and infrastructure demands continue to grow. However, a new wave of sustainable concrete companies is emerging, offering innovative solutions to reduce emissions, recycle materials, and incorporate alternative, eco-friendly methods of production, paving the way for greener construction practices.

CarbonCure Technologies

Nova Scotia-based CarbonCure has pioneered a technology that injects recycled CO₂ into fresh concrete, where it mineralizes and becomes permanently embedded, reducing the carbon footprint of concrete. As of October 2024, CarbonCure and its global network of concrete producers have saved 500,000 metric tons of CO₂ across 7.5 million truckloads of green concrete.

CarbiCrete

Quebec-based CarbiCrete has developed a cement-free concrete that sequesters CO₂ during production, resulting in a carbon-negative product. First developed at McGill University, their tech enables the production of cement-free concrete. The process uses an industrial by-product – the slag from steel factories – to replace cement as a binding ingredient in concrete products. The process injects CO2 into the fresh concrete to provide strength, while permanently sequestering CO2 within the resulting products. In December 2024, CarbiCrete collaborated with Aecon and Lafarge Canada to construct a low-carbon building in Ontario, utilizing their cement-free concrete masonry units.

Lafarge Canada

Lafarge has developed its own solution to reducing the environmental impact of concrete. ECOpact  offers up to 90% lower CO₂ emissions compared to standard (CEM I) concrete with no compromise in performance. It contains an innovative mix of supplementary cementitious materials and admixtures technology. Where norms allow, ECOPact can include construction and demolition waste. In November 2024, Lafarge Canada and The Daniels Corporation announced a collaboration on the Daniels on Parliament project in Toronto, achieving up to a 25% reduction in embodied carbon through the use of ECOpact.

Carbon Upcycling

Alberta-based Carbon Upcycling captures byproducts from industrial sources and then transforms them into high-performance additives for concrete, enhancing its strength and durability while reducing its carbon footprint. Their patented technology combines CO2 with waste materials like fly ash and steel slag, permanently mineralizing the carbon and creating high-performance additives for concrete. This process can reduce the clinker content in cement by up to 50%. Their team recently wrapped up a three-year pilot study with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, showing that low-carbon concrete is 30% stronger than existing roadways.

Ecocem

Ecocem produces low-carbon cement by replacing a portion of clinker with slag, a byproduct of steel production. This innovative approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining strength and durability. Ecocem’s efforts are part of a broader movement to decarbonize the cement industry, with the company aiming to revolutionize the industry by decarbonizing this highly polluting sector.

CEMEX

A global building materials company, CEMEX offers sustainable concrete solutions, including their low-CO2 Vertua concrete products. Vertua concrete uses innovative geopolymer cement solutions and sustainable raw materials to achieve lower carbon footprints. These concrete mixes can achieve up to 70% reduction. Their Vertua Ultra Zero mix is a carbon-neutral product, offsetting remaining unavoidable emissions through partnerships with carbon offset specialists. Founded in 1906 and headquartered in San Pedro, Mexico, they are a global leader in the building materials industry, operating in over 50 countries. 

Sublime Systems

Sublime Systems, founded in 2020 by Dr. Leah Ellis and Prof. Yet-Ming Chiang at MIT, is a groundbreaking startup revolutionizing cement production through electrochemistry. Their innovative process dramatically reduces carbon emissions by using renewable electricity to produce cement at room temperature, eliminating the need for fossil fuel-powered kilns. In a major recent development, Holcim invested in Sublime Systems in September 2024 to help scale up their first commercial manufacturing facility in Massachusetts, giving Holcim a large share of Sublime Cement production.

Carboclave

Carboclave is an Ontario-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in innovative concrete manufacturing technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The company employs a unique curing method that utilizes carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of traditional steam, resulting in prefabricated concrete products that are not only stronger and more durable but also have a significantly lower carbon footprint—up to 50% reduction in embodied carbon. Carboclave’s technology enhances the curing process through exothermic mineralization, which not only accelerates production but also contributes to sustainability by transforming concrete manufacturers into carbon sinks.

Key Takeaways:

• Ontario has increased its largest competitive energy procurement target by 50%, from 5,000 MW to up to 7,500 MW, to meet rising energy demand projected to grow by 75% by 2050. This procurement aims to provide energy for approximately 1.6 million homes.
• The procurement process will be transparent, competitive, and technology-agnostic. It will also emphasize protecting agricultural areas, fostering Indigenous partnerships, and encouraging northern Ontario development. The government is exploring additional procurement options, such as long-duration energy storage and small-scale renewable projects.
• Ontario’s energy strategy integrates various elements, including advancing nuclear energy projects, building new transmission infrastructure, and expanding energy efficiency programs. This holistic approach is designed to meet future demand sustainably while maintaining affordability and supporting economic growth.

The Whole Story:

The Ontario government is expanding the largest competitive energy procurement in the province’s history by 50% to meet soaring energy demand.

The government announced it has increased the target for the procurement from 5,000 megawatts (MW) to up to 7,500 MW.

Since the procurement was first announced, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has released an updated electricity demand forecast which now shows the province will need 75% more electricity by 2050, the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. To meet this growing demand, the government directed IESO to begin the government’s Second Long-Term Procurement (LT2) and implement the increased procurement target.

“Our government is expanding what is already the largest competitive procurement in the province’s history as demand for electricity continues to grow,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “This expanded procurement will deliver enough power for 1.6 million homes, which is critical as our population and economy continue to grow. Unlike the former government which allowed hydro rates to soar, we are keeping costs down by planning ahead and using competitive procurement.”

Ontario says the procurement process for LT2 will be “transparent, competitive, and technology-agnostic” to secure the lowest cost energy resources. The process will also endeavor to protect prime agricultural areas, promote Indigenous partnerships, and encourage development in northern Ontario.

Alongside the launch of the LT2 procurement, the government has asked the IESO to report back on options to run two additional procurements, including:

• Options for a procurement of long-lead energy resources, including hydro and long-duration energy storage, recognizing the benefits of these unique resources that require more time to design and build.
• Options for a program to re-contract existing and acquire new-build small-scale electricity generation, such as smaller solar installations, that connect directly to the province’s distribution system.

“Access to sufficient, sustainable, and affordable energy is not just vital to helping businesses grow, it’s also a key factor in attracting new businesses and investment,” said Jaipaul Massey-Singh, CEO, Brampton Board of Trade. “This announcement by the Ontario government will help our province continue to be a premier destination for industry and help our economy grow.”

Procuring new long-term energy generation is just one part of Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future, the government’s vision as it plans for rising energy demand, which includes:

• Energy Planning – Developing the province’s first integrated energy plan, including a broad range of energy resources, such as electricity, natural gas, and other fuels to ensure the province’s energy needs are met in a coordinated and long-term manner.
• Nuclear Energy – Advancing clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power on the province’s first large-scale nuclear build in 30 years, four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting OPG’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.
• New Transmission Infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators, including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.
• Keeping Costs Down – Expanding energy efficiency programs which are helping families and businesses reduce electricity usage and save money on energy bills.

Key Takeaways:

• BC Hydro has awarded 30-year purchase agreements to nine wind projects, providing nearly 5,000 GWh/year—enough to power 500,000 new homes. This boosts BC Hydro’s supply by 8% and aligns with provincial goals to make British Columbia a clean-energy leader while maintaining affordable electricity rates.
• Projects require a minimum of 25% First Nations equity ownership, with eight of the nine projects having 51% ownership. This represents $2.5–$3 billion in Indigenous investment. The initiative is expected to generate $5–$6 billion in private capital spending throughout B.C.
• To expedite project completion, the province plans to exempt wind projects from environmental assessments while implementing rigorous permitting processes that protect First Nations interests and environmental mitigations.

The Whole Story:

BC Hydro has selected nine energy projects through its 2024 call for power.

“Clean and affordable electricity is key to powering economic growth and unlocking private-sector investment that creates thousands of good jobs here in British Columbia,” said Premier David Eby. “These new projects will significantly expand our electricity supply – making B.C. a clean-energy superpower, while ensuring rates are affordable for people and for industries looking to expand.”

BC Hydro says it received a strong response to its call for new renewable power-generation projects, and through its evaluation process will award 30-year electricity purchase agreements to nine wind projects. These projects will provide nearly 5,000 gigawatt hours per year of electricity, enough to power 500,000 new homes, boosting BC Hydro’s current supply by 8%.

The development and construction of new clean-energy projects, in response to the call for power, will generate between $5 billion and $6 billion in private capital spending throughout the province.

“We need these new energy generation projects urgently to meet growing demand for power and accelerate our efforts to build a prosperous and inclusive clean economy,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “Now that the projects have been selected, we’re going to work together with BC Hydro, First Nations and proponents to get these projects built quickly, responsibly and efficiently, and get those turbines spinning.”

To ensure the projects are completed as efficiently as possible, the Province intends to exempt these wind projects and all future wind projects in B.C. from environmental assessment, while ensuring First Nations interests and environmental mitigations are protected and maintained.

“It’s clear there are enormous opportunities to generate clean electricity through wind, and that we need to do more to get larger projects online faster,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “That’s why we are announcing our intention to exempt wind-power projects from the environmental assessment process, with a rigorous provincial permitting process in place, while ensuring First Nations are full partners in our shared, sustainable future.”

BC Hydro engaged extensively with First Nations on the design of the call for power, and included a requirement that projects must have a minimum 25% equity ownership held by First Nations. Eight of the nine successful energy projects will have 51% equity ownership. This represents $2.5 billion to $3 billion of ownership by First Nations in new renewable energy projects in the province.

The cost of wind has dropped significantly over the past decade, and these new projects align with the trend of renewable costs decreasing. When adjusted to today’s dollars, the average price from the successful projects in this call is about 40% lower than BC Hydro’s last call for clean power in 2010, reducing rate impacts and keeping electricity bills affordable for people and businesses.

Adding these new wind projects will diversify BC Hydro’s generation mix. B.C. is well positioned to add more intermittent renewables, such as wind, to the electricity grid as its integrated, flexible system of hydroelectric dams act as batteries. Reservoirs store water and allow BC Hydro to ramp production up or down almost instantly, providing a reliable backup when the wind is not blowing.

The Province and BC Hydro are committed to conducting regular, competitive calls for power based on electricity demand. This will ensure that B.C. has the clean electricity it needs as the economy and population continues to grow, while keeping BC Hydro rates affordable.

Along with the call for power, BC Hydro is taking a number of actions to ensure it will continue to meet the growing demand from population growth and housing construction, business and industrial development, and transportation.

Together, these actions will power more than one million new homes in the coming years. This includes: adding the Site C hydroelectric dam, which will power 500,000 homes; investing in energy efficiency, which is expected to result in 2,000 gigawatt hours per year of electricity saving or enough to power 200,000 homes; as well as renewing existing electricity purchase agreements and exploring the use of utility-scale batteries.

Here are all the projects:

Boulder and Elkhart Wind Project

• Proponent: Elkhart Wind Limited Partnership
• IPP partner: Elemental Energy
• First Nation partner: Upper Nicola Band
• Project size in megawatts (MW): 94
• Regional system: South Interior West

Brewster Wind Project

• Proponent: Brewster Wind Inc.
• IPP partner: Capstone Infrastructure
• First Nation partner: Wei Wai Kum First Nation
• Project size (MW): 197
• Regional system: Vancouver Island

Highland Valley Wind Project

• Proponent: Highland Valley Wind Inc.
• IPP partner: Capstone Infrastructure
• First Nation partner: Ashcroft Indian Band
• Project size (MW): 197
• Regional system: South Interior West

K2 Wind Project

• Proponent: K2 Wind Power Inc.
• IPP partner: Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
• First Nation partner: Westbank First Nation
• Project size (MW): 160
• Regional system: South Interior West

Mount Mabel Wind Project

• Proponent: Mount Mabel Wind Inc.
• IPP partner: Capstone Infrastructure
• First Nation partner: Lower Nicola Indian Band
• Project size (MW): 143
• Regional system: South Interior West

Nilhts’I Ecoener Project

• Proponent: Nilhts’I Ecoener Energy Corp
• IPP partner: Ecoener
• First Nations partner: Lheidli T´enneh
• Project Size (MW): 140
• Regional system: Central Interior

Nithi Mountain Wind Project

• Proponent: General Partnership
• IPP partner: Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
• First Nation partner: Stellat’en First Nation
• Project size (MW): 200
• Regional system: North Coast

Stewart Creek Wind Project

• Proponent: Stewart Creek Power Inc.
• IPP partner: Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
• First Nation partner: West Moberly First Nation
• Project Size (MW): 200
• Regional system: Peace

Taylor Wind Project

• Proponent: Taylor Wind Project Inc.
• IPP partner: EDF Renewables
• First Nation partner: Saulteau First Nations
• Project size (MW): 200
• Regional system: Peace

Key Takeaways:

• The Government of Canada announced over $1 billion in funding to expand New Brunswick’s clean electricity capacity. This includes support for Indigenous-led wind projects, a coal-to-biomass conversion of the Belledune Generating Station, and the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) at Point Lepreau Nuclear Generation Station.
• Substantial funding is directed toward Indigenous communities, including $1 billion for wind projects and $25 million for the Neweg Energy wind project in partnership with the New Brunswick Mi’kmaq First Nations. Additionally, $500,000 is allocated for technical support to seven Mi’kmaq Nations in New Brunswick to enable participation in clean energy initiatives.
• The federal and provincial governments are collaborating on Clean Electricity Regulations and other initiatives to decarbonize New Brunswick’s energy system while ensuring reliability and affordability. These efforts aim to create jobs, foster economic growth, and position the province for a net-zero future.

The Whole Story:

The Government of Canada has announced over $1 billion in additional investments to ensure that as New Brunswick’s electricity demands grow substantially over the coming years, the province meets demand with clean electricity that is both reliable and affordable. NB Power estimates the following investments could help power up to 140,000 homes.

Officials noted that currently more than 80% of Canada’s electricity is generated from clean sources like hydropower, wind, solar, and nuclear – and it’s a big part of the reason why companies are choosing to invest in Canadian workers and business.

The investment details include:

• Up to $1 billion in federal support for up to 670 megawatts of Indigenous-led wind projects through the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) Clean Power priority sector and Indigenous Equity Initiative as well as Natural Resources Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways program (SREPs).
• $25 million from SREPs for the 25-megawatt Neweg Energy wind project, a partnership with the New Brunswick Mi’kmaq First Nations.
• $500,000 to the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council to provide seven Mi’kmaq Nations in New Brunswick resources and technical support and enable direct participation in clean energy opportunities.
• A commitment from Canada to work with New Brunswick and NB Power to support the conversion of the Belledune Generating Station from coal-fired power to biomass.
• $1.6 million from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to further investigate the conversion through engineering and planning studies, this is in addition to a previously announced $2 million from ACOA to evaluate different biomass fuel options.
• $25 million to NB Power for predevelopment work for up to 600 megawatts in new small modular reactor (SMR) capacity at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generation Station through NRCan’s Electricity Predevelopment Program.
• $1.3 million to NB Power for predevelopment work on the modified Atlantic Loop transmission line between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through NRCan’s Electricity Predevelopment program.

The Ministers also announced that the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick have reached a common understanding on the forthcoming Clean Electricity Regulations that will provide the flexibilities needed to enable New Brunswick’s electricity system to grow and decarbonize all while ensuring it will be affordable, reliable, and non-emitting.

The federal and provincial governments, in collaboration with First Nations partners, have already been partnering through the New Brunswick Regional Table to identify and accelerate shared economic priorities for a net-zero future in the province’s energy and resource sectors. Investments announced today demonstrate the commitment to continue to collaborate and to take action to grow and decarbonize the electricity grid.

“Canadians are leaders in generating clean electricity that powers our communities and beyond,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “Today’s shared commitment with New Brunswick is a clear signal that investing in clean electricity in New Brunswick creates jobs, drives economic growth, and positions New Brunswickers to take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by the clean economy, now and into the future. The federal government is a partner as we build a 21st century economy, underpinned by a clean electricity system, that places affordability and reliability at its core.”

Key Takeaways:

• Bio Graphene Solutions’ graphene-enhanced concrete admixture reduces cement content by 10% in standard commercial mixes.
• The pilot concrete pour, completed in collaboration with EllisDon Corporation and Tomlinson Ready Mix, demonstrated their product in a real-world construction setting, validating lab results and showcasing its potential for broad industry adoption.
• BGS says its mixture is the only solution capable of reducing cement content by up to 20% without compromising performance.

The Whole Story:

Bio Graphene Solutions has completed a pilot commercial concrete pour with EllisDon Corporation, a global construction services and technology company, and Tomlinson Ready Mix, one of Ottawa’s largest concrete providers and part of the Tomlinson Group of Companies.  

The company’s proprietary graphene-enhanced admixture was integrated seamlessly into the operational flow of a Tomlinson Ready Mix 32MPa-C-2 sidewalk concrete pour at an active construction project managed by EllisDon’s Ottawa team. The biographene-enhanced concrete mix utilized 10% less cement than the control mix design without sacrificing the fresh properties of the concrete.

Bio Graphene stated that the pilot testing is a critical milestone in demonstrating the in-situ performance of the biographene-enhanced mix, validating lab trials which have shown that the concrete achieves the 28-day targeted strength of 32MPa by 7 days. Their team added that the real-world applicability and benefits of the biographene-enhanced admixture are many, providing measurable material cost savings and significant embodied carbon reductions – as much as 280kgCO2e¹ per average concrete truckload.

“EllisDon strives to be at the forefront of how sustainability is changing the face of construction and what’s expected for the future of the industry,” dsif Jolene Mclaughlin, Vice President of Climate and Sustainability of EllisDon. “The implementation of innovative and new technologies, like BGS’s graphene admix solution, is a great example of how material science can drive meaningful change in embodied carbon reductions. Implementing innovations like these on our worksites can enable our company to develop some of the most sustainable concrete structures in Canada, in collaboration with our subtrade partners. We look forward to the successful completion of this project with BGS and our other partners.”

In 2023, BGS announced the development of a 100% “green” graphene-enhanced admixture for commercial concrete mix designs. Developed primarily to tackle the removal of cement (the binding material in a concrete mix that also contributes to more than 8% of the global CO2 emissions), the Company’s graphene-enhanced admixture can remove up to 20% of the cement content in concrete without sacrificing the compressive strength performance of the overall concrete product. BGS believes its product is the only admixture solution in the market that can facilitate the removal of cement and still provide significant cost and CO2 savings to its potential customers in non-specialized commercial concrete mix designs (30MPa to 50MPa mixtures).

“We are extremely fortunate to have the ability to work with partners like EllisDon and Tomlinson who support innovative and new technologies,” said David Fisher, CEO of BGS. “In a market that’s typically resistant to change, it’s important to highlight that there are sustainable and cost-effective solutions, like our graphene admixture product, that can provide meaningful value to the construction supply chain in a non-invasive manner. We look forward to the success of this pilot project and further working with EllisDon and Tomlinson in supporting commercial adoption of BGS’s graphene products overtime.”

Key Takeaways:

• Alberta’s government is conducting a provincewide study of over 100 potential sites for dams, reservoirs, and other infrastructure to address growing water demands from communities and industries, as well as mitigate risks of droughts and floods.
• The study will assess hydrology, dam design, environmental, social, and cultural impacts, as well as the costs and benefits of water storage infrastructure to ensure responsible and cost-effective solutions.
• This initiative, alongside feasibility studies for specific reservoirs and a $125 million Drought and Flood Protection Program, is part of Alberta’s broader effort to modernize its water management system and ensure long-term water security.

The Whole Story:

Alberta’s government is undertaking a provincewide review of potential sites for dams and other infrastructure to help meet future water needs.

Officials explained that as Alberta’s population and economy grow, demand for water from communities and industry increases at the same time. Due to the province’s prairie geography and climate, the amount of precipitation received varies a lot from season-to-season and year-to-year. Creating more dams, reservoirs and other infrastructure is one way to potentially help capture and store more water.

Alberta’s government has now begun a provincewide study looking at more than 100 locations across the province. This study will be used to help the government plan long-term ways to maximize Alberta’s water supply and reduce the risk of future droughts and floods.

Dams, reservoirs and other water storage infrastructure play a vital role in irrigation, drought management, water security, flood protection, and supporting a healthy environment. At the same time, they can be costly to build and affect local ecosystems and environments.

The provincial study will identify, review and assess potential locations where water storage infrastructure could be most effectively developed to help meet the province’s long-term water needs. Various sites will be assessed based on new and existing information regarding hydrology, dam design, environmental, social and cultural impacts, and the potential costs, benefits and risks or uncertainties for each site.

Water is a precious resource and one that is essential for agriculture. Our government is always prepared to help ensure our producers and processors have the water they need to help put food on the tables of Albertans and others around the world. Now, more than ever, we need to do more with the water we have. Identifying potential opportunities for new reservoirs will help continue to grow our province and ensure our agriculture industry has the water it needs.

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

The Water Storage Opportunities Study is expected to be completed in 2025. Alberta’s government will use the results to help identify the most effective options to improve water storage in a responsible and cost-effective way. Some of the top-ranked sites may be selected to undergo a full feasibility study in the future. 

This study is part of the Alberta government’s work to modernize the province’s water system and make every drop count. Along with this study, the province has feasibility studies in progress for the Ardley reservoir and Eyremore dams, launched the $125 million Drought and Flood Protection Program, and is currently engaging on potential ways to increase water availability and improve the water management system in Alberta.

Key Takeaways

• Carbon Upcycling’s CO2-enhanced concrete mix demonstrated significant environmental benefits, reducing cement use by 12.5% while increasing strength by 28% at 28 days and 32% at 56 days.
• A three-year study, conducted on an active Minnesota highway by Carbon Upcycling, MnDOT, and the NRRA, rigorously tested 16 concrete mixtures.
• With over 3,000 tonnes of low-carbon cement deployed since 2021, Carbon Upcycling is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable construction.

The Whole Story:

A recent study shows Canada’s low-carbon cement producers have a winning formula for road construction. 

Carbon Upcycling Technologies, Inc. (Carbon Upcycling), a Calgary-based decarbonization and carbon capture & utilization (CCU) company, along with, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) has successfully completed a three-year study on the use of low-carbon cement in highways.

The study, managed by Sutter Engineering LLC and sponsored by the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA), rigorously tested 16 unique concrete mixtures in real-world conditions on an active Minnesota highway to identify options that could reduce the carbon footprint of infrastructure without sacrificing strength or durability.

Completed in early 2024, the study aimed to find materials that could significantly lower the carbon footprint of concrete paving without compromising durability. Carbon Upcycling’s CO2-enhanced mix achieved a 12.5% reduction in cement content while matching the workability of traditional concrete, allowing seamless handling, placement, and setting times for construction crews.

Carbon Upcycling officials say these findings provide valuable data to guide future low-carbon infrastructure projects across North America, as the seamless integration into existing workflows offers a drop-in, low-carbon alternative without compromising ease of use or performance.

The study revealed significant performance and environmental benefits of Carbon Upcycling’s concrete mix:

Increased Strength: 28% stronger at 28 days and 32% stronger at 56 days compared to the advanced control concrete.

Reduced Cement Use: The CCU process allowed a 12.5% reduction in cementitious material, effectively reducing both carbon emissions and material costs.

 “Infrastructure is the very foundation of a sustainable future, and at Carbon Upcycling we’re committed to creating materials that support this vision while establishing a secure, stable North American supply chain,” said Apoorv Sinha, CEO of Carbon Upcycling. “Our collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation highlights how Carbon Upcycling can transform captured emissions into local materials that strengthen our infrastructure. By focusing on resilience and sustainability, we’re contributing to a vision where our essential structures are clean and built to last.”

Carbon Upcycling partnered with BURNCO to deploy and test 140 m³ of its CCU-enhanced concrete mix, monitored by Larry Sutter, Principal Engineer at Sutter Engineering LLC, for strength, workability, and environmental impact on a Minnesota highway.

“Carbon Upcycling submitted a very impressive mixture design to the trial,” said Larry Sutter, MnDOT’s Principal Engineer and the project’s technical manager. “Their material not only achieved the highest reduction in cementitious content among all submissions but also demonstrated remarkable strength. By embedding CO2 and reducing the reliance on portland cement, Carbon Upcycling’s technology addresses one of the concrete industry’s most pressing challenges—lowering its carbon footprint as global demand for cement is expected to double by 2050. This project data will be invaluable as the industry works toward its 2030 CO2 reduction targets.”

Since 2021, Carbon Upcycling has deployed over 3,000 tonnes of low-carbon cement and has attracted investment from some of the world’s largest cement industry players such as Cemex, CRH and Titan Cement. 

Key Takeaways:

• The Ontario government is proposing its first-ever integrated energy plan, coordinating various energy sources like electricity, natural gas, and other fuels to ensure affordability and support its pro-growth agenda.
• The Affordable Energy Act will emphasize nuclear energy as a key zero-emission source to meet rising energy demands, along with expanding other energy resources like wind, solar, and bioenergy.
• The government plans to expand energy efficiency programs to help families save money and facilitate the growth of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by reducing regulatory barriers and connection costs.

The Whole Story:

The Ontario government is introducing legislation that would, if passed, enable the implementation of the province’s first-ever integrated energy plan which will ensure the entire energy sector is aligned behind the government’s pro-growth agenda.

The Affordable Energy Act would also prioritize zero-emissions nuclear energy as the province’s grid expands, support the government’s significant expansion of energy efficiency programs to help families save money, help get more electric vehicle (EV) chargers built and reduce “last-mile” connection costs for electricity infrastructure.

“Energy demand is increasing quickly and our government will deliver the province’s first integrated energy plan to ensure we build for the future, with a focus on keeping energy rates affordable,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “The Affordable Energy Act lays the groundwork for large-scale energy expansion, more affordable homes, expanded energy efficiency programs and more – all focused on saving families their hard earned money. That is why we have and will continue to vigorously oppose the punitive Carbon Tax.”

Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power outlines the challenges facing the province as demand for energy continues to rapidly grow, as well as the government’s all-of-the-above approach to meet this demand. The implementation of that vision starts with legislative changes through The Affordable Energy Act that would:

• Establish the province’s first integrated energy plan: Introduce a new framework for integrated energy planning that would coordinate all energy resources, including electricity, natural gas and other fuels to ensure energy remains affordable.
• Prioritize nuclear power in generation build out: For the first time in legislation the province will prioritize the role of reliable, affordable and zero-emissions nuclear power generation to meet future increases in demand.
• Expand energy efficiency programs: Ahead of the government introducing a significant expansion of energy efficiency programs to save families and businesses money the government is expanding the mandate of the Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) so they can deliver programs to help even more customers reduce costs and emissions.
• Get more EV chargers built: Supporting the adoption of EVs by providing EV charging companies with a regulatory environment that supports and enables further deployment of EV charging stations.
• Reduce costs for last mile connections: Provide government with new regulation-making authority that would work to ensure more timely and cost-effective electricity system connection for new homes and industry.

According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, the province’s demand for electricity is forecast to increase by 75% by 2050 – the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. There is also continued demand for other fuels including gasoline and natural gas, that currently play a critical role in powering vehicles, heating homes and attracting new jobs in manufacturing, including the automotive industry and agriculture.

“Over the past six years our government has restored our province’s clean and affordable energy advantage,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries. “This is enabling unprecedented investments from electric vehicle and battery manufacturing to critical minerals and green steel.”

The Affordable Energy Act and Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future build on significant initiatives already underway to meet the needs of the province for the next decade and beyond, including:

• The largest competitive procurement in Ontario’s history – Advancing competitive procurement for new energy resources to meet Ontario’s growing energy needs.
• Nuclear energy – Advancing reliable, affordable and clean nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power, four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting Ontario Power Generation’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.
• New transmission infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmissions lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.
• Keeping costs down – Launching new energy efficiency programs that would build on the government’s $342 million expansion of existing energy efficiency programs which are helping families and businesses reduce their electricity use so they can save money on their energy bills.
• Additional Competitive Procurements – A successful re-contracting of existing resources at about a 30 per cent discount and planning more competitive procurements for non-emitting electricity resources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, and bioenergy.

Clean power might be beneath our feet.

Canada is making significant strides in geothermal energy, leveraging its diverse geological conditions to develop both power generation and heating solutions. From large-scale power facilities to innovative district heating systems, these projects showcase a wide range of applications for geothermal energy.

Indigenous leadership, government support, and private sector partnerships play crucial roles in advancing geothermal initiatives that blend sustainability with economic development. The following projects exemplify Canada’s growing commitment to clean energy, innovation, and community involvement.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Expansion

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is undergoing a significant expansion, which includes the integration of one of Canada’s largest geothermal energy systems. The project involves a 300,000-square-foot terminal addition and a state-of-the-art Central Utilities Building that features a geoexchange system. Hundreds of vertical boreholes and 841,000 feet of HDPE geothermal piping have been installed, enhancing the airport’s heating and cooling capabilities through sustainable geothermal energy.

This expansion, located in Richmond, British Columbia, is a joint effort between YVR, local contractors, and environmental consultants, working to meet the airport’s sustainability goals.

DEEP Earth Energy Production Project

DEEP, located near Torquay in southeast Saskatchewan, is set to become Canada’s first large-scale geothermal power facility. DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. is developing a 25 MW geothermal power plant, with the potential for expansion to over 200 MW. The project uses production and injection wells drilled to depths of 3.5 km, leveraging Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology. SaskPower has signed a 5 MW power purchase agreement, and Natural Resources Canada is providing support.

In a groundbreaking partnership, DEEP has teamed up with Oppy, a major grower and distributor of fresh produce, to establish an integrated greenhouse, harnessing geothermal energy for both clean power generation and sustainable agriculture.

Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal Project

The Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal Project, located in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, is an ambitious initiative led by the Fort Nelson First Nation, with support from Natural Resources Canada. Formerly known as the Clarke Lake Geothermal Project, it aims to utilize geothermal energy from existing gas well data to provide clean, renewable energy to the region. The geothermal resource is expected to meet the region’s electrical needs entirely.

In addition to power generation, the project includes plans for an industrial greenhouse, creating jobs and fostering energy sovereignty for the Fort Nelson First Nation.

Swan Hills Geothermal Power Project

The Swan Hills Geothermal Power Project, located in Alberta, became commercially operational in March 2023. Developed by FutEra Power, a subsidiary of Razor Energy Corp., this 21-MW facility uniquely combines geothermal energy with co-produced hydrocarbon fluids from an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation. It leverages existing infrastructure, tapping into 84 wells to generate clean energy from water heated to 90°C–100°C.

The project is a collaboration between Razor Energy Corp., FutEra Power, and other industry stakeholders, highlighting the potential for hybrid geothermal solutions in Alberta’s energy transition.

Alberta No. 1 Project

The Alberta No. 1 Project, located near Grande Prairie, Alberta, is a significant geothermal initiative aiming to generate 5 MW of power for the grid. Led by Terrapin Geothermics, the project will also provide heat to a nearby industrial park, supporting local industry with sustainable energy solutions. Alberta No. 1 has received substantial funding from Natural Resources Canada, highlighting the government’s commitment to advancing geothermal energy in the country.

This project stands out for its potential to stimulate local economic growth and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Springhill, Nova Scotia Heat Pump System

The Springhill Heat Pump System is a unique geothermal project located in Nova Scotia, repurposing a former coal mine for geothermal energy production. Warm water from the abandoned mine is used to heat portions of the Springhill Industrial Park through eight heat pump systems.

This innovative project demonstrates how geothermal energy can be harvested from non-traditional sources, such as abandoned mines. Approximately 3% of Nova Scotia’s energy is now generated from geothermal sources, and the Springhill system is a key example of how regions with historic mining activity can be transformed into hubs for clean energy production.

South Meager Geothermal Project

The South Meager Geothermal Project, located about 60 kilometers northwest of Pemberton, British Columbia, is one of Canada’s most advanced geothermal energy ventures. Developed by Western GeoPower Corp. in its earlier stages, this high-temperature, volcano-hosted project has undergone extensive exploration since the 1970s, including geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies.

With geothermal wells exceeding 230°C and strong permeability zones, the South Meager project holds the potential for significant power generation. The development is expected to supply renewable energy to British Columbia and diversify its energy sources.

Valemount Geothermal Project

Situated near Valemount, British Columbia, the Valemount Geothermal Project is another emerging geothermal initiative in Canada. The project is in the exploratory stage, with initial studies indicating significant potential for electricity production. Once operational, it is expected to provide around 15-20 MW of power.

The Valemount area is geologically favorable due to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, where geothermal heat is readily accessible. This project not only aims to generate renewable power but also plans to provide direct heat to the local community, offering a unique opportunity for sustainable development in the region. The project is backed by Borealis GeoPower, a leading Canadian geothermal company.

Kitselas Geothermal

Located in Terrace, British Columbia, the Terrace Geothermal Project is part of a broader effort to explore the geothermal potential of the region. Developed by Kitselas Geothermal Inc., a partnership between Borealis GeoPower and the Kitselas First Nation, the project focuses on producing both electricity and heat.

The area has shown significant geothermal promise, with preliminary studies confirming high temperatures beneath the surface. The project is expected to supply clean power to local communities and industries, including potential use in district heating systems. This project also highlights the increasing role of First Nations in renewable energy development, fostering both energy independence and economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The Building Material Exchange (BMEx) program, launched by Light House, connects businesses with excess construction materials to those in need of affordable resources, aiming to reduce construction waste on Vancouver Island.
• The construction industry is a major contributor to waste, with 22.7% of landfill waste on Vancouver Island coming from construction and demolition materials. BMEx aims to divert thousands of tonnes of materials from landfills annually, addressing this environmental challenge.
• The program, supported by regional districts and policy changes like the 2024 Hartland Landfill material ban, plans to expand with an online marketplace and events to promote reuse, highlighting its growing influence and potential for innovation in waste management.

The Whole Story:

A new program on Vancouver Island aims to revolutionize the construction industry’s approach to waste management, potentially diverting thousands of tonnes of materials from landfills annually.

The Building Material Exchange (BMEx) program, launched by Vancouver-based non-profit Light House, connects businesses with excess construction materials to those in need of affordable resources.

The free program serves the construction sector between Nanaimo and Victoria, targeting a significant environmental issue. According to a 2022 study, construction and demolition materials accounted for 22.7% of waste at one Vancouver Island landfill.

BMEx has already attracted over 100 registered companies since its launch, with materials such as concrete, asphalt, metal, wood, glass, and fixtures eligible for exchange.

The program is supported by regional districts and aligns with recent policy changes. In 2024, the Capital Regional District banned multiple types of construction materials from the Hartland Landfill.

Light House plans to expand the program with an online marketplace and is organizing “challenge events” in November to showcase innovative reuse ideas.

Construction waste is a significant environmental challenge in Canada, with the industry generating massive amounts of material that often ends up in landfills. According to recent studies, nearly 4 million tonnes of construction materials are sent to landfill annually in Canada, representing an estimated 1.8 million tonnes of embodied carbon. 

In Metro Vancouver alone, approximately 372,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste were disposed of in 2021. The composition of this waste is particularly concerning, with wood comprising 48% of the estimated construction and demolition waste by weight, or about 177,011 tonnes per year. Plastics and asphalt also make up substantial portions of the waste stream. 

Key Takeaways:

• The report noted that to protect infrastructure assets and address the rising strain from increasing population and housing developments, substantial investment is essential.
• It stated that long-term sustainability requires broader support and collaboration. Incentives to pilot new processes and technologies are also needed.
• CCA officials concluded that Canada needs effective policies to ensure infrastructure is built to last. This includes addressing issues like labour shortages, procurement, alternative delivery models, and supply chain challenges.

The Whole Story:

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) released a report emphasizing the urgent need for increased investment and stronger policies to protect Canadians and their critical infrastructure from the increasing threats of climate change.

The report, titled “Climate resilience in construction: Building for a sustainable future“, stresses the importance of building resilient infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events, protect lives, and support community well-being. Recent incidents, like the flooding in Toronto and wildfires in Jasper, show these threats are real and disrupt the everyday lives of Canadians. The association added that Calgary’s broken water main signals even deeper problems with Canada’s aging infrastructure.

“Canada’s infrastructure is the backbone of our communities, but it’s under threats from climate-related disasters,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, CCA President. “With much of our infrastructure aging or in poor condition, we must act now to future-proof our infrastructure and meet our environmental goals.”

The association intends for the new report to serve as the next chapter of a critical national conversation around ensuring infrastructure resilience in the face of a changing climate

The association noted that the construction industry is already working to build sustainably, but it cannot do it alone. Significant investment, strategic planning, and collaboration are needed to build infrastructure that is both resilient and sustainable.

“The construction industry is making progress in reducing our environmental impact,” Gilbert added. “But to reach our net-zero objectives and protect our infrastructure, we need support from both stakeholders and all levels of government.”

Key Takeaways:

• Linde is investing over $2 billion to build and operate a large-scale clean hydrogen and atmospheric gases facility in Alberta, supporting Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero Project.
• The facility will utilize autothermal reforming combined with Linde’s proprietary HISORP carbon capture technology to produce clean hydrogen, capturing over 2 million metric tons of CO2 annually for sequestration.
• The collaboration between Linde and Dow aligns with both companies’ strategies to decarbonize operations, with Linde supplying clean hydrogen to Dow’s net-zero emissions ethylene cracker, making it the largest clean hydrogen production facility in Canada.

The Whole Story:

Linde has signed a long-term agreement for the supply of clean hydrogen to Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero Project. The company will invest more than $2 billion to build, own and operate a world-scale integrated clean hydrogen and atmospheric gases facility in Alberta.

Linde’s new on-site complex will use autothermal reforming, combined with Linde’s proprietary HISORP carbon capture technology, to produce clean hydrogen and will also recover hydrogen contained in off-gases from Dow’s ethylene cracker. In the first phase, Linde will supply the clean hydrogen, nitrogen and other services to support Dow’s world-first net-zero emissions integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives site. Linde’s new facility will also supply clean hydrogen to existing and new industrial customers seeking to decarbonize their operations. In total, Linde’s complex will capture carbon dioxide emissions for sequestration in excess of 2 million metric tons each year.

Upon completion in 2028, Linde’s new complex in Alberta will be the largest clean hydrogen production facility in Canada, and one of the largest globally. It will be Linde’s largest single investment and its second new world-scale clean hydrogen project, following the announcement of its project to supply clean hydrogen to a major blue ammonia project in the U.S. Gulf Coast.

“Linde is helping to build a more sustainable future,” said Sanjiv Lamba, CEO, Linde. “This landmark project aligns with our strategy of developing high-quality projects with secured off-take. Our technology, experience and execution are enabling the transition to a cleaner economy. We are proud to partner with Dow in its mission to decarbonize its Fort Saskatchewan site and are appreciative of the support of the Province of Alberta and the Federal Government.”

“Our business strategy to decarbonize our assets and drive growth while enabling higher shareholder returns is central to Dow’s long-term success,” said Jim Fitterling, chair and CEO, Dow. “Having support from collaborators and partners across the value chain is essential. We’re glad to have Linde as a partner on this industry-leading project.”

Key Takeaways:

• BC Hydro will invest approximately $1 billion in the Fraser Valley over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid.
• The projects are part of BC Hydro’s updated 10-Year Capital Plan, which includes $36 billion in infrastructure investments across B.C.
• Major projects include an $800 million expansion of transmission capacity in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Hope, and $75 million to increase the capacity of substations. Additionally, $80 million will be invested in dam safety improvements and equipment upgrades at key generating stations.

The Whole Story:

BC Hydro will construct approximately $1 billion worth of capital projects in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission, Hope and Harrison Hot Springs over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid.

“Expanding electricity capacity in the Fraser Valley will help people and businesses get the clean and affordable power that they need to run their homes and keep the economy growing,” said Premier David Eby. “These new projects will make sure B.C. continues to be a leader helping people switch from fossil fuels to clean energy while creating thousands of good-paying jobs.”

In January 2024, the province announced BC Hydro’s updated 10-Year Capital Plan, which contains $36 billion in regional and community infrastructure investments in B.C., a 50% increase in investments over its previous capital plan. These new construction projects are forecast to support 10,500 to 12,500 jobs annually on average, as well as increase and maintain BC Hydro’s capital investments, as major projects like Site C are completed.

The plan reflects growing demand for electricity across sectors due to population growth and housing construction, increased industrial development, and people and businesses switching from fossil fuels to clean electricity, among other factors.

“In growing regions like the Fraser Valley where we are seeing substantial population growth, and residential, commercial and industrial electrification, we are embarking on significant upgrades to our electricity system, including investments in our substations, transmission lines and distribution network to ensure we can continue to provide reliable and clean electricity to our customers,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “We are also investing millions on dam safety improvements at generating stations in the area and making important changes to our customer connections process to speed up timelines for newly constructed homes and buildings.”

According to the province, the Fraser Valley is one of the fastest growing regional districts in B.C. Population growth along with increasing residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural electrification is set to drive up energy needs. To meet this surge in demand, approximately $1 billion is being invested in several projects, including:

• Approximately $800 million to expand transmission capacity, especially within the systems serving Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hope.
• Approximately $75 million to expand capacity of the following substations:
  • Atchelitz substation in Chilliwack, powering up to 14,000 new homes by 2027;
  • Clayburn substation in Abbotsford, powering up to 17,500 additional homes by 2028; and
  • Mount Lehman substation in Abbotsford, powering up to 35,000 more homes by 2029.
• Approximately $80 million will be invested in dam safety improvements and equipment upgrades at Wahleach, Stave Falls and Ruskin generating stations.
• Twenty-five million dollars will be set aside for extending underground infrastructure and expanding distribution capacity in Mission, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

BC Hydro also recently launched a call for power to acquire approximately 3,000 gigawatt hours per year (GWh/y) of clean electricity. This is BC Hydro’s first competitive call for power in more than 15 years and will add 5% to its current supply. Officials stated that it will be the first in a series of calls for power as BC Hydro requires more power to electrify the province.

Key Takeaways:

• BC Hydro plans to invest approximately $500 million in capital projects over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid in the North Shore and Sea to Sky corridor, supporting growing electrification and infrastructure needs in the region.
• The construction projects are part of BC Hydro’s broader 10-Year Capital Plan, which will support an estimated 10,500 to 12,500 jobs annually and reflects a 50% increase in infrastructure investments compared to the previous plan.
• Projects include upgrades to transmission lines, substations, and generation facilities to ensure reliable and clean energy supply.

The Whole Story:

BC Hydro will construct approximately $500-million worth of capital projects in the North Shore and Sea to Sky corridor over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid, and provide clean power for homes, businesses, and growing electrification and transportation needs.

“We must build out B.C.’s electrical system like never before to power our homes and businesses, to power a growing economy and to power our future,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “Throughout the North Shore and the Sea to Sky corridor, and in communities across B.C., these construction projects will create thousands of good jobs over the next decade and ensure that people have access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity when they need it and where they need it.”

In January , the province announced BC Hydro’s updated 10-Year Capital Plan, which contains $36 billion in regional and community infrastructure investments across B.C., a 50% increase in investments over its previous capital plan. The new construction projects are forecast to support 10,500 to 12,500 jobs on average annually and will increase and maintain BC Hydro’s capital investments as major projects like Site C are completed.

BC Hydro stated that the plan reflects growing demand for electricity across sectors due to population growth and housing construction, increased industrial development, and people and businesses switching from fossil fuels to clean electricity, among other factors.

“In growing regions like the North Shore and the Sea to Sky corridor, where we are seeing substantial housing, building, transportation and industrial growth, we are embarking on significant upgrades to our electricity system,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “It includes investments in our transmission lines, substations, and distribution network, as well as investments to improve dam safety and replace aging or end-of-life equipment to ensure we can continue to provide reliable and clean electricity to our customers. We are also making important changes to our customer connections process to speed up timelines for newly constructed homes and buildings.”

The city and district of North Vancouver, district of West Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton are witnessing significant growth across residential, commercial, transportation and industrial sectors. To meet the growing energy needs of these communities, approximately $500 million is being invested in several projects, including:

• completing the new Capilano substation upgrade, which provides capacity for an additional 10,000-17,500 homes;
• adding capacity at Squamish substation to support growth in the region;
• replacing end-of-life equipment at Pemberton and Lynn Valley substations to maintain reliability of service in the area;
• replace transmission infrastructure between Walters substation and Deep Cove substation in North Vancouver;
• upgrading the Cheakamus generating facility to address seismic vulnerabilities and reliability risks; and
• completing voltage-conversion projects at the Glenmore, Norgate and Capilano substations, extending more than 10 kilometres of major underground infrastructure and adding capacity to serve the new and expanded Harry Jerome Recreation Centre in North Vancouver.

BC Hydro’s 10-Year Capital Plan is a key part of Power Our Future: B.C.’s clean-energy strategy. The strategy focuses on building an economy powered by clean energy, creating new jobs and opportunities, and keeping electricity affordable.

BC Hydro also recently launched a call for power to acquire approximately 3,000 gigawatt hours per year (GWh/y) of clean electricity. This was BC Hydro’s first competitive call for power in more than 15 years and will add 5% to its current supply. It is the first in a series of calls for power as BC Hydro requires more power to electrify B.C.’s growing economy and reduce harmful pollution.

Key Takeaways:

• Lafarge and Hyperion are collaborating on a pilot project for a new technology called the Tandem Carbon Recycling System. This system captures carbon emissions from a cement plant and transforms them into high-performance minerals for sustainable building materials like low-carbon concrete.
• The pilot system has a capture capacity of 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year,with the potential to be scaled up tenfold in the next year. This could lead to a major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the cement industry.
• The captured carbon is converted into minerals that enhance the strength and density of concrete. This paves the way for the development of more sustainable building materials with a lower carbon footprint.

The Whole Story:

Lafarge Canada Inc., a member of Holcim Group, and Canadian carbon technology innovator Hyperion Global Energy Corp, are launching Hyperion’s patented Tandem Carbon Recycling System pilot.

The process advances circularity by capturing and transforming carbon emissions into high-performance mineral components used to make sustainable building solutions such as low-carbon concrete and other materials. 

The pilot project, currently in operation at Lafarge’s Bath Cement Plant in Ontario, involves the testing of Hyperion’s net-zero mineral solutions for advanced concrete such as Lafarge’s ECOPact, the broadest range of low-carbon concrete globally, which can lower embedded carbon between 30-90% compared to standard concrete without any compromise in performance.

The joint effort will further develop and scale Hyperion’s proprietary Tandem Carbon Recycling technology, a drop-in system that captures and transforms waste carbon emissions into high purity minerals that permanently store carbon. Hyperion says its novel reactive mineralization process achieves up to 98% capture efficiency of carbon dioxide emissions, producing innovative mineral components that enhance the density and strength of concrete, among other industrial uses.

“Our collaboration with Hyperion marks an exciting milestone in our decarbonization journey and the advancement of our circular construction technologies,” said David Redfern, president and CEO of Lafarge (Eastern Canada). “We look forward to advancing our Net Zero strategy by leveraging carbon utilization technology like Hyperion’s, enabling us to further reduce CO2 emissions from our operations while at the same time producing innovative and sustainable building solutions.”

The pilot currently has the capacity to remove up to 1,000t CO2/year from plant operations, with potential to scale the system 10X over the next year. This represents a 500% scale-up of Hyperion’s novel technology since its original prototype as part of the global Carbon XPRIZE competition. The current system was fully manufactured in Ontario, working with local suppliers and trades, along with Hyperion’s team of industrial engineers.

“Working together with an innovative partner like Lafarge on this exciting pilot project allows us to apply our proprietary carbon recycling technology to large-scale industries, and make an immediate, measurable reduction on carbon emissions. At the same time, we are advancing our vision to offer a scalable and affordable decarbonization solution for industry, and a market-driven profit incentive on the cost of carbon removal,” said Heather Ward, CEO and Co-Founder of Hyperion.

Key Takeaways:

• The CIB is providing a $100 million loan to finance sustainable building retrofits.
• GDI’s subsidiaries Ainsworth and Énergère will provide turnkey design/build retrofit services.
• Each building is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 30% annually, for an average of 37% across the project portfolio.
• The work is expected to support approximately 500 jobs in the trades sector.

The Whole Story:

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has reached financial close on a $100 million investment with GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc. (GDI). The financing supports deep energy retrofits in aging buildings across Canada to help reduce their environmental impact.

GDI has formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to finance the capital costs of the retrofits which will include the CIB’s investment with the remainder funded through an equity investment by GDI and third parties. GDI’s wholly owned subsidiary Ainsworth (Ainsworth) and its subsidiary, Énergère will source energy projects and provide complete turnkey design/build services. The companies will offer initial energy audits, energy modelling, system design, installation, commissioning, measurement and ongoing energy management, data analytics and energy optimisation.

Ainsworth, GDI’s technical services business segment, alongside Énergère, an energy services company have the capacity and experience to provide their clients with tangible solutions to accelerate the decarbonization of buildings.

Each project carried out by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will vary in scale and approach. Ainsworth’s turnkey energy services will provide their clients with deep energy retrofit solutions to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. Carbon reduction measures include fuel switching, HVAC upgrades, transitioning to clean and renewable power sources like solar generation, electrical vehicle charging and energy storage facilities.

Once all retrofits are complete, it is estimated that approximately 44,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) will be reduced per year. In addition, the projects are expected to support approximately 500 jobs in the trades sector.

The investment is part of the CIB’s Building Retrofits Initiative which has committed over $1.2 billion towards financing sustainable retrofits. Buildings account for around 18% of Canada’s total GHG emissions. Investments from the CIB help to prioritize and accelerate building retrofits to help meet Canada’s climate change goals.

“No one can reduce the environmental impact of aging buildings across the country on their own,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing. “This requires the public and private sectors coming together. We are proud to announce this agreement today that is a shining example of such a partnership, and is one that will help Canada reach net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Key Takeaways:

• The project represents a significant advancement in ATCO’s and Alberta’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The captured CO2 from industrial facilities will be permanently stored underground.
• The facility is designed as a multi-phase project with initial storage capacity secured by Shell’s existing carbon capture project. Future development will cater to the needs of ATCO and Shell, with additional space available for other industrial emitters in the region.
• The Atlas Hub will leverage the experience and technology from Shell’s Quest CCS project.

The Whole Story:

ATCO EnPower and its partner Shell Canada Limited have decided to proceed with the first phase of the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub.

ATCO stated that the investment in this multi-phase, open-access carbon storage hub is a major milestone in its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The facility will be located east of Edmonton and able to store industrial emissions from the Alberta Industrial Heartland region.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant step forward in Alberta’s energy transition. Carbon capture and storage is a critical component of our successful energy future,” said Bob Myles, chief operating officer, ATCO EnPower. “ATCO EnPower is actively working across all aspects of the energy transition value chain, and collaborative efforts with government, our partners and local communities have been instrumental in advancing this initiative.”

ATCO EnPower and Shell are 50/50 partners in the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub, which is located in the middle of Alberta’s energy and petrochemical sector. The first phase of the Atlas project is planned to be operational by 2028, anchored by CO2 volumes from Shell’s Polaris carbon capture project.

Future development of Atlas, which is subject to a future investment decision, will be aimed at meeting both ATCO EnPower and Shell’s carbon storage needs, with remaining capacity available for third-party emitters through open access.

The Atlas Carbon Storage Hub is integral to ATCO’s decarbonization and ESG targets. The facility is expected to provide a resource for emitters in the Alberta Industrial Heartland to reduce both their carbon emissions and carbon tax liability.

The Atlas Hub plans to leverage the lessons learned from Quest CCS, which was built and is operated by Shell at the Scotford upgrader near Edmonton. The Quest project originated as a collaboration between Shell Canada, other oil sands producers, and the Canadian and Alberta governments. Following construction, the Quest facility achieved mechanical completion in February 2015

Quest has safely stored over nine million tonnes of CO2 since it began operations in 2015. The project exceeded expectations by capturing and safely storing over 1 million tonnes of CO2 by September 2016, ahead of schedule. Additionally, Shell has made the project’s design and learnings publicly available to promote wider CCS adoption.

Shell’s Quest facility captures carbon dioxide emissions from an oil sands upgrader using a chemical solvent. The captured CO2 is then compressed and transported via pipeline to a deep underground rock formation where it’s safely stored, permanently preventing its release into the atmosphere.

Key Takeaways:

• BC Hydro is investing $725 million over the next decade to upgrade and expand Langley’s electricity grid. This is part of a larger provincial plan with a 50% increase in capital investments.
• The Langley upgrades are designed to address population growth, new housing developments, and a shift towards clean electricity. 
• Investments are also being made in transmission and distribution infrastructure to enable the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain. That work is expected to be complete by spring 2025.

The Whole Story:

BC Hydro will spend approximately $725 million in capital construction throughout Langley over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid and provide clean power for homes and businesses in growing communities.

“We must build out B.C.’s electrical system like never before, to power our homes and businesses, to power a growing economy and to power our future,” said Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon Innovation. “In Langley and communities across B.C., these construction projects will create thousands of good jobs over the next decade and ensure that people have access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity, when they need it and where they need it.”

In January 2024, the Province announced BC Hydro’s updated 10-Year Capital Plan containing $36 billion in regional and community infrastructure investments across B.C., which is a 50% increase in investments over its previous capital plan. These new construction projects are forecast to support 10,500 to 12,500 jobs on average annually, and will increase and maintain BC Hydro’s capital investments as major projects such as the Site C hydroelectric dam are completed.

The plan reflects growing demand for electricity across sectors due to population growth and housing construction, increased industrial development, and people and businesses switching from fossil fuels to clean electricity, among other factors.

We’re powering #LangleyBC with more clean electricity ⚡ Today, Hon. @Josie_Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, alongside Charlotte Mitha, our Executive Vice-President, Operations announced about $725 million in capital projects throughout Langley to… pic.twitter.com/ogzbDPIoPf

— BC Hydro (@bchydro) June 20, 2024

“In growing cities like Langley where we are seeing substantial housing, building, transportation and industrial growth, we are embarking on significant upgrades to our electricity system, including investments in new and expanded substation projects as well as major distribution investments to support underground and overhead infrastructure extensions to ensure we can continue to provide reliable and clean electricity to our customers,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “We are also making important changes to our customer connections process to speed up timelines for newly constructed homes and buildings.”

Langley is experiencing significant growth in the Willoughby, Brookswood and Gloucester neighbourhoods. To meet growth in these areas, BC Hydro is investing in several projects as part its 10-Year Capital Plan, including:

• McLellan substation expansion will be done in two phases that are expected to be in service in 2026 and 2028 and will power an additional 40,000 to 70,000 homes;
• new Campbell Heights substation will be in service by 2032 and will power an additional 20,000 to 35,000 homes;
• new Willoughby-Clayton substation will be in service by 2032 and will power an additional 20,000 to 35,000 homes; and
• major distribution investments to support underground and overhead infrastructure extensions, keeping pace with increased and growing demand in Willoughby-Clayton, Brookswood and Gloucester.

Investments are also being made in transmission and distribution infrastructure to enable the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain. That work is expected to be complete by spring 2025.

Separate from its 10-Year Capital Plan, BC Hydro recently launched a call for power to acquire approximately 3,000 gigawatt hours per year (GWh/y) of clean electricity. This is BC Hydro’s first competitive call for power in more than 15 years and will add 5% to its current supply. This will be the first in a series of calls for power as BC Hydro requires more power to electrify B.C.’s growing economy and reduce harmful pollution.

Building a sterling reputation in the renewable energy sector doesn’t come easy. It takes years of doing things right and building trust. 

For Alltrade Industrial Contractors, its journey to becoming a respected contractor in the field can be traced back to its very inception. Its first major project was performing the electrical scope on a 10MW solar project outside of Ottawa in 2011. From there, the team quickly built up a solid reputation for executing renewable work. Within four years, it had 350 team members working across Ontario, with many focused on utility-scale solar and wind projects during the province’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program.  

“We didn’t know much about the market at that point, but we won the electrical self-perform scope and we took that project on,” said Kevin Ritzmann, Alltrade’s Senior Director, Energy. “We learned a lot, and this was just as the FIT program was launching in Ontario. We didn’t really realize how big that would be for us at the time, but we just focused on doing a good job on this first project.”

Banking Experience

With the FIT program in full swing, Alltrade’s growing skills were in high demand.  

“It seemed like all of these projects came at once due to the funding that came in Ontario. They were all very focused and schedule driven—you had to be able to execute on time,” said Ritzmann. “That was the main driver.”

Its renewables resume today is impressive: Alltrade has worked on over 1GW of utility-scale solar projects in Canada, 500MW of wind projects, and 360MWh of Battery Energy Storage (BESS) projects. Some of the most notable are the 102MW Sollair Solar Project, the 300MW Henvey Inlet Wind Project, and the Elmira BESS Project (Alltrade’s first major BESS project), and its first BESS augmentation project.

One key to Alltrade’s success has been its company culture of empowering workers and giving them the necessary resources to achieve their goals. This cuts down on red tape and allows the agile team to move quickly and keep projects on schedule.    

“We have always been very focused on empowering the people, the team members doing the work by providing the right tools, information, and material,” said Ritzmann. “Most people naturally want to do a good day’s work, so supporting them through the challenges of construction so that they can achieve their personal and professional goals builds trust and loyalty over time.”

Growing a Reputation 

Reputation is everything when it comes to renewable projects. Clients have to trust that their contractor will perform quality work on time. One of the ways Alltrade builds trust is by getting involved early on in a project.  

“We are able to provide guidance and advice as well as show our customers ongoing or completed projects so that they can see our work firsthand,” said Ritzmann.

Over time as projects are completed,this success can enhance a company’s   reputation. 

“Having a strong track record of executing work safely, with a high level of quality, and delivery on time is very important when you are talking to owners,” said Ritzmann. “We have been fortunate to have been on many projects over the last 13 years in this industry. We have seen what works and what doesn’t and have been able to avoid many major challenges by having this experience.”

Getting it Done, Together

Alltrade also doesn’t believe in silos. Instead, the company has adopted a partnership mindset with suppliers and subcontractors; a victory for one is a victory for all. 

“We want everyone to be successful on the project so that it’s a win-win-win for all involved. We want to continue working together on the next project and take all the efficiencies gained and lessons learned and apply them moving forward together as a team.  This approach has proven to be very valuable to us over the years in maintaining a good reputation in the industry.”

Working together is especially critical for renewable energy projects, which can be deceptively complex. Executing takes a detailed understanding of the full project process, from permitting and interconnection to detailed design and long-lead procurement. Thinking quickly is essential when challenges arise.

“Once you actually start on site, you have to maintain that assembly line of installation while facing inevitable material delays and geotechnical challenges,” he said. “Knowing what challenges your client will face and avoiding those pitfalls on the front end as much as possible and working together closely with the owner to collectively come up with innovative solutions is how trust is built.”

The entire process is a carefully orchestrated dance that cannot be interrupted. Using solar as an example, Ritzmann explained that sequencing is critical. The civil work has to go first, the pile foundations next, and then your rack and panel installations follow. If you have a log jam in one area, the entire flow gets backed up and problems compound quickly. 

“Scheduling is very important, making physical space for the work on site is important,” said Ritzmann. “And, of course, you can’t install material that you don’t have, and you can’t order the material without a design.”

That’s where Alltrade’s early involvement and collaboration shine. The team can work together to anticipate any potential interruptions and solve them before they happen. 

“We don’t go into a project crossing our fingers,” said Ritzmann. “We have a plan. If you don’t have one when you hit the site, it’s already too late. It’s very difficult to make that time up once you’re in construction, and it’s very, very expensive.”

If you are looking for a trusted partner, Alltrade offers full turn-key Engineer, Procure,and  Construct (EPC) solutions on utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects up to any system size across Canada. Alltrade offers value by self-performing the electrical scope up to 230kV and above to be able to handle the interconnection process for clients and help manage the overall schedule to complete projects on time. 

Alltrade has experienced estimators, engineering managers, project managers, and construction managers, as well as key superintendents and field supervisors who are involved throughout the construction process.  

Alltrade is supported by its parent company, Barton Malow, which was listed among the top 400 contractors of 2024 by Engineering News-Record (ENR). Barton Malow checks in at No. 19 with $6.4 billion USD in revenue.