Category: Sustainability

Key Takeaways:

• The $50-million pilot project will analyze the energy performance of 20 single family homes and four apartment buildings following a deep energy retrofit.
• The pilot will take an envelope-first approach, improving the building envelope (outer shell) to prevent heat loss and reduce heating demand. This includes upgrades to walls, windows, doors and insulation.
• All buildings have completed the majority of upgrades and construction is now underway in the four apartment buildings. Once complete, each home and building will be tested for one year to determine the energy savings.

The Whole Story:

FortisBC Energy Inc. has embarked on an extensive $50 million pilot project aimed at uncovering the best pathway to reduce energy use in older homes and multifamily housing units. 

Working with partners such as Metro Vancouver Housing and participating customers from across the Lower Mainland and Southern Interior. FortisBC now has 20 single family homes and four apartment buildings participating in a deep energy retrofit pilot. A deep energy retrofit is a comprehensive, whole-home upgrade aimed at reducing energy use by half or more.

During each phase of the multi-year pilot, FortisBC will analyze the energy reductions, customer experience and overall costs. The information gained will be invaluable for industry, policymakers and FortisBC to determine how best to ensure older housing units can continue to meet the needs of families as the province moves towards a net-zero future.

“To our knowledge, this is the largest targeted, real-world study of deep energy-efficiency upgrades in B.C. homes and the information will be invaluable to us and others looking to transform energy use,” said Joe Mazza, vice president, energy supply and resource development, FortisBC. “Determining the most effective path to greatly lower energy use in older homes is a critical way we can help lower emissions while helping customers save money on energy costs.”

FortisBC officials noted that buildings account for just over 10% of B.C.’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To address this, the province has set a target of lowering GHG emissions in the building and communities sector by 59 to 64% of 2007 levels by 2030. However, older homes and apartment buildings pose a complex challenge to achieving those targets because a significant number across B.C. were built before energy efficiency was incorporated into the National Energy Code for Buildings in 1997. With many expected to remain in active use by 2050, they will need to undergo a deep energy retrofit to achieve these targets.

“Metro Vancouver Housing has set targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions from our buildings by 45% (from 2010 levels) over the next 10 years and significantly bring down energy consumption through rehabilitation projects. Reducing emissions from buildings is one of the main ways that Metro Vancouver will reach its goal of becoming a carbon neutral region by 2050,” said George V. Harvie, chair, Metro Vancouver Board of Directors. “Partnering with FortisBC on a deep energy retrofit project offers a way to explore and implement new technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHGs, resulting in a building that’s more resilient and comfortable for tenants.”

The current pilot takes an envelope-first approach, improving the building envelope (outer shell) to prevent heat loss and reduce heating demand. This includes upgrades to walls, windows, doors and insulation. Each home and building will also have its space heating, domestic hot water and ventilation systems upgraded to be as energy efficient as possible. This includes installing new gas heating technologies like dual-fuel hybrid systems or gas heat pumps that have achieved efficiencies of more than 100% in manufacturers’ testing, and determining if this can be replicated in real-word settings.

Each of the participating homes and buildings have now undergone a detailed energy assessment, modelling and design phase and these early indicators show promising results. For example, Metro Vancouver Housing is participating with Manor House, a 1972 three-level apartment building in North Vancouver that provides affordable housing to 50 households. The project is projected to reduce GHG emissions by 66% and energy usage by 56%.

All 20 participating single family homes have completed the majority of upgrades and construction is now underway in the four apartment buildings. Once complete, each home and building will be tested for one year to determine the energy savings.

With FortisBC planning to invest close to $700 million in energy-savings programs over the next four years, the information gained from the pilot will be used for establishing the most effective, affordable ways to lower energy use in existing buildings and will help inform future incentive programs. FortisBC and its industry partners plan to use the findings to determine what to replicate in similar buildings and set benchmarks for future upgrade projects, policy decisions and incentive programs.

Key Takeaways:

• Global building materials supplier Holcim is introducing ECOAsh starting in Western Canada.
• It is a specification-grade Type F fly ash reclaimed from landfills and transformed into a resource for enhancing cement and concrete construction applications.
• ECOAsh is produced using advanced beneficiation technology and proprietary techniques to mine the landfill ash, remove moisture, mill the material, and remove excess carbon.
• As the region shifts away from coal-fired power plants continues, addressing challenges related to sourcing reliable fly ash supplies prompts the exploration of harvesting and beneficiating legacy landfilled ash as a viable replacement, said officials.

The Whole Story:

Holcim North America is rolling out ECOAsh beneficiated ash into its Lafarge Western Canada operations, its first application of the product globally. 

With plans for future expansion into the U.S., Holcim stated that the move demonstrates its dedication to sustainability but also positions the company as an early adopter of innovative technology aimed at decarbonizing the construction industry.

Holcim explained that ECOAsh stands as a high-quality, specification-grade Type F fly ash reclaimed from landfills and transformed into a resource for enhancing cement and concrete construction applications.

“As we continue to build to support growing population demands, the integration of circular building materials such as ECOAsh plays a crucial role in driving our portfolio towards a more sustainable future,” said Toufic Tabbara, Holcim regional head, North America. “By embracing these strategies, we not only provide essential building materials but also establish the foundation for building greener and smarter cities while shaping the trajectory of our industry for generations to come.”

Officials explained that fly ash, known for being a byproduct of coal-fired power plant operations, is extensively used as a supplementary cementitious material. In addition to its performance and economic advantages, fly ash use is beneficial to the environment because it recycles an industrial byproduct and can reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials. 

Holcim noted that as the shift away from coal-fired power plants continues, addressing challenges related to sourcing reliable fly ash supplies prompts the exploration of harvesting and beneficiating legacy landfilled ash as a viable replacement.

“The transformation of landfill materials into high-value fly ash for sustainable building presents an exciting opportunity for our customers and us to build more with less and work towards a net-zero future,” said Brad Kohl, president and CEO of Lafarge, Western Canada. “At Holcim, we are fully dedicated to meeting future market demands by harnessing and enhancing extensive fly ash reserves secured through well-established, long-term sourcing agreements with electric utilities.”

Following extensive landfill ash evaluations, Holcim North America and Geocycle North America’s new state-of-the-art processing facility in Alberta—the first of its kind within Holcim’s global operations—will use advanced beneficiation technology and proprietary techniques to produce fly ash with equivalent performance and more consistent quality compared to any freshly produced Type F fly ash commercially available. The ECOAsh then undergoes rigorous testing in the plant’s certified quality-assurance laboratories to ensure it meets or exceeds regulatory standards for cement and concrete applications.

ECOAsh can be used in a wide range of construction applications, from general buildings to specialized projects like dams and piers. Its ability to improve concrete’s durability and strength makes it suitable for numerous structural components, including foundations, columns, beams, walls, driveways, and walkways.

Commissioned in February, the new ECOAsh processing facility will commence production and the supply of products to customers throughout Western Canada in the first quarter

While constructing a building can pose a multitude of challenges, tearing one down presents its own. With a variety of environmental concerns and even some surprise discoveries, demolition contractors have to be experts in taking a structure down in a way that makes sure the environment is protected and people are kept safe. They are paving the way for the structures of the future.

Clearview

All Vancouverites remember the iconic moment in 2021 when a giant steel barge washed  ashore in English Bay. Western Canadian demolition contractor Clearview was part of the team that chopped up the barge and cleared the beach (sorry, barge fans). The company’s history goes back to 2006, when they began doing small demolitions with an excavator and a wood chip grinder, with a focus on recycling and land clearing. In 2009, the team saw the opportunity to take on new challenges with hazardous materials abatement. Since then, Clearview has grown into a full-service demolition company, capable of taking down the biggest and most complex projects, with a large fleet of heavy equipment and a dedicated team of professional technicians and operators. Their project resume includes several major pulp mills, the Centerm Expansion Project, Playland’s Corkscrew roller coaster and more.

QM Environmental 

Started by Dragons Den star and expert investor Wes Hall, QM Environmental has more than 600 employees in locations across the country and is one of Canada’s leading environmental and industrial services companies. They have worked on projects at Gunnar Mines, Harbour Towers Hotel, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Halifax Shopping Centre, Elbow Park School and more with a focus on protecting the environment. In 2022, the company successfully completed the acquisition of HighPoint Environmental, a Toronto-based environmental services company, as part of its growth strategy.

JMX Demolition

After being incorporated in 2000, JMX swiftly rose to prominence as a national leader in commercial, industrial, and institutional environmental contracting services. With numerous successful projects completed across all provinces in Canada, they started expanding the demolition business to better serve current clientele and support the areas where other national companies are pulling out. One of their most eye-catching tasks was demolishing Vancouver’s 42-storey Empire Landmark Hotel, the tallest demolition in the city’s history. They did this over 21 months, floor-by-floor, using cutting edge robots.

Dallas Watt

Dallas Watt Demo is an industry veteran that has been providing demolition and specialty contracting services since the 1980s. Their services include the complete demolition of any building and/or on-site improvements, selective demolition, and asset recovery for renovations to heritage buildings, residential, hospitality, institutional, commercial, industrial, and warehouse, as well as seismic upgrades and building envelope projects. Dallas Watt is part of the BM Group of Companies, an alliance of integrated companies within the construction sector.

Priestly Demolition

Priestly Demolition is a giant in North American but has stayed true to its family business roots. Founded as Priestly Contracting in 1971 by Vic Priestly, Priestly Demolition Inc. (PDI) was incorporated as a unionized company with 10 employees in 1993. Since that time, PDI has provided demolition, excavation, remediation, hazardous material abatement, and salvage services to the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors of the construction industry in Canada and the United States. Today, it has over 400 employees and operate in the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Calgary and Virginia. And its executive team is still led be the Priestly family. Their team was instrumental in projects like the Gardiner Expressway demolition, the Nipigon River Bridge, Humber Hospital and even parts of the CN Tower. They also produce some of the most epic demolition photos in the industry.

Inflector Environmental Services

Started in an Ottawa basement with Jeffrey Clarke Sr. in 1994, Inflector Environmental Services‘ legacy has carried on with his son, Jeff W. Clarke. Under his leadership, the company grown into the largest environmental services contractor in all of Atlantic Canada with offices in Halifax, N.S. and Moncton, N.B. Part of their growth strategy has been through acquisitions, including Donalco and EnviroBate. The company also caught the eye of Fengate Asset Management, which announced a minority equity investment in Inflector in 2022 to fuel its growth. This month they marked 30 years of doing business. Their project resume includes Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Brockville General Hospital, Toronto Transit Commission: North York Centre and more.

Reputation is everything in construction.

While the technology and complexity of work has changed, the value of a strong reputation has remained. 

For service provider Stormtec Water Management, reputation has connected it with the nation’s largest contractors, won it work on multi-billion dollar mega projects, grown its workforce to more than 90 and carried it to its 20th anniversary. 

“There are thousands and thousands of hours of effort, good days and bad days, that go together to build that reputation. We work as hard as we can to maintain it,” said Chris Jakul, Stormtec’s Director of Regional Operations and a 15-veteran at the company.

Water management services cover a lot, but it essentially comes down to solving any sort of problems water could cause at a construction site while also protecting the environment.

“We extract, move and clean water,” said Jakul. “Our clients are expert builders and expert contractors, but they are not water experts and water can become a huge hindrance to completing work on time and on budget.” 

Building trust

Founded in 2003, Stormtec initially focused on filtering water on residential and commercial developments in the Lower Mainland. Over time, they expanded their capabilities to work on contaminated sites and work with cities on infrastructure projects like sanitary sewer system upgrades requiring temporary bypass solutions. Wherever there was opportunity, they flowed. 

“We have grown organically over the last 20 years, adding services while we perfected existing ones and hiring people to develop those services,” said Jakul. 

They are now fast approaching nearly 2,500 projects under their belt. One of their first big breaks on larger infrastructure work was doing filtration systems for the cut-and-cover portion of the Canada Line Skytrain project in Vancouver.  

“That really raised awareness for us at that time,” said Jakul. “Our type of work was in a really new part of construction. It was very new to have to do more than simply just pump muddy water out of the excavation and let it run down the street to need to filter it. That was a new idea. That really set the stage for us.”

With offices in B.C. and Alberta, as well as a growing reputation for tackling challenging work, their footprint grew. Stormtec’s team went on to work on Calgary West LRT, Confederation Line LRT, Kitchener Waterloo LRT, Pointe Du Bois spillway replacement, Ruskin Dam upgrades and even Canada’s largest current project, the Site C Dam. 

“It’s pretty hard to drive around Vancouver, Burnaby, Calgary or Richmond without seeing new towers we have worked on. In Calgary, especially since 2009, we’ve done probably 95% of the new high-rise development in the city,” said Jakul. “Everybody at Stormtec is like a little kid when we see a big crane or a dump truck or excavator. We’re all geeks when it comes to construction work, so being able to see our part in that finished product is a source of pride.”

While Stormtec is proud of the size and scope of their projects, they are also proud of their impact on the environment. 

“We take our responsibility to return clean water back to the environment very seriously,” said Jakul, fondly recalling the times he has seen water from their projects safely discharged directly back into aquatic habitat.  

Massive growth

In 2003, Art Cote established Stormtec in his garage. Over time, the company proved to be very successful and grew to be a leader in the water treatment industry.  However, Cote realized that changes were necessary to take the business to the next level. In 2014, he decided to seek the help of a consulting firm, Bellrock Benchmarking. The firm was retained to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the business and identify various areas that needed attention, including the need for new leadership.

After a careful evaluation, it was recommended that Stormtec should hire a new President and CEO to replace Cote. Following this recommendation, the company appointed Leonard Firkus as the new President and CEO in 2015. 

“Leonard brought with him a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the business. He quickly implemented new strategies to revamp the company’s operations,” said Cote. “Under his leadership, the company has experienced substantial growth and success. This is thanks to his innovative approach to problem-solving and his ability to motivate the team. The company has been thriving ever since the change in leadership, and it continues to grow and expand its operations.”

This is not an easy feat in the water management sector. 

“The water management industry is very competitive,” explained Jakul. “There’s a high volume of players and I think being around for 20 years proves that we’ve earned it. You’re not given much and we’ve separated ourselves. It proves the quality of our work.”

Stormtec’s team isn’t ready to slow down. They opened new location on Vancouver Island last year and plant to expand their footprint in the region 

“We want to have an Island-based provider giving the same level and quality of service as you get in the larger centers,” said Jakul. “That is really important for us.”

In the coming years, the company’s goal is to triple in size (again), and grow to have permanent operations in more areas.

Being grateful

Reflecting on 20 years, Stormtec’s team plans to use the anniversary as an opportunity to thank its customers and its employees. During the past two decades, some of its biggest customers have been a group that they refer to as the “super generals”. They include PCL, Kiewit, Graham, EllisDon, and Ledcor. Stormtec also noted developers like Centreville, Axiom, Bosa Properties and Embassy also have continued to use their services. 

Despite many years spent working alongside these clients, Stormtec never wants to feel entitled.  

“We will never stop continuing to earn their trust,” said Jakul. “We don’t believe for a second that all of their work is going to come to us because we deserve it. We work on all of their projects as hard as we can to ensure that they want to use us on the next project. we want them to choose us, not to be forced to use us.”

Jakul also thanked Stormtec’s dozens of employees for working long hours and tackling challenging jobs. 

“We ask a lot of our teams during the busiest times of year,” said Jakul. “That’s just part of a cyclical business. That is Construction. During those times they give us everything so it’s not even just thanking them. It’s thanking their families as well for allowing them to put in the hours that are needed.” 

If you are looking for a partner on your project to assist with water management. Get in touch with Stormtec’s team. 

Key Takeaways:

• The Calgary community of Practice provides a space for local professionals working in the building, construction and renovation industry to share information about emissions-neutral construction.
• The effort is a partnership between the Calgary Construction Association, the City of Calgary and Alberta Ecotrust.
• The first Communities of Practice event took place Feb. 28.

The Whole Story:

Professionals in Calgary’s building, construction and renovation industries celebrated the launch of a Calgary Community of Practice that enables information sharing on reducing emissions from buildings. 

The Calgary Community of Practice, part of Emissions-Neutral Buildings Information Exchange (ENBIX), provides a space for local professionals working in the building, construction and renovation industry to share information about emissions-neutral construction. The effort is a partnership between the Calgary Construction Association (CCA), the City of Calgary and Alberta Ecotrust, who all want to accelerate the transition to an emissions-neutral built environment for new and existing buildings across Alberta. 

“The launch of the ENBIX Calgary Community of Practice marks a pivotal moment in our industry’s commitment to high performance buildings, especially in terms of long-term energy consumption and carbon footprint,” said Bill Black, president and CEO, CCA. “By focusing on realistic solutions, and through collaboration and knowledge sharing, the leaders in our construction industry are taking proactive steps to mitigate our carbon footprint and contribute to a greener, cleaner future for Calgary.”

Officials explained that commercial and residential buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions across Canada. In Calgary, buildings account for about two-thirds of the city’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“Our greatest opportunity to see greenhouse gas reductions is through our buildings,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “ENBIX is an investment in Calgary-made solutions, building capacity and momentum for emissions-neutral construction that will grow over the next several years and beyond.”

Over the next four years, ENBIX will continue to expand the ways in which it shares market research, industry experience and training, including webinars, site visits, technology demonstrations, training sessions and more. 

“Collaboration initiatives like the ENBIX Community of Practice will help us go faster towards net zero, together,” said Claire Beckstead, leader of community energy, City of Calgary. “This initiative will help us develop made-in-Calgary solutions to achieve high performance buildings, and will accelerate progress toward our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” 

Officials noted that crucial to ENBIX’s success is industry support from founding partners, the CCA and the Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association.

Calgary professionals interested in joining the ENBIX Calgary Community of Practice can do so by visiting enbix.ca/get-involved

The first Community of Practice event took place Feb. 28.

Key Takeaways:

• France-based Technip Energies’ solution will be Powered by the Shell CANSOLV CO2 capture system.
• The plant will eventually capture and store an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
• Heidelberg Materials anticipates carbon capture will begin in late 2026.

The Whole Story:

France-based Technip Energies has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the carbon capture technology for Heidelberg Materials’ Edmonton carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) project. 

The project is expected to be the first full-scale application of CCUS in the cement sector.

Powered by the Shell CANSOLV CO2 capture system, the Technip Energies solution which will be the basis of the FEED study, is based on regenerable amine technology.

“We are excited to take this latest step in our journey to produce the world’s first net-zero cement,” said Joerg Nixdorf, vice president cement operations, Northwest Region for Heidelberg Materials North America. “With each milestone we come closer to realizing our vision of leading the decarbonization of the cement industry.”

Heidelberg Materials North America says it will be commissioning the world’s first net-zero cement plant at its Edmonton location by adding CCUS technology to the facility. The plant will eventually capture and store an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, which is the equivalent of taking 300,000 cars off the road annually. Subject to finalization of federal and provincial funding agreements, the company anticipates carbon capture to begin in late 2026.

“We are pleased to have been selected by Heidelberg Materials North America to provide the FEED of this groundbreaking project in Canada,” said Christophe Malaurie, SVP decarbonization solutions for Technip Energies. “Leveraging our carbon capture solution powered by the Shell CANSOLV CO2 capture system, we are committed to supporting the decarbonization of the cement industry and Heidelberg towards the production of net-zero cement.”

Key Takeaways:

• Lafarge Canada’s St-Constant Cement Plant in Quebec now only produces greener cement with fewer CO2 emissions.
• The company projects a reduction of about 60,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2024.
• This equates to CO2 emissions from 16,267 passenger vehicles or 877,972 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

The whole Story:

Lafarge Canada’s St-Constant Cement Plant in Quebec has fully transitioned production from traditional general-use cement to OneCem, a greener product that lowers CO2 emissions.

“We are excited to take another crucial step in our sustainability journey,” said David Redfern, president & CEO of Lafarge Canada (East). “The transition to OneCem production at our St-Constant plant indicates Lafarge Canada’s nonstop commitment to driving positive change within our construction industry. Our teams have been engaged in reducing our products’ environmental impact by embracing greener practices and materials.”

OneCem is a limestone blended cement manufactured using less clinker than traditional Portland cement. By converting the St-Constant Plant’s production to OneCem, Lafarge Canada projects a reduction of about 60,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2024. This equates to CO2 emissions from 16,267 passenger vehicles or 877,972 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

The St-Constant plant has been driving sustainability and innovation in cement production in Quebec for years. The plant has implemented initiatives such as circularity through ECOcycle, as well as collaborating with organizations like CarbiCrete and Patio Drummond to facilitate the production of zero-carbon concrete.

“Our team at St-Constant is proud to be taking actions towards sustainability. With this transition, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also aligning with our organization’s drive to be a leader for sustainable construction throughout Eastern Canada,” said Andrew Stewart, vice president of cement, Lafarge Canada (East). “This is a significant development, and we are eager to contribute to the realization of a net-zero future.”
 

Key Takeaways:

• The decision comes after direction from Ontario’s minister of energy to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), outlining next steps related to the project including a cost recovery agreement.
• Using water and gravity, pumped storage acts like a giant battery. It stores excess electricity when demand is low and makes it available when it is high.
• If built, the facility would provide 1,000 MW of flexible energy to Ontario’s electricity system.
• It is expected that construction for the project would begin in the latter part of this decade with in-service in the early 2030s.

The Whole Story:

TC Energy Corporation announced this month that it will continue to advance the Ontario Pumped Storage Project with its prospective partner Saugeen Ojibway Nation, and begin work with the Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), to establish a potential long-term revenue framework. Further, TC Energy and Saugeen Ojibway Nation will assist with the ministry’s evaluation of the Project’s broader societal and economic benefits.

The decision comes after direction from Ontario’s minister of energy to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), outlining next steps related to the project including a cost recovery agreement. Subject to an agreement with the IESO, this direction from the minister will facilitate the continued development of the project, that if constructed, will support Ontario’s long-term plans to grow the economy and build a sustainable, reliable and clean electricity system.

TC Energy and Saugeen Ojibway Nation stated that they look forward to continuing work with the Ministry, the IESO and the OEB to advance the project, which they say will play an important role in accelerating the province’s ambitious plans for clean economic growth.

Using water and gravity, pumped storage acts like a giant battery. It stores excess electricity when demand is low and makes it available when it is high.

The Ontario Pumped Storage Project will be designed, engineered, and built by a domestic supply chain. During construction, the project will create 1,000 unionized jobs and over 75% of the total materials and supplies will be provided by Ontario-based companies.

Based on feedback from stakeholders and Indigenous groups, the project team opted to completely re-designed the project to enhance protections for Georgian Bay & near-shore environments.

The project remains subject to the approval of TC Energy’s board of directors and Saugeen Ojibway Nation. It is expected that construction for the project would begin in the latter part of this decade with in-service in the early 2030s, subject to receipt of regulatory and corporate approvals. Further, any future capital allocation decisions will align with TC Energy’s net capital expenditure limit of $6-7 billion post-2024.

 The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) estimates that Ontario needs 5,000 to 15,000 megawatts (MW) of new electricity production by 2035. When operational, the OPSP will provide 1,000 MW of flexible, clean energy to Ontario’s electricity system — enough to power a million homes for up to 11 hours.

Key Takeaways:

• The City of Calgary, City of Edmonton and Alberta Ecotrust have partnered to create the Emissions-Neutral Buildings Information Exchange (ENBIX).
• Over the next four years ENBIX will be developing a variety of platforms to enable the local building industry to share knowledge and build capacity for low-carbon building and renovation practices across Alberta. 
• Research shows buildings responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions.

The Whole Story:

The City of Calgary, City of Edmonton and Alberta Ecotrust are joining forces to reduce building emissions in the province. 

Professionals in the building, construction and renovation industries now have a resource with the Emissions-Neutral Buildings Information Exchange (ENBIX) to support collaboration in the industry. 

“We are creating momentum for action with ENBIX that will build over the next several years and beyond,” says Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “Building capacity for emissions neutral construction across the whole development ecosystem – from construction to manufacturing, supply, training, operating and more – is critical in getting us to net-zero buildings by 2050.” 

Over the next four years ENBIX will be developing a variety of platforms to enable the local building industry to share knowledge and build capacity for low-carbon building and renovation practices across Alberta. 

In early 2024, the Calgary Community of Practice will launch, providing a forum for Calgary-specific collaboration, while still learning from experiences across Alberta. With funding now committed to the program, ENBIX plans to continue expanding the ways in which it shares market research, industry experience and training, including webinars, site visits, communities of practice, technology demonstrations, training sessions and more. 

“Collaboration initiatives like ENBIX will help us go faster towards net zero, together,” said Claire Beckstead, Leader of Community Energy at the City of Calgary. “With building code standards moving rapidly toward net-zero standards, the industry needs support to get ahead of new regulations. And in Calgary, reducing the GHG emissions from buildings means we are making progress toward our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” 

The City of Edmonton and The City of Calgary are the main funders of ENBIX, with a contribution of $1.7 million and $1.4 million respectively. Alberta Ecotrust is providing a $600,000 contribution from the organizations’ Climate Innovation Fund.  

Data shows commercial and residential buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions across Canada. In Calgary, buildings account for about two-thirds of its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. City officials stated that the greatest opportunity to see immediate greenhouse gas reductions is in retrofitting existing buildings, and developing new buildings to net-zero standards. 

“We have heard from industry leaders the need to build better for commercial and environmental reasons, and to prepare for the adoption of higher tiers of building code in Alberta,” said Andrea Linsky,  director, Emissions-Neutral Buildings, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation. “ENBIX is here to work with industry to advance more affordable emissions-neutral buildings, by sharing information, fostering innovation and strengthening collaboration.” 

As founding partners, the Calgary Construction Association and Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association (SSRIA) have been significantly involved in developing the Exchange. These founding partners will continue to advise the startup and initial operations as leaders in the industry and will participate in the Exchange’s Executive Advisory Committee.

Does the dreary winter weather have you feeling down? Here’s a sunny mood booster for you. Canada is becoming a major player in the solar sector, particularly in parts of Western Canada.

Last fall we profiled seven solar businesses doing big things in the country, but with so many that had to be cut from the list, we wanted to revisit the topic and bring you seven more.

BlueEarth Renewables

Started in 2010, Calgary-based BlueEarth is an independent, power producer that acquires, develops, builds, owns and operates wind, hydro, solar and storage facilities across North America. Its portfolio includes over 1 GWAC (gross) in operation, under construction and contracted pre-construction, and over 7 GW of development projects that are actively being advanced. Recent years have seen BlueEarth’s solar work go wild in Alberta. In 2022 it announced that in less than 12 months it had completed construction and commissioned five solar facilities, totalling over 100 MWAC, in southern Alberta. This includes its Hays and Jenner Solar Facilities. In total, BluEarth has 233 MW of solar projects currently in operation.

Capstone Infrastructure

Capstone Infrastructure is a Toronto-based developer, owner, and operator of clean and renewable energy projects across North America. Its portfolio includes approximately 824 MW gross installed capacity across 31 facilities, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and natural gas power plants. Capstone Infrastructure has four projects in operation in Alberta and Ontario, including one of the country’s largest — Claresholm Solar, a 182 MW project completed in 2021. Earlier this year, Capstone announced the successful commissioning of the Michichi and Kneehill Solar Projects in Alberta, totaling 50 MWac.

Solar Krafte

With offices in Vancouver, Calgary and California, Krafte is making its mark on North America and is helping build some of Canada’s largest solar projects. They are currently proposing a 450MW project near Brooks, Alta. that is expected to cost $700 million. Other notable projects include Brooks solar farm, Clydesdale solar farm and Vauxhall solar farm.

Northland Power

From its headquarters in Toronto, Northland Power has grown into an international power producer since its founding in 1987. Its involved in developing, building, owning and operating green power infrastructure assets in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. Its facilities produce electricity from natural gas, wind and solar. Northland owns or has an economic interest in 3 GW (net 2.6 GW) of operating generating capacity. Their team is currently involved in building Jurassic Solar+, a 220 MWac , 80MW/160MWh advanced stage co-located solar and energy storage project located on approximately 1,170 acres of land in Cypress County, Alberta.

ALPIN Sun

This have really taken off in Canada for German developer ALPIN Sun — literally. They investing $169-million in a solar project at the Edmonton International Airport. At 120 MW, it would be the largest solar project on airport land in the world. After seeing success in Europe, the company says it is currently focused on developments in North America. So far it has over 2.6 GWp developed successfully in the last three years in the U.S. alone.

Elemental Energy

Elemental says it’s on a mission to transform the vision of a renewable future into a renewable present. Their team develops, owns and operates wind and solar projects throughout North America. Currently they are developing Foothills Solar (150 MW) and High River Solar (19 MW) in Alberta. In Saskatchewan they are developing Bemersyde Solar (100 MW). They recently wrapped up work on $45-million Chappice Lake Solar-Storage (14 MW), the first utility scale solar + storage project in Alberta to use a flow battery. This technology enables solar energy to be stored and delivered to electricity customers after the sun goes down.

Mytilineos

Global industrial and energy company Mytilineos is making a major play in Canada. Earlier this year the Greece-based team spent $1.7 billion to acquire five solar energy projects from Westbridge Renewable Energy. Once completed, the projects will add 1.4 GW of solar capacity to Alberta. It is the company’s first transaction in all of North America. Two projects are expected to be shovel-ready by the end of the year while the others could be ready to go ahead in mid-2024.

Transitioning away from fossil fuels to electricity is one of the great projects of our time and Canada wants to be a major player.

The federal government and provincial leaders are aggressively seeking investment for facilities that support electrification and the strategy seems to be working. In the past few years, billions and billions of dollars have been invested in developing massive facilities to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles and other devices.

Here’s some of the largest projects underway that are supporting electrification in Canada and around the globe.

E-One-Moli – Maple Ridge, B.C.

The ink is still wet on this deal. Just this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government and the province of B.C. would be supporting a $1.05-billion lithium-ion battery cell production facility in Maple Ridge, B.C. The facility, which is being developed by Taiwan-based E-One Moli, is expected to produce 135 million batteries annually. The company says the “gigafactory” will be the world’s first ultra-high power battery plant powered 100% green energy.

Umicore – Loyalist, Ont.

Could this be the missing link in North America’s EV battery value chain? Umicore thinks so. Last month, the global tech company announced that it is proceeding with the first phase of a $2.7 billion project will be executed in multiple stages. The facility will manufacture cathode active materials (CAM) and precursor cathode active materials (pCAM), critical components for producing electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Together, the federal government and Ontario are contributing $975 million for the project. Commissioning is expected to occur in 2025.

Ford – Bécancour, Que.

Ford is betting big on Quebec. Construction has begun on a $1.2 billion cathode manufacturing facility in Bécancour. The plant is part of Ford’s strategy to localize key battery raw material processing in regions where it produces EVs. SNC-Lavalin has been awarded an initial works contract for the facility worth $141 million. Once production begins in the first half of 2026, the site will have the capacity to produce up to 45,000 tonnes of cathode active material (CAM) per year.

General Motors – Ingersoll, Ont.

General Motors of Canada has undergone a major transformation. Last winter, the company announced the opening of its first full-scale electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Ingersoll, Ont. With support from the province, GM Canada spent more than $2 billion transforming its CAMI manufacturing plant into an all-EV manufacturing facility, the first of its kind in the country. Officials say the project could help secure Ontario’s position as a global automotive hub. One of the vehicles the plant is producing is the BrightDrop Zevo 600, a light commercial vehicle that runs on a lithium-ion battery.

Stellantis – Windsor, Ont.

Despite a seven-week strike to sort out project funding, work is underway to build a $5-billion electric vehicle EV battery plant in Windsor. They aren’t just making batteries. They are making Ontario history. The plant marks the largest private in the history of the province and it’s the largest investment in the history of the Canadian auto industry. The facility, a joint venture of Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, will stretch roughly 4.5 million square feet and employ 2,500 people. The plant is expected to begin production next year.

Northvolt – Montreal, Que.

Swedish company Northvolt is in the early stages of setting up operations in Quebec. Just weeks ago they purchased 18.5 million sq. ft. of land in McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand for an undisclosed sum. The land used to be an explosives factory but has sat dormant for 25 years. The company says it plans to build Northvolt Six, a fully integrated lithium-ion battery gigafactory, just outside of Montreal. Construction of the first 30 GWh phase of the project is due to commence before the end of 2023 and the first operations are set to begin in 2026. Northvolt anticipates the first phase will require $7 billion of investment, the largest private investment in Quebec history.

Volkswagen – St. Thomas, Ont.

Something big is powering up in Ontario. Volkswagen’s St. Thomas Gigafactory will have six production blocks with a potential production volume of up to 90 gigawatt hours – enough for about 1 million EVs a year. This is going to be critical for Volkswagen as it has plans to introduce more than 25 new EV models by 2030.

Key Takeaways:

• New solar projects secured by PCL this year exceed $1 billion in value.
• Due to high demand for solar projects, PCL plans to expand its Solar Division team by 25% this year.
• 2023 also saw PCL hit a new record of surpassing 4 gigawatts contracted.

The Whole Story:

PCL Construction has secured more than $1 billion in new solar projects for 2023.

The general contractor announced its new solar division, PCL Solar, late last year. Its base is in Toronto with satellite offices in strategic centres across the U.S. and Australia.

“This year, we officially surpassed 4 gigawatts contracted – marking a new record for the company,” said Andrew Moles, general manager of PCL’s Solar Division. “It’s an exciting time for PCL Solar. This growth reflects the increased demand for renewable energy projects across the world.”

To date, the company has completed nearly 60 solar projects, supplying enough clean energy to power more than half a million average homes and businesses across North America and Australia. 

The projects include Travers Solar, which not only represents the largest solar project in Canada to date but also the first of PCL Solar’s projects to surpass 1 million megawatt hours of production. In 16 months, the project has also offset more than 472,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

PCL Solar stated that it believes the following recent project wins along with other promising projects on the horizon will help the company more than double its impact of powering homes and businesses across three countries in the coming years:

• Peacock: 150-megawatt photovoltaic power station located in Taft, San Patricio County, Texas.

• Azalea Springs: 180-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy installation in Angelina County, Texas.

• Clearview: 145-megawatt solar project in Adams Township in Champaign County, Ohio.

• Goose Prairie: 80-megawatt solar photovoltaic project located in Yakima County, Wash.

• Spring Coulee: 30-megawatt solar facility located in Cardston County, Alta.

• Homestead: 400-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy installation in Claresholm, Alta.

• Stubbo Solar: 400-megawatt solar energy facility located in Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia.

• Gunsynd: 94-megawatt solar farm located in Southwest Queensland, Australia.

PCL Solar also has its sights set on growing Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) opportunities. From increasing global renewable energy demands due to the United States Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Canada’s Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit, BESS is also on the rise. PCL noted that BESS provides critical infrastructure support by storing energy that can then be deployed at peak times when the grid is experiencing high demand.

With PCL Solar’s growing portfolio comes the additional need for employees.

“We plan to expand our team by 25% this year to support our projects and increase our capacity for future years,” said Rodolfo Bitar, manager of strategic initiatives for PCL Solar.

Key Takeaways:

• The case was referred to the RCMP by the Ontario Provincial Police.
• The investigation comes after several resignations in the Ontario government and a reshuffling of the cabinet.
• Premier Doug Ford apologized for opening up the Greenbelt to development and is in the process of reversing the land swap decision.

The Whole Story:

The RCMP is officially investigating controversial deals to develop parts of Ontario’s Greenbelt. 

“Following a referral from the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP O Division’s Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) unit has now launched an investigation into allegations associated to the decision from the Province of Ontario to open parts of the Greenbelt for development,” said officials in a statement. “While we recognize that this investigation is of significant interest to Canadians, the RCMP has a duty to protect the integrity of the investigations that it carries out, in order to ensure that the process leads to a fair and proper outcome. Therefore, no further updates will be provided at this time,”

According to the RCMP, Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) investigate “sensitive, high risk matters that cause significant threats to Canada’s political, economic and social integrity of its institutions across Canada and internationally”. Jurisdiction over offences investigated is not limited by a territory/region but by the nature of the offence.

The investigation comes after months of political turmoil for the province’s leadership. In August Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released a blistering report that found the Greenbelt deal heavily favoured a small group of developers and did not consider environmental impacts. The report came with a list of recommendations that include revisiting the deal in a way that follows proper procedures.

Weeks later, Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake released his report on the Greenbelt deal, recommending that Housing Minister Steve Clark receive a reprimand for his role in the land swap. Last month, Clark resigned, stating that it was his responsibility to adhere to the principles of ministerial accountability.

MPP and Kaleed Rasheed resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet after reports emerged of him spending time with developers while on a trip to Las Vegas. Ford also apologized for opening up the Greenbelt to development and announced that he would be reversing the deal. The plan would have taken 3,000 hectares out of the 800,000-hecatare Greenbelt that surrounds the Greater Toronto Area to build housing. 

Lafarge’s Exshaw plant is harnessing the sun to make cement. 

Canada and ATCO announced that they have entered into a 12.5-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). Under this agreement, Lafarge’s Exshaw cement plant will receive 100% of the solar energy produced by the 38.5-megawatt Empress Solar project, meeting 34% of the plant’s power requirements through 2036.

The Empress solar project covers 280 acres south of the village of Empress, Alberta, and consists of 89,000 solar panels.

“We’re continually assessing ways we can reduce our environmental impact while actively pursuing sustainable solutions within our operations,” said Brad Kohl, president and CEO of Lafarge Canada (West). “Our collaboration with ATCO underscores our commitment to adopting renewable energy at our plants and sites, which is key to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.”

Lafarge’s continued expansion into renewable energy in Alberta aligns with the company’s broader strategy, Accelerating Green Growth while emphasizing its ongoing investments to lower the carbon footprint of its operations and scope 2 emissions. Notably, Lafarge’s Exshaw cement plant has now committed to power purchase agreements for both wind and solar energy, setting an industry precedent.

“This agreement represents the strides we are making to support our customers in meeting their clean energy goals,” said Bob Myles, COO, ATCO EnPower. “We are proud to be at the forefront of the energy transition, and in a position to provide solutions to customers like Lafarge in reducing their carbon emissions.”

Under the agreement, Lafarge will offtake 100% of the power generated from the Empress Solar project, which is scheduled to commence commercial operations this month. The Empress Solar project is expected to generate enough renewable energy to offset approximately 43,000 tonnes of carbon per year. 

There’s a new data-driven approach to get your company on the road to reducing its carbon footprint.

Evolve Fleet’s team and platform use telematics tools, benchmarks, rebates, charging data and more to create a roadmap for a company’s specific vehicle goals.

“First you have to understand the needs of the organization, what is required, what are vehicles being used for, what is working, what is not working, and based on that analysis, we can come back and make recommendations on first steps,” explained Jasin Azzopardi, Vice President and General Manager of Evolve Fleet. “We have to determine the usage of the vehicles and also what the company’s goals are. Is your motivation carbon reduction? Is it marketing because of your industry? Do you want to get carbon credits? Understanding that motivation is key so we can make good recommendations.” 

He noted that there are several common concerns that clients have when they decide to reduce the carbon footprint of a fleet:

• Do EVs have enough range for the purpose of the asset?
• What sort of charging infrastructure is required?
• How much will it cost to switch to EVs?
• How much value do EVs retain over time?

To address these concerns, Evolve digs deep into the data. They test internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles in various use cases to determine cost, carbon emissions, performance and other metrics to create benchmarks. They can also use telematics to track driver behavior, idle time, charging, range and more to tease out what tools are the best fit for a client.  

“The Evolve portal allows us to bring that data into one place and not only make appropriate recommendations but demonstrate that data to the client,” said Azzopardi. 

How much is too much?

When it comes to cost, EVs can leave some with sticker shock. But one has to dig into the details. Azzopardi explained that Evolve can crunch the numbers to determine if that investment will save money in the long run. Their experts can also help companies navigate government programs to take advantage of rebates or other incentives that can drive cost lower. 

“Clients often don’t know how to apply for those and if they qualify, so we manage that process for them,” said Azzopardi.

Depending on the type of vehicle and the province, rebates can take tens of thousands of dollars off the price. And there are even carbon credits that can be earned from using EV chargers. 

Exploring benefits

Azzopardi noted that in addition to making a company more socially responsible and improving one’s brand image, there are also long-term cost benefits to including EVs in one’s fleet. 

“Beyond fuel savings, EVs have very little maintenance requirements to the point where they are almost non-existent,” he said. “The only thing you have to do really is tires and brakes. No oil changes, no tune ups or timing belts.” 

And the technology is only improving and expanding. Regenerative brakes are being used to help charge the car with the energy produced during breaking. Rapid chargers are cutting down on the time it takes to charge vehicles. Strategy for targeted heating and cooling is making batteries more efficient. Manufacturers are also beginning to expand in the mid-duty truck market, creating more commercial use cases. 

When it comes to the far future, Azzopardi believes sustainable vehicle technology could expand to more parts of the construction site. 

“I suspect we will see a surge in hydrogen vehicles,” he said.

While the idea of using hydrogen as fuel isn’t new, momentum for the technology has been growing and the next 12 months could see major progress. CP Rail plans to begin operating its first hydrogen locomotive, a hydrogen fuelling station is under construction in Edmonton to allow semi-truck testing on the province’s highways, and construction has just begun in Edmonton on the world’s largest net-zero hydrogen plant.

A changing industry

During his nearly three decades in the industry, Azzopardi has seen attitudes shift. 

“It definitely has changed over the years, during my career, many of my largest accounts have been oil and gas (energy sector) accounts. Everybody wants to be a good corporate citizen,” he said. 

It’s also becoming a larger component of winning work. 

“For large accounts with bigger fleets that typically do public sector work, if you are responding to an RFP for something like garbage disposal in West Vancouver, there will be ESG questions 

and you will have to demonstrate how your company is forward facing. For that reason alone, you aren’t going to prosper without an ESG strategy.” 

To get your company’s fleet greening journey started, visit evolvefleet.com for a free consultation. Additionally, for those interested in how zero-emission vehicles will suit their daily operations and are looking at short-term solutions or testing opportunities, Evolve fleet offers electric fleet rentals so you can see if they are right for your business.

Heidelberg Materials has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Green Drop Rock Products located in Cochrane, Alta. Green Drop Rock Products is an independent producer of aggregates with a high-capacity plant that is well positioned to supply the Calgary market.

Heidelberg stated that the acquisition of the Green Drop Rock Products business will further strengthen the company’s aggregates reserves in the Greater Calgary area and reinforce its integrated footprint in the market. They added that the assets of Green Drop Rock Products complement their existing operations in the area. 

The province of Alberta is also home to Heidelberg Materials’ Edmonton plant, where the cement industry’s first global full-scale carbon capture and storage facility is being built. The new facility is scheduled to be operational by late 2026 and will capture more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually. 

The transaction is expected to close in early September 2023. This acquisition reflects Heidelberg Materials’ strategic plan to optimise its portfolio in core markets and strengthen its existing businesses through bolt-on acquisitions.

Heidelberg Materials is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions with leading market positions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete. They are represented in more than 50 countries with around 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations.

Key Takeaways:

• Ottawa has announced $74 million to support small modular reactor projects in Saskatchewan. 
• Officials believe these reactors can play an important role in decarbonizing provincial electricity grids and heavy-emitting industries.
•  SaskPower anticipates construction of its first SMR could begin as early as 2030, with a targeted in-service date of 2034. Additional facilities could begin construction as early as 2034.

The Whole Story:

The Government of Canada has approved up to $74 million in federal funding for small modular reactor (SMR) development in Saskatchewan, led by SaskPower.

The funding will support pre-engineering work and technical studies, environmental assessments, regulatory studies and community and Indigenous engagement to help advance projects. SaskPower has selected the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 for potential deployment in Saskatchewan in the mid-2030s, subject to a decision to build that is expected in 2029.

Government officials noted that SMRs, a non-emitting form of energy, can play an important role in decarbonizing provincial electricity grids and heavy-emitting industries and can help remote communities reduce their reliance on costly and high-polluting diesel power. As an example, a 300-megawatt SMR can supply enough non-emitting power for an estimated 300,000 homes.

Officials noted that more than 75,000 Canadians are employed across the nuclear supply chain and have decades of experience in this area. They added that Canada’s nuclear industry is well positioned to leverage its science and technology innovation to continue to be among the leaders in the development and deployment of SMR technology.

Advancing new non-emitting electricity infrastructure projects is part of the government’s comprehensive approach to bringing clean, affordable and reliable power to every region of Canada, as outlined in Powering Canada Forward and in the draft Clean Electricity Regulations. The Government of Canada has committed over $40 billion in new federal measures to help provinces and has announced over $500 million to date in support of a variety of projects that are helping to build a clean, affordable and reliable grid in Saskatchewan specifically.

“Delivering clean, reliable and affordable electricity will look different in every region of Canada,” said Johnathan Wilkinson, minister of energy and natural resources. “That is why the Government of Canada is committing up to $74 million to explore the potential for small modular reactors in Saskatchewan to provide abundant non-emitting power, drive economic growth and create good jobs throughout Saskatchewan.” 

Up to $50 million for this project has been committed to SaskPower from NRCan’s Electricity Predevelopment Program — a $250-million program to support pre-development activities of clean electricity projects of national significance, such as inter-provincial electricity transmission projects and small modular reactors. The funding announced is conditional on the finalization of a Contribution Agreement between NRCan and SaskPower, which is currently underway.

Additionally, over $24 million for this project has been committed to the Government of Saskatchewan from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Future Electricity Fund. This program returns pollution pricing proceeds to support clean energy projects, energy-efficient technologies and other initiatives that will help Canada meet its climate goals and achieve a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050. The fund is intended to help spur innovation and encourage the adoption of cleaner technologies and fuels in Canada.

SaskPower anticipates construction of its first SMR could begin as early as 2030, with a targeted in-service date of 2034. Additional facilities could begin construction as early as 2034.

Key Takeaways:

• Construction has begun on the 280,000 square-meter site and will include a six-floor building that will house approximately 345 new jobs.
• The plant is part of Ford’s strategy to localize key battery raw material processing in regions where it produces EVs.
• SNC-Lavalin has been awarded an initial works contract for the facility worth $141 million.

The Whole Story

SK On, EcoProBM and Ford will invest $1.2 billion to build a cathode manufacturing facility in Quebec. The facility will provide materials that ultimately supply batteries for Ford’s future electric vehicles.

Once production begins in the first half of 2026, the site will have the capacity to produce up to 45,000 tonnes of cathode active material (CAM) per year.

This new facility – Ford’s first investment in the province – is part of the automaker’s plan to localize key battery raw material processing in regions where it produces EVs.

“Ford has been serving customers in Canada for 119 years, longer than any other automaker, and we’re excited to invest in this new facility to create a vertically integrated, closed-loop battery manufacturing supply chain in North America designed to help make electric vehicles more accessible for millions of people over time,” said Bev Goodman, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “We’re excited for the opportunity for our first-ever investment in Québec with a new facility that will help shape the EV ecosystem there.”

SNC-Lavalin has been award the initial works contract for the facility worth approximately $141 million. It represents SNC-Lavalin’s first major mandate in the EV battery market in Canada.

EcoPro CAM Canada LP will manufacture cathode active materials and, more precisely, high quality Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) for rechargeable batteries that are targeting greater performance levels and improved EV range compared to existing products, thanks in part to EcoPro’s core shell gradient (CSG) technology.

Construction has begun on the 280,000 square-meter site and will include a six-floor building that will house approximately 345 new jobs – from engineers and sales and service professionals to co-op positions for students from local universities and colleges in Québec. EcoPro CAM Canada LP also will pursue research and development activities aiming at increasing battery safety and performance as well as increasing productivity and minimizing the environmental footprint of its manufacturing process.

EcoProBM established EcoPro CAM Canada LP in February. SK On and Ford will become investors once the deal is closed; the joint venture is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals. EcoProBM will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility.

The project team noted that support from both the federal and provincial governments was vital to securing the joint investment .

“This investment once again shows that Canada is the green strategic partner of choice for world leaders in the automobile industry,” said The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry. “Today, we are helping to further position Quebec as a key hub in the electric vehicle supply chain, as we continue to build our battery ecosystem. This investment is good for the environment and for the economy, and it will ensure well-paying jobs for years to come.”

Key Takeaways:

• Carbon Engineering will be acquired by a subsidiary of international energy company Occidental.
• Carbon Engineering’s research and development activities and Innovation Center will remain in Squamish, B.C.
• Occidental’s subsidiaries are currently building the world’s largest direct air capture plant in Texas. It is expected to be commercially operational in mid-2025.

The Whole Story:

Squamish-based green technology company Carbon Engineering has been purchased for $1.48 billion. 

International energy company Occidental announced that a wholly owned subsidiary has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire all the outstanding equity of Carbon Engineering Ltd. for total cash consideration of approximately $1.48 billion.

The purchase will be made in three approximately equivalent annual payments, with the first at closing. This transaction is expected to close before the end of 2023, subject to Canadian court reviews, Canadian and U.S. regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Occidental has been working with Carbon Engineering on direct air capture (DAC) deployment since 2019. 

Acquiring Carbon Engineering aligns with Occidental’s integrated net-zero strategy and provides Occidental, through its 1PointFive subsidiary, the opportunity to rapidly advance DAC technology breakthroughs and accelerate deployment of DAC as a large-scale, cost effective, global carbon removal solution. Carbon Engineering’s DAC-based climate solutions utilize standardized processes and proven industrial equipment.

“We expect the acquisition of Carbon Engineering to deliver our shareholders value through an improved drive for technology innovation and accelerated DAC cost reductions,” said Occidental president and CEO Vicki Hollub. “The technology partnership also adds new revenue streams in the form of technology licensing and royalties. Importantly, the acquisition enables Occidental to catalyze broader development partnerships for DAC deployment in the most capital efficient and valuable way.” 

Upon closing, Carbon Engineering would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxy Low Carbon Ventures. Carbon Engineering’s personnel will continue to drive ongoing DAC technology development efforts and work closely with the Occidental and 1PointFive teams to bring DAC solutions to market. Carbon Engineering’s research and development activities and Innovation Center will remain in Squamish, B.C.

“We have always believed that global partnerships and cross-industry collaboration would be required to deploy DAC infrastructure at the scale required to make a climate-relevant impact. Carbon Engineering and Occidental have been working increasingly close together for the past five years to address the CO2 problem, making Occidental a trusted and committed partner for this next chapter in Carbon Engineering’s journey,” said Carbon Engineering CEO Daniel Friedmann. “At the core of this deeper relationship is the commitment to invest in the development of our technology here in Canada, and the global reach to accelerate implementation of DAC-based climate solutions in the U.S. and around the world.”

1PointFive is currently building Stratos, the world’s largest DAC plant, which is expected to be commercially operational in mid-2025, in Ector County, Texas. Occidental and Carbon Engineering are also adapting Stratos’ front-end engineering and design study for a DAC plant to be built at King Ranch in Kleberg County, which is part of the South Texas DAC Hub that was selected to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.