UCalgary emissions-testing lab receives vital funding from Alberta government

As the energy industry continues to evolve and improve their processes, a University of Calgary laboratory is helping startup companies take their technologies to new heights.

The Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF) Emissions Testing Centre Lab, operated by the Gates Research Group out of the Schulich School of Engineering, supports the development of clean technology to reduce methane emissions by providing innovators with flexible and safe spaces to perform tests.

More than 70 methane management companies have tested projects through the program since 2021, allowing them to move onto the live testing space at Tourmaline and Perpetual Energy’s West Wolfe Lake gas processing plant near Edson, Alta.

The Alberta government recently announced it is investing $15 million over the next five years to help companies continue testing at all sites free of charge.

“This testing provides valuable insights that help accelerate the commercialization of their technologies,” says Dr. Ian Gates, BSc (Eng)’90, PhD, UCalgary’s associate vice-president (research and innovation). “The funding from the Government of Alberta supports the Emissions Testing Centre’s vital mission to aid cleantech startups in developing technologies that contribute to emissions-reduction goals.”

The province says the funding will also help create jobs.

Testing technology-in-progress

A professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Gates says the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre Lab has seen numerous successes since its creation, adding most companies that use it have working devices that might not be ready for field testing.

“Our lab is the perfect place for conducting tests where it is safe and can be tested without the formality of field testing,” says Gates, who is also the director of the Global Research Initiative for Sustainable Low-Carbon Unconventional Resources. 

“This also means that we can test where fail-and-fix cycles can be done quickly to support the startup in further development of their technology.”

He says getting the buy-in from industry has been key with a variety of technologies having been tested so far, ranging from compressors and zero-emission actuators for valves to gas-sensing cameras and emission-rate sensors.

Where funding goes

Gates says the announcement will go a long way in giving companies the peace of mind that they will continue to have the space in the future.

As part of the project, the Gates Research Group is receiving $2.6 million over the next three years to continue working on testing technologies and conducting research in methane-emission reduction.

“The funding, as well as our partners at Tourmaline and NGIF, make it a truly exciting and fulfilling project to work on,” he says. “It has a multi-faceted focus on innovation, technology development, and commercialization, emission reduction and decarbonization, and the rich opportunities it gives to the students and postdocs involved in the project working with the startups and partners.”

The province says the funding announcement is another step in its methane emissions-reduction strategy, after hitting its 45 per cent reduction target three years early.

“We are a global leader in reducing methane emissions, and Alberta technologies are being used around the world,” Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas, said in a news release. “We are removing barriers so our talented startup companies can grow their good ideas, create jobs and support a sustainable oil and gas sector for generations to come.”

The Alberta government’s grant covers $3 million in each of the first three years with an option to extend up to five years.