HOUSTON, TX (March 07, 2023) Today, NGIF Industry Grants, a division of NGIF Capital Corporation, in collaboration with the International Gas Union, announced the launch of a $10MM (CAD) Global Cleantech Challenge at the RICE Alliance Energy Venture Day in Houston.
The Challenge is a funding call to energy small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups from around the world with clean technology solutions to access grant funding, demonstration host partners, technology validation for product market fit and future energy customers in Canada.
The Global Cleantech Challenge will allow NGIF Industry Grants to provide funding, from its 14 energy company participants, to support the development and demonstration of novel clean technologies from anywhere across the world. Each demonstration project undertaken in Canada is eligible to receive up to $1MM CAD, representing as much as 50% of a project's qualifying expenses.
The Winners of the Challenge will be announced at the IGU’s International Gas Research Conference (IGRC2024) in Banff, Canada in May 2024. Participants at that Conference will have first access to these entrepreneurs and their important innovations.
NGIF Industry Grants is accepting applications from global SMEs and start-ups in the following three key investment focus areas:
- Responsibly Sourced Natural Gas (TRL 6-8): Breakthrough technologies that can improve the environmental performance of natural gas across its value chain. The focus is on leading technologies in areas such as Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage; Methane Mitigation; Energy Efficiency; Emissions Monitoring; Waste-heat Utilization; and Water Management to improve the efficiency and resiliency of the natural gas industry.
- Alternate Gases (TRL 6-8): Emerging technologies on Hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and end-use; Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to reduce emissions for the natural gas production, transmission, and distribution network.
- Natural Gas Applications (TRL 6-8): Innovative technologies, processes, and business models that can create new markets for gas or increase the share of gas demand through Heat and Power Generation; NG Heat Pumps; Value-Added products; Fuel-Switching; LNG; and Transportation applications.
“I am excited to see this first-of-kind Global Cleantech Challenge bring startups from around the world to Canada to access the NGIF platform,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Capital Corporation and Managing Partner of NGIF Cleantech Ventures. “NGIF Industry Grants and its focus on de-risking clean technologies through field trials and pilots are part of NGIF’s integrated model of industry validation, customer creation, and market commercialization.”
“Innovation has always been front and centre for the natural gas industry in Canada. Committing $10 million to this Global Competition is the latest demonstration of this focus, and of the determination to keep the industry in the lead on the global innovation agenda for energy,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
“The IGU’s International Gas Research Conference (IGRC) has been the leading technical RD&I conference for three decades. We are proud to work alongside NGIF and the CGA to help bring technical innovations to life and advance the deployment of new critical, environmentally friendly technologies. We look forward to celebrating at IGRC2024 with the winners and the responsible, cleaner energy sources they will provide for the world,” said IGU Secretary general, Milton Catelin.
Click here for more information and to enter the $10 MM Global Cleantech Challenge launched by NGIF Industry Grants for a chance to advance your technologies closer to commercialization.