The provincial government is supporting projects that are creating a cleaner environment, helping grow a low-carbon economy and increase job opportunities.
As Alberta works to diversify the economy, the province is innovating internally, and with partners, including clean energy technology researchers and entrepreneurs to meet Alberta’s goals of net-zero targets, a government media release said.
“Technology is driving innovation in every industry. Alberta entrepreneurs and researchers are creating the solutions that move Alberta – and the world – forward. Each project supported through this funding will help us double down on Alberta’s role as a responsible and secure supplier of energy,” Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer said in the release.
The province is currently investing $13 million to support 22 projects through Alberta Innovates, 13 projects are receiving funding through the Digital Innovation in Clean Energy (DICE) program and nine through the Clean Resources business unit.
The projects funded through Alberta Innovates’ Clean Resources business unit fall into one of five streams, including clean technologies, digital clean energy, environmental technologies, partial upgrading, and recovery technology.
The program develops and invests in research and innovation programs to sustain, grow and diversify the energy and resource industries, develop clean technology, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect Alberta’s environment.
Projects funding through DICE are part of the second phase of the program, which supports business transformation, clean technology, innovation production, and distribution. The innovations are designed to develop and bring technology to the market to create more jobs in the digital economy, improve the efficiency of energy production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to environmental innovations in water and land management, the release said.
DICE helps the projects that support Alberta Innovates’ three strategic priorities, such as developing emerging technologies, which include data-enabled innovation; digital technology for business transformation; clean technology; innovative production and distribution, enhancing knowledge workforce, and embracing a digital future.
“With these investments, University of Calgary researchers will continue to reimagine the energy landscape to help Alberta’s energy sector grow, diversify, and become even more sustainable. We thank the Government of Alberta and Alberta Innovates for their confidence in our scholars and their ability to drive energy technology innovation for our low-carbon future,” University of Calgary president Ed McCauley said.
The government anticipates that the projects being supported are an important part of diversification and will create jobs.
The projects have created 200 jobs and is expected to create 1,900 jobs in five years.
“The new economy creates incredible opportunities in the clean-tech sector. Growing a mature clean technology industry in Alberta takes dedication and resources. We are pleased to provide support for both the Clean Resources projects that demonstrate a clear path to helping Alberta meet its net-zero goals, as well as those unique innovations in the Digital Innovations in Clean Energy program,” CEO of Alberta Innovates Laura Kilcrease said.
