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Month: February 2022
econext collaborates on Newfoundland and Labrador response to Offshore Renewables Energy Regulations initiative
The Offshore Renewable Energy Regulations (ORER) is an initiative led by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to develop modern safety and environmental protection regulations that will apply to exploration, construction, operation and decommissioning activities related to renewable energy projects and power lines in Canada’s offshore areas.
NRCan drafted a technical requirements paper to detail to government, stakeholder and Indigenous participants the proposed requirements that will form the basis of future regulations. The requirements are divided into the following Parts:
- General Requirements
- Site Assessment Activities Requirements
- Transportation, Construction, Installation and Commissioning Activities Requirements
- Operations and Maintenance Activities Requirements
- Decommissioning, Repowering, and/or Life Extension Activities Requirements
NRCan was seeking feedback on these proposed requirements. econext, through The Net Zero Project collaboration, has submitted a response from the Newfoundland and Labrador perspective which can be downloaded here.
About The Net Zero Project
The Net Zero Project is a collaboration within the energy and environmental industries to drive economic growth, diversification, investment, and awareness through the lens of sustainability and the pursuit of net zero in Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy sector.
The initiative supports the development of clean growth strategies and projects in priority areas of Canada’s net zero journey as they relate to its offshore energy industry: carbon capture, utilization, and storage; electrification and renewable energy; and hydrogen.
The Net Zero Project was formed by econext, Noia, and the Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador. More information on the initiative can be found at http://netzeroproject.ca/.
Atlantic Canada’s Green Potential: Jobs and Skills Towards Clean Growth
econext, in partnership with the Maritimes Energy Association (MEA) and with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has released a report “Atlantic Canada’s Green Potential – Jobs and Skills Toward Clean Growth”. The report helps define what a ‘green job’ means in context of Atlantic Canada’s economy.
econext releases report that helps define Atlantic Canada’s green jobs
For Immediate Release
February 22, 2022
St. John’s, NL – econext, in partnership with the Maritimes Energy Association (MEA) and with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has released a report “Atlantic Canada’s Green Potential – Jobs and Skills Toward Clean Growth”.
The report helps define what a ‘green job’ means in context of Atlantic Canada’s economy.
“The greening of the economy looks different depending on where in the world you are,” says Kieran Hanley, econext’s Executive Director. “The makeup of a region’s economy – including the state of its current industries and future growth opportunities – will determine to a large extent what effects the energy transition and the greening economy will have on local jobs.”
Hanley said that Atlantic Canada has a unique economy relative to other parts of the country, and that it is important for decision-makers to understand what the idea of a ‘green job’ meant within the region.
“We are pleased to support this project to better define what a ‘green job’ is in Atlantic Canada,” said Jennifer Tuck, CEO of MEA. “This body of research will give business leaders, governments and individuals in the region a better understanding of what the energy transition can mean for the Atlantic Canadian economy.”
Download the Report
econext and MEA were supported by ECO Canada in this research. ECO Canada’s mission it to build the world’s leading environmental workforce in Canada, with a vision to ensure an adequate supply of people with the demonstrated skills and knowledge required to meet the environmental human resource needs of the public and private sectors.
“Green jobs are growing across Canada. In Atlantic Canada alone we will need 6,600 new green workers by 2025, or nearly 20% of the region’s 2020 green employment levels”, said Kevin Nilsen, President and CEO of ECO Canada. “This qualitative study showed that the transition to a cleaner and greener economy in Atlantic Canada is complex. While there will be opportunities in the form of new or growing STEM jobs, more support is needed to ensure the workforce across various roles has the cross-disciplinary skill sets required.”
“It is clear that governments and financial markets around the world are moving quickly to support clean growth activities,” said Hanley. “We must adequately support our workforce to thrive in a cleaner, greener future and we believe that this research moves the needle in the right direction for us.”
econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. econext works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.
The MEA advances the region and its energy economy by working with key stakeholders, including members, governments and policy makers. More information can be found at https://maritimesenergy.com.
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Media Contact
Kieran Hanley
Executive Director, econext
kieran@econext.ca
econext in partnership to study greenhouse gas reductions and pathways to net zero in offshore industry
Via Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador at:
https://energyresearchinnovation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ERI-release_Feb-21-22-EN-003.pdf
For Immediate Release:
February 21, 2022
St. John’s, NL – Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental and oil and gas industries are collaborating to examine options to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the province’s offshore oil and gas industry.
Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador (ERI) is providing $440,070 of a total project value of $723,820 to econext and Noia (Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association) to conduct a project titled Net Zero Pathways and the Feasibility of Blue Hydrogen Production in Canada’s Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. The funding comes from Natural Resources Canada’s Emissions Reduction Fund, Offshore RD&D program, which is managed and administered by Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador. OilCo is contributing $137,500 to the overall project. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is making a non-repayable contribution of $146,250 to econext to support the Net Zero Pathways.
The study will provide detailed pathways for Canada’s offshore oil and gas industry to achieve net zero GHG emissions targets in offshore oil and gas production by 2050, while maintaining economic development and industry growth. Through the project, econext and Noia will:
- compile available data and fill information gaps;
- evaluate known emissions reduction technologies and processes for their financial feasibility, net environmental impact, and local economic development contribution;
- formulate options for achieving net zero by 2050; and
- study the feasibility of generating blue hydrogen offshore, including determining opportunities and interdependencies with carbon capture and storage, electrification, additional gas development, and other technologies.
Another project, Terra Nova Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Flare Reduction Study, is investigating installing a closed flare system on the vessel to reduce GHG emissions. Suncor will complete front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies to determine the feasibility of installing a closed flare system on the vessel to improve gas compression train-related flaring. Suncor is receiving $678,762 from the Emissions Reduction Fund to complete the study.
“These projects will fill important information gaps for the local energy industry. ERI is able to facilitate collaboration across companies, organizations and industries to develop solutions to reduce GHGs from offshore operations, while still ensuring the future of our industry and the important role it plays to our province,” said Dave Finn, CEO, Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador.
“Through the Offshore Research, Development and Demonstration stream of the Emissions Reduction Fund, the Government of Canada is supporting innovative research and development to decarbonize offshore operations. These projects will help advance clean technology in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry and help Canada reach net-zero emissions by 2050,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources.
“We need to lower emissions and build up renewables in Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore. Investors are choosing jurisdictions that take climate change seriously, and our industry is taking the initiative. We believe in our workers, in this industry, and in their future. We’re continuing to invest in them, and in the research and development that will get us to net zero by 2050,” said the Honorable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl.
“The Government of Canada has made a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. ACOA’s contribution to the econext project is an important step in that direction. We know that protecting the environment and growing the economy go hand in hand. This investment is helping us do just that,” said the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
About Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador
Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador (ERI) advances research, development and demonstration (RD&D) and innovation projects in the offshore oil and gas industry, with a focus on health, safety and the environment. ERI is a federally incorporated, not-for-profit organization whose members include Chevron Canada Resources, Equinor Canada, ExxonMobil Canada, Cenovus, Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador and Suncor Energy. www.erinl.ca
PROJECTS BACKGROUNDER
Recipient: econext, Noia
Project Title: Net Zero Pathways and the Feasibility of Blue Hydrogen Production in Canada’s Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
Emissions Reduction Fund Support: $440,070
The objective of this project is to outline detailed pathways for Canada’s offshore oil and gas industry to achieve both net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets by 2050 and economic development and industry growth. There are many technologies and processes that can be deployed in the pursuit of emissions reductions. This project will narrow the possibilities to a manageable number of pathways or scenarios that can be continuously refined and updated when technical or financial circumstances change. This work will incorporate an assessment of the feasibility of the production of hydrogen in Canada’s offshore industry. Hydrogen is increasingly being viewed nationally and internationally as being an important fuel in the fight against climate change. Clearly understanding its potential role in Canada’s offshore oil and gas industry is an important information gap that must be addressed as part of the development of net zero pathways. www.netzeroproject.ca/
Recipient: Suncor Energy Inc. (NL)
Project Title: Terra Nova FPSO Flare Reduction Study
Emissions Reduction Fund Support: $678,762
On average, daily background flaring results in approximately 25-30% of Terra Nova’s current greenhouse gas emissions. Flare gas is a by-product of oil production and processing during normal operations that is released from different sources in the process system. This gas is sent to flare to be burned off, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this project is to complete front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies focusing on reducing flaring on the FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading vessel). The study will assess the technical feasibility of installing a closed flare system on the Terra Nova FPSO and reducing gas compression train-related flaring. www.suncor.com/
Media contact:
Lynn Evans
lynn.evans@erinl.ca
709-738-7916
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Sector News February 24
Saint Kitts and Nevis Market Information Session | March 9, 2022
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
10:30 am – 11:30 am NDT / 10:00 am – 11:00 am AST / 9:00 am – 10:00 am EST
If you’re an Atlantic Canadian business interested in doing business with Saint Kitts and Nevis, join us on March 9th to learn more!
Agenda:
10:30 – 10:35 | Welcome & Introductions
Abbie Hodder, COO + International Business
econext
10:35 – 10:40 | Opening Remarks
H. E. Lilian Chatterjee
Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
10:40 – 10:55 | Introduction to Saint Kitts and Nevis – Economy & the Environment, Challenges and Successes
H.E. Sherry Tross
High Commissioner to Canada, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
10:55 – 11:10 | Doing Business in Saint Kitts and Nevis – Business Environment & Opportunities
Kevin Hope, Executive Director
Saint Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce
11:10 – 11:30 | Q & A and Closing Remarks
Abbie Hodder, COO + International Business
econext
Call for Proposals – Mining Innovation and Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network
One of the mandates of the Mining Innovation and Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network is to provide access to leverage funding for high-impact innovative clean technologies within one of the following four technical themes:
- Increase Mine Production Capacity, at Lower Cost.
- Reduce Mining Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions.
- Implement Smart, Autonomous Mining Systems.
- Reduce Environmental Risk and Long-Term Liabilities.
The investment in the projects is to advance made-in-Canada solutions, commercialize new, late-stage, high impact mining technologies and accelerate the number and scale of SMEs engaged in mining. MICA is led by The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) of which Newfoundland and Labrador’s College of the North Atlantic is a partner.
econext asking Newfoundland and Labrador’s municipalities to help it build climate change action project list
econext is seeking input from municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador to help it build a list of climate change actions that they are hoping to pursue.
These actions can range from climate change mitigation projects (e.g., initiatives that help decrease greenhouse gas emissions) to adaptation projects (e.g., infrastructure improvements to protect from changing weather conditions) to other environmental projects such as wastewater treatment and waste management.
With more information from municipalities on their climate action priorities, econext can work more proactively and deliberately to support them on a one-on-one basis to pursue partnerships and funding.
Interested municipalities are asked to fill out the survey via the link below. Questions about this initiative can be sent to econext‘s Executive Director, Kieran Hanley, at kieran@econext.ca.
