The Town of Conception Bay South is seeking proposals for the development of a strategy outlining Clean Energy Opportunities, Gaps and an Action Plan.
A clear plan to advance clean, renewable and sustainable opportunities within the Town is critical and is an important gap that needs to be filled. An increase in activity focused on clean energy, renewables and sustainability in Conception Bay South will position the already progressive municipality as a leader in environmental sustainability, will stimulate activity and support economic growth in the region. Unlocking the renewable industry and realizing sustainability initiatives will not only help the reduce carbon emissions regionally, but will support growth within the existing business community, in commercial parks, industrial parks and residential areas.
Instructions to proposers and terms of reference that are used as the basis for the proposal can be obtained by contacting the Economic Development Department at (709) 834-6500 ext. 702, or by emailing ecdev@conceptionbaysouth.ca.
Proposals must be received no later than 3:00 pm (NST) Monday, November 6, 2023.
Following years of research and dedication, McCol Metals (McCol) has developed a state-of-the-art process to facilitate the recovery and recycling of platinum group metals (PGMs) from spent mixed metal oxide (MMO) electrodes.
In a world with endless clean growth potential, McCol’s team of innovators are effectively creating value from waste and actively increasing sustainability to global PGMs markets.
In an effort to maximize and accelerate the decarbonization of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore through the development of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), the Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced a new CCUS Innovation Challenge.
econext CEO Kieran Hanley participated in the launch of the CCUS Innovation Challenge, with his remarks captured below.
Thank you Minister Davis.
Good morning everyone. Thank you Premier Furey. Minister Parsons.
On behalf of econext, we are very pleased to be here today at the launch of the CCUS Innovation Challenge.
econext is an association that is working to accelerate clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador by supporting and driving environmentally sustainable economic development.
In recent years we have found ourselves increasingly busy in helping Newfoundland and Labrador explore how it can fight climate change in terms of both strategy and technology.
Our analysis, through our Net Zero Project tells us that net zero by 2050 is simply not achievable in Newfoundland and Labrador (or the world) without initiatives that result in negative greenhouse gas emissions – or, projects that take carbon out of the atmosphere.
Carbon capture, utilization, and storage is a promising technology that can help us get there. It’s a technology with which we have some expertise in this province, and there is great opportunity for green economic development by focusing our efforts on solving this global issue.
And therefore, econext is thrilled with the creation of the CCUS Innovation Challenge. Targeted investments in innovation like the one being made today will help put our province on the leading edge of cleantech development on an international basis.
These technologies need to be advanced in order for us to reach net zero… and as luck would have it, we have no shortage of creative minds in our private sector and have experts in our post-secondary institutions – like Dr. James – that can move the needle forward.
And while some of the focus, rightfully so, is on the development of CCUS as it relates to our offshore oil and gas industry, the long term opportunity here for our province extends beyond that into some exciting areas of technology and we can’t wait to see what comes from this Innovation challenge.
To say that the future is bright for climate action in our province is a bit of an understatement.
From the low-carbon oil that we export, to the future production of clean fuels like hydrogen, to energy storage interventions, to mining the critical minerals that are required for electric vehicles batteries and other clean technologies, to carbon capture utilization and storage… our tiny province of Newfoundland and Labrador is going to have a mighty impact in the world’s fight against climate change. This will be great for our province’s environment and economy.
And so, a congratulations is deserved for Premier Furey, Minister Davis, and Minister Parsons on the launch of the CCUS Innovation Challenge.
Newfoundland and Labrador is positioning itself as an international leader in the energy transition, and timely and aggressive investments like this one go a long way in supporting that.
Worley is a global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts.
Right now, we’re bridging two worlds as we accelerate to more sustainable energy sources, while helping our customers provide the energy, chemicals and resources that society needs now.
We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value over the life of their portfolio of assets. We solve complex problems by finding integrated data-centric solutions from the first stages of consulting and engineering to installation and commissioning, to the last stages of decommissioning and remediation.
SubC Imaging’s mission is to continuously create the most technologically advanced and intelligent subsea imaging equipment and software for marine research, offshore oil and gas, aquaculture, fisheries, and other industries.
Indigenous led /partnered Mekapisk EnviroBlu has a Newfoundland and Labrador produced multi purpose cleaner/degreaser which is non toxic and water based. It is safest in class SDS and is changing the way that industry cleans .
Between September 22-24, 2023, the inaugural econext Ideathon took place, seeing over 50 undergraduate students from Memorial University compete to come up with the best idea to solve energy efficiency challenges in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).
“One of the biggest challenges the world will face in its pursuit of net zero will be how we manage our energy use and the same goes for NL,” said Kieran Hanley, CEO of econext. “What better way is there to come up with some new creative ideas than to engage with the talent in our university?”
Over the course of the weekend, 12 teams made up of undergraduate students across several disciplines developed their ideas and pitched their solutions to a panel of judges for the top prize of $3,000.
“Teams had access to subject matter experts from industry who volunteered their time as mentors,” said Hanley, “plus a series of workshops to help them refine their ideas and present their solutions.”
First Place Winner
The first-place prize, sponsored by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, went to Eco-Elect (Tyara Andhin, Hannah Doyle, Kamsi Ifeanyichukwu, and Saju Vijayakanthanwho) pitched an economic inverter battery service and solution to help balance electricity demand at the residential level.
Second Place Winner
The second-place prize, sponsored by Hatch, went to Gravity (Samuel Adeoye, William Church, Mathew Emshey, and Lumi Oyelowowho) pitched a community-scale gravity-based energy storage system using existing infrastructure.
Third Place Winner
The third-place prize, sponsored by Mysa, went to TBA (Draco Dunphy, Syed Anas Minhaj Kazmi, and Fahim Yasir) who pitched a product and program to have EV owners in the province install smart charging systems to help avoid all EVs being charged at the exact same time.
The event’s opening ceremonies were sponsored by Aker Solutions, with TakeCharge sponsoring and providing support throughout the event.
“The level of excitement we saw this weekend and the quality of the solutions presented was remarkable,” said Hanley. “Our clean energy future is bright. Congratulations to all of those who participated.”
The econext Ideathon was made possible through partnership with the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, and with support from the Government of Canada.
More events will be taking place in 2024-25. If you are interested in partnering on a future event, please contact Alex Rumbolt at alex@econext.ca.
econext is an association that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.
The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization bringing together some of Canada’s largest companies and leading post-secondary institutions. Since 2015, BHER has worked to harness the strengths of Canada’s business and post-secondary education sectors to build opportunities for young Canadians, boost innovation and drive collaboration. Learn more at www.bher.ca. Visit our WIL Hub for ways to explore, invest in and create quality WIL opportunities.
econext has formed a partnership with Marine Institute’s The Launch and the Town of Holyrood to inform job seekers on emerging opportunities in the green/blue economy.
“Our program has a number of components,” said Ogaga Johnson, econext‘s Director of Workforce Development. “The centerpiece of our work is the demonstration of the technologies and services of businesses that are active right here in Newfoundland and Labrador’s blue/green economy.”
Johnson said that the demonstration activities will give 180 job seekers, especially those from underrepresented groups, a chance to see firsthand the exciting and innovative work that companies are doing to understand and reduce environmental impacts on the environment.
Other program components will help meet emerging training needs by developing a plan for the Town of Holyrood to take advantage of evolving workforce needs and raise awareness about the job opportunities with the blue/green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Newfoundland and Labrador has immense expertise providing ocean technology solutions,” said Kieran Hanley, econext‘s CEO. “As the world pivots to the fight against climate change, these companies are well positioned to play a role in that. This program will allow the project partners to understand those green training needs and develop programs to apply them in the blue or ocean context,” said Hanley, noting that the project would benefit econext members, The Launch, the Town of Holyrood, and job seekers.
“We believe this initiative is a huge step in achieving our goal” said Mayor Gary Goobie “Our goal is to establish a cold ocean research and innovation hub, allowing companies and institutions to complete research, analyze data, and develop products to further enhance the global ocean industry while providing economic opportunities and growth in the region”.
The Town of Holyrood strategically established the Oceans Holyrood Initiative (OHI) to enable those engaged in ocean-related activities to have access to cold, clean water to develop technologies and techniques that positively affect the ocean sector.
Mayor Gary Goobie further said “Together with our partners econext and the Marine Institute, the Town of Holyrood is excited by the potential this project holds to bring our Town closer to realizing its goal of ensuring sustainability and growth for the future.”
“The Marine Institute is proud to collaborate with econext on this exciting project that will bring together NL’s Ocean tech community, training providers, and community organizations to create inclusive workforce development opportunities in the blue and green economies.” said Kelley Santos, Director of The Launch. Santos said that the Marine Institute’s Ocean innovation centre, The Launch, located in the Town of Holyrood, will provide access to workspaces, technology, vessels, and technical support for ten local oceans companies to “demonstrate their technology and provide training opportunities for their teams, collectively strengthening our capacity to sustainably manage our oceans from right here in NL.”
Matthew Grimes, Director of Business Development and Research at Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University said “econext’s mandate to support environmental technology and innovation is closely aligned with the Fisheries and Marine Institute’s work to foster economic development in ocean-related sectors. The Fisheries and Marine Institute has extensive experience in responding to industry needs and delivering community-based education and training. Through this partnership with econext, we can do even more to support Newfoundland and Labrador’s growing ocean and green economies.”
“The Government of Canada invests in economic diversification to help communities thrive and create new opportunities for people. This funding will help ensure that communities are driving their economic future while helping workers to develop the skills they need to get the jobs they want,” said Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault.
Information on upcoming events on October 12, 17, 19, and 24 can be found here. For partnership, inquiries, or more information about the program, please contact Ogaga Johnson at ogaga@econext.ca.
About econext econext is a not-for-profit association that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, working on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development.
About The Launch The Launch is the Marine Institute’s and Memorial University’s Ocean Innovation Centre, a state-of-the-art living lab that provides access to the world’s harshest cold-ocean environments and supports the development of ocean technology through R&D, testing, and demonstration to prove its real-world readiness. Users can train for safety and survival and operate technologies in conditions that accurately reflect those faced in the field. Developed by world-leading experts at Memorial University’s Marine Institute, The Launch provides the ultimate “proving waters” to put equipment, people, and ideas to the ultimate test.
About the Town of Holyrood
The Town of Holyrood is located on Canada’s east coast, making it the ideal location for all ocean-related industries. With access to some of the coldest waters in the world, a pristine harbour with world-class research facilities, and ample land and real estate available for development, Holyrood is the place to be.
This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Community Workforce Development Program.
Join us for our upcoming webinar on the topic of Environmental Emergency Regulations, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Dive into the ever-evolving landscape of environmental regulations and guidelines designed to safeguard our planet. Whether you’re an environmental enthusiast, a professional in the field, or simply curious about our environmental future, this webinar is tailored for you.
Date: November 30, 2023 Time: 11:00 AM (Newfoundland Daylight Time) Cost: Free!
The Environmental Emergency (E2) Regulations, 2019 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 are one of the instruments used by the Government of Canada to protect Canadians and the environment. They are designed to reduce the frequency and impacts of environmental emergencies involving accidental releases of hazardous substances, such as oil and chemical spills, from facilities in Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is responsible for administering and enforcing these Regulations.
The E2 Regulations, 2019 apply to any person or company that owns or has the charge, management, or control of any of the 249 listed hazardous substances located at any fixed land-based facility in Canada.
During this webinar, we will explore important topics including:
What are the major requirements under the Regulations?
What is the purpose of an Environmental Emergency Plan?
What are the obligations to inform the public?
Who can access the online Environmental Emergencies, 2019 database?
Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to enhance your knowledge and contribute to a greener future. Register now and secure your spot.
