British Columbia is investing $35 million towards new clean energy projects, through the CleanBC Industry Fund.
The fund invests part of B.C.’s industrial carbon pricing system into projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial operations.
Businesses are eligible to apply if they have emissions over 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year and report their greenhouse gas emissions.
The province said since launching in 2019, the fund has committed more than $368 million to 173 projects throughout B.C. It said those projects are expected to reduce more than 14 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over 10 years.
In the Kootenays region, $1,476,887 has been awarded in funding, including:
- Teck Resources Limited, Trail $500,558
Piloting Biocarbon at Teck Trail Operations Project
Teck Resources at its Trail operation facility in the Kootenay region will demonstrate the use of biocarbon to partially replace fossil-based metallurgical coal and coke in order to support future capital investment and reduce fossil fuel-derived emissions from pyrometallurgical processes. - Domtar Inc. – Kootenay, $75,879
Heavy Black Liquor Tanks Capacity Increase
Domtar proposes enhancing operations at the mill by installing a larger firing liquor storage tank for the recovery boiler. This upgrade aims to reduce natural gas consumption, minimizing interruptions during process upsets. - Mercer Celgar Limited Partnership – Kootenay $900,450
New Power Boiler
Mercer Celgar will assess the feasibility of replacing existing power boiler with a bubbling fluidized bed power boiler. This technology can enhance the operation’s competitiveness by allowing increased electricity export to BC Hydro and almost eliminating natural gas usage.
Teck Resources Limited used support from the fund to pilot the use of biocarbon to partially replace fossil fuels in critical mineral and metal production. The project supports research and development of cleaner industrial processes that could significantly reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sectors.
“This project helps us explore cleaner technologies that could shift the way critical minerals and metals are made in B.C.,” said Matt Parrilla, general manager, Trail operations, Teck. “It supports long-term sustainability for workers and communities that rely on critical mineral and metal production.”
The latest data from the province show B.C. reported 65.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2022.
The province said the CleanBC Fund has leveraged an average of two dollars in additional investment from industry and other partners for every one dollar invested.
Applications for the 2025 funding round are open.
A list of 2024 funding recipients is posted on the B.C Government’s website.
