Ignite award recipient makes low carbon breakthrough

Former Ignite Award winner NORAM Engineering and researchers from UBC reached a major milestone by proving the viability of making biofuels from wood. The liquid fuel, which has significantly lower carbon emissions than petroleum, is intended to be used for aircrafts. 

The breakthrough came as a result of strong industry-academic relationships—the type of which Innovate BC’s Ignite program helps foster. 

In recent years one of these relationships produced an adaptable and cost-effective electrochemical cell platform project, which helped NORAM secure $150,000 in funding from Innovate BC’s first ever Ignite Awards in 2016.

The cell platforms have many applications, ranging from minerals processing to wastewater and GHG treatment. The cell platform was used in a collaborative project between NORAM and UBC where a novel application that removes carbon dioxide and treats saline water developed at UBC was demonstrated. The process is now being commercialized by Mangrove Water Technologies Ltd.

 “The Ignite funding helped fast-track an exciting new development in the electrochemical conversion of waste gases and saline waters to product, and cemented a partnership with UBC that ultimately allowed scale-up, and a start-up technology venture to take root,” says Ira Wolff, Director of Business Development at NORAM.  

  If you’re working on an industry-led research project in the areas of applied science, engineering or natural resources, submit a Letter of Intent for the next round of Ignite Program funding. You can get up to $300,000 to help commercialize your technology. The deadline is January 27, 2020.