Alberta Innovates recently received funding to establish a specialized production and testing facility that will aim to commercialize technologies which convert Alberta-sourced bitumen into carbon fibre.
The provincial organization garnered $10 million from Prairies Economic Development Canada’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, it was announced this week.
“This funding will accelerate the development and commercialization of carbon fibre technologies in Alberta,” stated Michael Mahon, who is currently serving as interim chief of Alberta Innovates amid a leadership shuffle.
Mahon says carbon fibre could be “a key pathway to a net-zero emissions future.”
“The facility will allow carbon fibre producers and manufacturers to meet the needs of climate sensitive markets and get a step closer new advanced materials industry,” he said, suggesting advances in the technology could “dramatically reduce emissions and enable a new Canadian competitive advantage in a low-carbon economy.”
Alberta Innovates will work with Harper International, who will engineer and build the equipment for the new carbon fibre testing facility, according to a statement from the organization.
InnoTech Alberta will house the facility at the Edmonton Research Park location and operate it day-to-day.
Participants in Phase III of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge will be among the first to use this new equipment, Alberta Innovates says, as they test and validate their own processes and begin to scale-up the amounts of carbon fibre required for commercial applications.
“This investment in Alberta Innovates will enable the commercialization of new technologies that support Canada’s commitment to a net-zero economy and sustainable jobs for Albertans,” stated Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan.
“We look forward to the results of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge, which has the potential to create jobs in a new industry, and to attract investment,” added Nate Glubish, Alberta Minister of Technology and Innovation.
The new carbon fibre testing facility will have open-access and it is expected to be operational by early 2025.
Alberta Innovates manages nearly 1,300 projects in a portfolio valued at $1.33 billion.
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