The Canadian economy became cleaner today as 16 new projects that develop and demonstrate emerging clean technologies were awarded $53 million.

The clean technology projects included in this funding round offer technological solutions to many of the challenges Canada faces in strengthening the economy while responding to environmental issues.

The breadth of technologies and the cross-country representation of this funding round address multiple sectors of the Canadian economy.

There are several advanced technology projects applicable to the forestry, wood products, and pulp and paper product industries coming from BC and Ontario. One converts forest waste into a more usable bio-carbon for energy production while the other uses sophisticated processes to create a biolatex binder for paperboard manufacturing which is potentially superior to the petrochemical alternative.

These innovations can be used in multiple major economic sectors ranging from power generation to agriculture and waste management.

One of larger clean energy projects funded was a $5.5 million investment to Performance Plants Inc., of Kingston, Ontario to perfect an energy production technology using a process that will facilitate the complex production of lignocellulosic ethanol while reducing the amount of energy required. This process will be integrated into an existing ethanol facility on a pre-commercial, pilot scale using corn cobs - the non-food residuals from harvesting corn - as the feedstock.

The agricultural community needs ways to reduce costs and environmental impacts which, in this example, can be achieved using a disruption nano-technology platform for delivery of agricultural chemicals in food production.

An energy-efficient building technology that has the potential to cut home heating costs by 10% while simultaneously improving indoor air quality.

“It’s especially important now for this government to support clean technologies such as these that provide opportunities for economic growth while offering innovative solutions to help tackle climate change,” said Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt. “Our government is working to accelerate key investments in Canada’s infrastructure in order to create jobs and help stimulate our economy.”

These new investments bring SDTC’s total portfolio value to over $1.3 billion. SDTC’s SD Tech Fund^TM has completed thirteen funding rounds, committing $376 million to 154 clean technology projects, and leveraging $905 million from project consortia members. These figures include adjustments made to the portfolio.

“Clean technologies provide us the necessary tools to green our economy,” said SDTC President and CEO Vicky Sharpe. “Increasing the amount of clean technologies that are developed, demonstrated and ultimately commercialized here in Canada is the key to a vibrant and sustainable Canadian economy.”

The newly funded projects are representative of the investment priorities established in the SD Business Cases^TM, a series of five reports published by SDTC and which provide strategic insights into specific economic sectors, including clean conventional fuels, biofuels and commercial buildings.

SDTC launched its latest call for Statements of Interest (SOI) for the SD Tech Fund on February 25, 2009. Applicants with projects that bring technological solutions which fall under the investment priorities established in the SD Business Cases^TM (available in the Knowledge Centre section of the SDTC website at www.sdtc.ca ) or that address climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil issues are encouraged to apply. Solutions that address more than one focus area are of greatest interest.

About SDTC

SDTC is an arm’s-length foundation which has received $1.05 billion from the Government of Canada as part of its commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of life for all Canadians.

SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech Fund^TM supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund^TM supports the establishment of first-of-kind large demonstration-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels.

SDTC operates as a not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the public and private sector including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the financial community and all levels of government to achieve this mandate.

Detailed information on the 16 projects, including their descriptions, can be found on the SDTC website.