Articles Page 4

Environmental Business Chronicle
March 2010

In This Issue…

BIOREM Inc. receives $2.4 million in orders for odour control systems
CORRE commissions advanced oil recovery equipment system in Kuwait
Purifics’ Photo-Cat DWS technology chosen to supply drinking water at school
GENIVAR acquires The Thompson Rosemount Group Inc.
The Trow Global Group acquires Barenco
New investment in the clean energy sector expected to reach $175 billion in 2010
Global revenue from major clean-energy sectors totaled $129 billion in 2009
Ground rules on carbon-offset credits set by Western Climate Initiative
Ontario government plans to make the province a global leader in water technology
Researchers find quick and cheap way to depolymerize PET plastic
Researchers show how a film made of nanoparticles can be used to filter water
How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future (Progressive States Network et al., 2010)
SDTC’s SD Tech Fund™ accepting Statements of Interest until April 21st
Clean 15 Clean Tech Competition is accepting applications until April 30th

Business News
BIOREM Inc., based in Guelph, recently announced it had received three orders for large-scale odour control systems for a total value of $2.4 million. BIOREM designs, manufactures and distributes a comprehensive line of high-efficiency air emissions control systems.

Canadian Oil Recovery and Remediation Enterprises Ltd. (TSX-V: CVR), also known as CORRE, recently announced the commissioning of its advanced oil recovery equipment system to clean up 20 tonnes per day of oil waste in southern Kuwait. Optimization of the system is expected during May when the system is expected to be ready for commercial deployment. CORRE specializes in the remediation of oil-contaminated sites and in oil recovery.

Purifics, based in London Ontario, recently had its Photo-Cat DWS technology selected to purify and supply drinking water at an elementary school in Eastern Ontario. The company’s photocatalytic ceramic membrane system is mobile and can treat metals, microorganisms, dissolved solids, and chemicals.

GENIVAR Income Fund (Montreal, Quebec) recently acquired The Thompson Rosemount Group Inc., a multidisciplinary engineering firm with more than 100 employees working out of four offices in Ontario.

Transforce Inc., based in Montreal, recently acquired the Lafleche Environmental Inc. landfill and environmental complex in Moose Creek, Ontario. Transforce Inc., through its waste management subsidiary Matrec, acquired the remaining 50% of the complex that it did not previously own.

The Trow Global Group, headquartered in Brampton, recently acquired Barenco, an Ontario-based firm specializing in brownfields development and remediation technology. Barenco will also operate under its current name as a Trow Global company.

Money and Markets
New investment in clean energy is forecast to be at least $175 billion this year according to projects from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. A total of $162 billion was invested in 2009 on clean energy and $173 billion in 2008.

The combined global revenue for the three major clean-energy sectors (solar, wind, and biofuel) reached $139 billion in 2009 according to the Clean Energy Trends 2010 report issued by Clean Edge Inc. Revenue in the clean-energy market grew 11.4% over 2008. The report estimates that the solar, wind, and biofuel market to reach $325 billion by 2019.

Government Policy and Business
Members of the Western Climate Initiative recently laid out some of the ground rules on the use and timing of carbon-offset credits allowed under its planned emission cap-and-trade system. The seven western U.S. states and four Canadian provinces have decided to stay with a plan laid out last year that would limit use of offset credits and allowances to no more than 49 percent of emission reductions. The trading system is set to launch in 2012.

The Ontario government recently announced that it will introduce legislation that will build on Ontario’s expertise in clean water technology. The Water Opportunities Act will be part of a plan to make the province a global leader in water technology.

Science and Technology
Researchers from IBM and Stanford University have developed a new catalyst able to chemically recycle PET (the type of plastic found in disposable water bottles). The process takes place at 75 degrees Celsius and can inexpensively and relatively quickly depolymerize PET into monomers that can be used to make more PET without any degradation of the material. The researchers published their findings in the journal Macromolecules.

Researchers from North Carolina State University recently described a process of layering nanoparticles that could be used to provide low-cost water purification devices. In a paper, published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, the researchers showed how atomic layer deposition can be used to create a film for coating nonporous membranes which could filter pathogenic bacteria from water.

Publications
Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future (Progressive States Network et al., 2010). The report, written by a coalition of environmental organizations, looks at how technologies including smart buildings, smart grids, teleconferencing, and digital education opportunities can cut carbon emissions and create and retain green jobs in the United States.

Business Opportunities
SDTC’s SD Tech Fund™ will be accepting Statements of Interest (SOI) until April 21st. The Fund invests in late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technologies by Canadian companies. The Statement of Interest (SOI) is an initial application used for preliminary screening of applicants.

The deadline for applying to the Clean 15 Clean Tech Competition is April 30th. The competition is designed to facilitate commercialization for Canada’s clean tech companies. Valued at approximately $80,000, the grand prize gives the winner direct access to influential investors, strategic marketing consultation, and partnership services. To enter, email: info@clean15.com.