Government of Canada Supports Clean Technology and Training in Mapping Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

More than $450,000 from the Government of Canada will support Geoscience BC Society's Emission Measurement System project.

VANCOUVER, Sept. 29, 2017 /CNW/ - BC's clean technology industry will benefit from over $450,000 in funding from the Government of Canada to support Geoscience BC Society's new atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measurement system. The system uses an Open-path Laser Optical Spectrometer (OPLS) developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The sensor will be connected to a small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV)—also referred to as a drone—to accurately map and record the location of fugitive GHG emissions by flying over location sites and recording emission levels.

The funding was announced today by Jonathan Wilkinson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention.

The funding will also support training for staff to survey and interpret the GHG emissions data. The ability to map site-specific GHG emissions will help Geoscience BC to develop the first location-based Canadian GHG inventory, providing data for research and strategic emission reduction efforts.

This investment is being made through the Western Diversification Program, the main program through which WD makes strategic investments in initiatives that enhance and strengthen the economy of Western Canada.

Quotes

"Our government believes in using evidence-based decision making to create policies that benefit all Canadians. This includes our approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are proud to support made-in-Canada solutions that bolster industry, create highly skilled jobs and protect our environment. Congratulations to Geoscience BC for its efforts to make Canada a global leader in innovation and the fight against climate change."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

"Independent scientific data is essential in making informed decisions relating to natural resource development. The potential for future commercialization of this impressive technology means sharing a wealth of information to the rest of Canada and the world. Thanks to the support from the Government of Canada, this technology will be used to map greenhouse gas emissions in Northeast British Columbia and beyond to help the resource sector, First Nations, governments and communities to make more informed resource management decisions."

- Carlos Salas, Geoscience BC Vice President of Energy

Quick Facts

• Through the OPLS/sUAV technology, Geoscience BC will help create the first Canadian greenhouse gas inventory based on real-time data.
  
  
• This technology monitors greenhouse gas emissions in real time and in high definition. 
  
  
• Once testing is complete, the technology will be commercialized to help industries detect and fix leaks in containment systems, which can help increase productivity and output while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada