A Squamish company will be sucking out carbon dioxide from the air in Merritt with the support of a $2-million cash injection from the provincial government.
Squamish’s Huron Clean Energy is spearheading the project. It has a licensing agreement to use technology from Carbon Engineering, a local high-profile corporation making headlines for its carbon-capture technology.
Huron intends to construct a commercial carbon-capture plant that will absorb carbon from the atmosphere and convert it into fuels that can replace standard diesel, marine and aviation fuel.
“Our vision at Huron Clean Energy is to inspire a global shift toward preserving the planet, and we hope to realize this through the deployment of Carbon Engineering͛s game-changing technology across Canada,” said Michael Hutchison, the CEO of Huron in a news release.
“This will be pure Canadian innovation. In co-operation with First Nations partners and Carbon Engineering, we will leverage our collective expertise to deliver facilities that will bring significant emissions reductions and environmental benefits. They will also lead to the development of new Canadian industries and thousands of Canadian jobs.”
Huron’s project is expected to use BC Hydro’s hydroelectricity, and integrate green hydrogen production.
This project is expected to produce 103 million litres of fuel per year, which requires the annual input of 250,000 tonnes of captured carbon, 315 megawatts of electricity and 35,200 tonnes of hydrogen for the fuel synthesis process.
“͞The Merritt Electro Fuels Project advances made-in-B.C. technology to capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and convert it into clean fuels,” said Energy Minister Bruce Ralston in the news release. ͞”This innovative, world-leading project will support our economy’s shift away from fossil fuels while creating new jobs and opportunities for British Columbians.”
According to the news release, this project will create about 620 direct jobs will be created during the design and development phases of the project, with another 4,780 direct jobs during construction and 340 long-term jobs during the plant͛’s operation.
For the project, Huron has an equity partnership and land-lease arrangement with the Upper Nicola Band, which will receive a substantial part of the equity interest in the project as consideration for the land lease and other services.