NGIF ACCELERATOR through its Industry Grants program provides funding for the commercialization of NU:IONIC’s low-carbon hydrogen

NEW BRUNSWICK (April 11, 2024): NGIF Accelerator and its Industry Grants program is proud to announce $316,841 in funding for the commercialization of Fredericton, NB Nu:ionic Technologies’ (Canada), Inc. (“Nu:ionic”) proprietary Microwave Catalytic Reformers^TM (MCRs) and reforming process technology to produce low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen. This technology aims to significantly reduce GHG emissions, changing the way energy is produced.

Through their compact and efficient MCRs, Nu:ionic harnesses the power of renewable electricity and natural gas or biogas to produce clean, low-carbon hydrogen cost-effectively. This process produces hydrogen with varying carbon intensities, from carbon-negative renewable hydrogen using biogas to low-carbon hydrogen using natural gas.

The modular and scalable nature of the MCR system opens multiple possibilities for applications, ranging from small volumes of landfill gas to natural gas grid injection of hydrogen and emissions reduction in industrial fuel gas systems.

Within the year, Nu:ionic Technologies will deploy a fully integrated demonstration unit including a hydrogen purification and carbon capture system that produces readily transportable and commodity-grade liquid CO₂ for reuse or sequestration at a customer site in Western Canada. This unit will target the production of 200-400 kg/day of low-carbon hydrogen for applications such as zero-emission fuel cell vehicles or fuel blending to lower the emissions of natural gas-fired turbines.

“We are excited to support Nu:ionic Technologies in their work to reduce emissions with their industrial microwave technology to produce cleaner, low-cost hydrogen,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator and Managing Partner of NGIF Cleantech Ventures. “Our Industry Grants program and its focus on de-risking clean technologies through field trials and pilots are part of NGIF’s integrated model of industry validation, customer creation, and technology commercialization.”

“Thanks to funding from partners like NGIF Accelerator, we are bringing clean and affordable energy innovation to life. Our industrial microwave electrification technology is replacing the most prominently used and energy-intensive Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) industrial process with a low-cost and low-carbon hydrogen production alternative, which is available now,” said CEO Nu:ionic Technologies Jan Boshoff. “We are excited to work with other customers and strategic partners to help them achieve their sustainability goals.”

“Canadians want and need the affordable, reliable, clean energy service offering they have come to expect from the natural gas industry. When we created NGIF, it was our vision to bring the entire natural gas value chain together to support cleantech development that enhances environmental and economic performance for the sector. I am glad to see our vision in action as NGIF continues to support technologies like Nu:ionic’s electrified reformer process,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.

Industry Grants Participants and Project Partners:

About the NGIF Accelerator
NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital and will operate all technology and innovation programs. The NGIF Accelerator mandate is to de-risk and accelerate technology development by supporting startups through their pilot projects, field trials, and industry validation. It will coordinate with federal and provincial governments to co-fund projects to advance market commercialization. NGIF Accelerator currently operates the Industry Grants program and the Emissions Testing Centre program.

About the Industry Grants Program
The Industry Grants program is industry-led and offers non-dilutive grants to fund early-stage startups for technology development and field demonstration. The program specifically de-risks pre-commercial technology solutions that have the potential to increase the environmental performance of the natural gas sector. Each project in the program will accelerate technology readiness level progressions through controlled pilot testing and field trials to advance commercialization. The Industry Grants program is operated by the NGIF Accelerator.

About Nu:ionic Technologies
Nu:ionic Technologies is a developer of proprietary industrial microwave technology and equipment that enables its customers to realize net-zero goals through electrification. The company’s Microwave Catalytic Reforming™ technology enables the production of low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen for zero-emission transportation, biogas upgrading, and natural gas emissions reduction applications. The Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada location is home to Nu:ionic’s Canadian headquarters, innovation center, and testing and demonstration facility. The company also operates in the United States from its Tulsa, Oklahoma, office, serving as the U.S. sales, marketing, and integrated product development center.

About Canadian Gas Association
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gas energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen. Its members are distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, suppliers and other service providers. Today, natural gas meets 38 per cent of the country’s energy needs.