BCNZIN: Building BC's Low-Carbon Economy Challenge
The BCNZIN Challenge Series drives cleantech innovation in British Columbia by connecting industry with innovators to solve sustainability challenges.
Challenge Launch: October 2023
Solving BC Sustainability Challenges Through Cleantech Innovation
Foresight's BC Net Zero Innovation Network(BCNZIN) Challenge hosted an open call for innovative solutions in the areas of water, transportation, bioeconomy, and mining to support BC's transition to a low-carbon economy.
While the outcomes are still in development, the winning solutions in sustainable packaging and net zero housing have significant potential to advance sustainability, resource efficiency and reduce emissions.
Read more about this Challenge below.
Challenge Statement & Opportunity
Challenge Statement: BCNZIN sought solutions for potential projects to support and build out. This included bringing on additional funders, research, opportunities assessments, feasibility studies, administrative support, and other services to get projects off the ground.
Innovators had the opportunity to have their BC-based projects support up to 50% of costs for activities below:
- Developing Business Case for breaking into new markets, including access/introductions with industry in these markets
- Research support: feasibility, data tracking, and other information needed for adoption
- Project development, management, and finding additional funders to scale the project
- Media and promotion support: blog posts, case studies on any joint project work
- Contractor support for pilot projects or third party consultants
*Projects could have been up to $300K
Solutions & Winners
Na'aabi Scale And Innovation Lab (NSAIL): NSAIL is an innovative solution that uses low-cost, energy-efficient, "hot-pour" machinery to produce samples and full-sized products in compostable packaging for various cosmetics, including balms, foundations, and lipsticks.
Rohe Homes: Rohe Homes Ltd. is dedicated to innovating an Integrated Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) to help accelerate net-zero housing solutions by featuring a bioplastic foam core, aiming to replace the existing EPS-based SIPs utilized in their proprietary Lotus series of folding modular homes.
The Partner
Foresight’s BCNZIN is an initiative to build capacity and accelerate British Columbia’s transition to a clean, net zero economy by fast-tracking the development and adoption of clean technology solutions.
The network brings together the British Columbia cleantech ecosystem, creating opportunities for collaboration and connection among industry, innovators, investors, academia, government and First Nations working to make meaningful progress towards net zero climate goals.
Our programming facilitates innovation scouting and curated connections, supports pilot projects, and efficiently evaluates new technologies with programming to develop investor readiness.
We provide access to sector experts to support with project evaluation & research, grant writing and finding pathways to funding, and providing access to industry ecosystem clusters for innovators to de-risk project development and mitigate costs.
Background & Considerations
This call for solutions was designed to support BC-based projects in the adoption of cleantech within four industry sectors: water, transportation, mining and bioeconomy. The following barriers were identified and needed to be overcome to be considered a successful solution:
1
Adoption viability (who is the buyer)
2
Regulatory/Procurement
3
Implementation
4
Cost
5
Scalability of technology
6
Regional challenges
Four Sector Challenges
Each sector had its own unique challenges. Download the Challenge Guide for more detailed information.
Water
Globally, over 10% of greenhouse gas emissions come from water-related categories, including utilities, land use, and water systems.
To address water treatment and distribution emissions, BCNZIN was looking for solutions that decrease municipal and industrial water loss by 10% or less through sustainable water solutions.
Water loss solutions include:
- Developing Business Case for breaking into new markets, including access/introductions with industry in these markets
- Water & Climate: Mitigation & Adaptation
- Circular Water: Resource & Water Reuse
- Smart Water: Digital solutions, including sensors, software, and analytics
Transportation
The Transportation sector accounts for the largest share of Provincial greenhouse gas emissions in British Columbia.
To transition the BC transportation sector to low-carbon, BCNZIN was looking for solutions that decrease transportation-related emissions by 50%.
Clean transportation solutions include:
- Low-Carbon and Zero-Emission Vehicle Technologies
- Charging and Fueling Infrastructure
- Telematics, Smart Mobility, and Intelligent Transportation Systems
Mining
Canada’s ability to sell carbon-neutral critical minerals to the clean tech sector requires a dramatic change in how mining operations are currently powered and is a key priority for competitive success.
The ability of both operational and planned mines to access carbon neutral or negative, sustainable and clean energy systems for their operations will significantly impact GHG emissions reductions for the mining sector and accelerate the sector’s ability to hit BC’s CleanEnergy emission reduction targets.
BCNZIN was looking for solutions that would connect 100% of active BC mines to clean energy systems.
Forest Bioeconomy
While much work has begun to decarbonise the sector, significant challenges are still ahead.
BCNZIN was looking for solutions that lead to a competitive, valuable, and net zero forest sector through increased revenues generated through wildfire resiliency, sustainable value-add manufacturing and net zero operations by more than 20%.
Bioeconomy solutions include:
- Bioproducts commercialization
- Mill residuals utilization
- Sustainable access and utilization of fibre
- Utilizing high tech to better forest management strategies and practice
Evaluation & Eligibility
Key assessment and eligibility criteria included:
- TRL 6+
- British Columbia: the project must be carried out by a BC company or take place in BC
- Reduced Emissions: the project must have an emissions reduction potential
- Cross Ecosystem Collaboration: the project brings multiple partners together within the ecosystem
- Short-Medium Term Adoption: the project has a potential buyer, provides economic development, and demonstrates a clear pathway to adoption
Updates
July 2024: BCNZIN is working with Winners
BCNZIN is currently working with Rohe Homes and NSAIL to explore how their projects can be supported, including conducting Life Cycle Assessments and market research studies.
January 2024: Winners Announced
NSAIL and Rohe Homes' s were selected as the Challenge Winners.
October 2023: Challenge Launches
Our Partners
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions, as well as support from Pacific Economic Development Canada.
Find Market-Ready Innovation without the Risk
We connect industry with the world's best clean technologies. From agriculture to water to oil and gas, our Challenge program works to connect end-users with cleantech solutions to overcome sustainability and operational hurdles.