Getting to net-zero means doubling down in ocean

For years, rainforests served as a common climate barometer. They have essentially been exhibit A in assessing the health of the planet, and unfortunately, the pace of environmental destruction. While not widely known, oceans now absorb more carbon than the rainforest, and Canada’s ocean is home to the world’s largest carbon sink. In July of this year, scientists confirmed, for the first time, that the Amazon rainforest is emitting more carbon than it is absorbing. The job of our ocean in the fight against climate change has become far more crucial than ever before. While the world is about to have a critical conversation about the climate crisis at COP26 this week, there are also some important answers for Canada here at home: In Nova Scotia, a company called Graphene Innovative Technologies is leading the development and testing of graphene nanotechnology coatings for vessels that reduce fuel consumption, prevent leaching, and reduce underwater radiant noise. Recent testing of the technology by Transport Canada shows the coating provides a 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption in small boats, and this fall it will be further tested on larger vessels through the Smart Protective Coatings project together with Horizon Maritime and other collaborators. Kendra MacDonald is the CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. Photograph courtesy of Canada's Ocean Supercluster Focused on developing greener fuel, Alberta’s Katal Energy is leading Project Orca, which provides lower-carbon fuel for vessels, terminal operations, and other marine activity. This innovative fuel is transitionary so we can begin to reduce carbon emissions now while work continues towards longer-term, carbon-neutral solutions. Requiring no retrofitting of vessels or equipment, the fuel was recently used on a 48-foot vessel in Nova Scotia, where preliminary results demonstrated greater reductions in carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and unburnt hydrocarbons than expected. Meanwhile, in Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI, partners Duxion Motors and Aspen Kemp & Associates are developing a hybrid diesel-electric prototype for vessels through its Split Permanent Magnet Hybrid Propulsion Motor project. This industry-leading technology will serve as a solution for reduced diesel consumption for existing marine vessels in the not-so-distant future. The electrification of large vessels is the focus of Corvus Energy’s project led from British Columbia. Through the Field Validation of Energy Storage System project, the company is working with end-user Seaspan Ferries and other partners to develop an energy-dense, multi-megawatt battery energy storage system that will make electrification of larger vessels at zero emissions for extended periods viable. Ontario’s BMT is leading the Ocean Smart Energy Grid project that will help reduce the dependence on diesel power generation in northern and rural communities and increase the opportunity for the integration of different kinds of renewable energy. The project team is developing a single, responsive controller that has algorithms to manage many community systems, leveraging renewable energy sources instead of diesel—as much as possible—to meet the specific power needs of each community. And, as we increasingly seek opportunities for continuous use of ocean outputs, Nova Scotia’s DeNova is focused on the circular economy with the development of two breakthrough technologies. In their Sustainable Protein for Aquaculture project, the company is working with partners across the Atlantic Region to take carbon emissions from upstream oil and gas and use them in the development of sustainable feed for aquaculture, thereby reducing emissions, waste, and creating value. Our ocean plays a leading role in how we can sustainably feed the world, move goods and people, create the energy we need, and also absorb harmful emissions and helps regulate our planet. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and its network of more than 430 members from coast-to-coast-to-coast are tackling these issues and some of the world’s biggest challenges in ocean. Eighty-six per cent of the 64 Ocean Supercluster projects approved to date are led by small and medium-sized companies, delivering more than 100 new ocean products, processes, and services that will help change the world. This work, including those projects outlined above, will help Canada reach its net-zero targets and create thousands of new jobs in the process. Getting to net-zero means doubling down in ocean. This is Canada’s time to lead the way. Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster The Hill Times