Daily Hive. The role of cleantech companies in British Columbia

I wrote an opinion piece for Daily Hive a while back about cleantech companies in BC, and decided it was time to revisit it. I’m a strong supporter of cleantech and as a virtual CTO, I’m particularly interested in working with cleantech firms to support their vision of a brighter, greener Canada.

Canada's approach to climate change often seems more like making promises than taking real action, a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed by our global peers who've begun to see us lag behind in the race for meaningful change.

To truly prepare for a cleaner and more sustainable future, we'll need some impressive technology. Thankfully, British Columbia is home to numerous companies that are leading the charge in this transformation. In fact, BC boasts over a quarter of all of Canada's cleantech companies, making it a crucial player in the green revolution.

Cleantech companies in BC are boosting Canada’s ‘green’ image

Let's dive into some of the region's most innovative green tech firms, starting with one striving to make fusion power a reality.

Fusion power has long been a tantalizing concept - the "always twenty years away" energy source. But now, that notion is changing. General Fusion, based in Burnaby, is on the brink of selecting a site for its Fusion Demonstration Plant. Chief Business Development Officer, Jay Brister, confidently states that their company is poised to double in size to support this groundbreaking project.

The Fusion Demonstration Plant aims to validate the performance and economics of their Magnetized Target Fusion technology at a scale relevant to power plants. If it succeeds, it could be a game-changer. Fusion energy, with zero greenhouse gas emissions and astonishing fuel efficiency, might become commercially viable by the 2030s, offering a powerful tool in the battle against climate change.

Right now, EVs are all the rage. But hydrogen-powered vehicles might be gaining momentum. They have long grappled with the classic "chicken and egg" problem. To truly take off, they need infrastructure similar to gasoline stations. But Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corporation (HTEC) is poised to tackle this challenge. Its recent growth could put it in a position to unlock hydrogen’s potential to reduce pollution and climate change by building hydrogen supply solutions and station networks.

Over the past year, HTEC has experienced substantial growth, including a significant equity investment, positioning it to unlock hydrogen's potential to reduce pollution and combat climate change by establishing hydrogen supply solutions and station networks. HTEC has expanded its team by 50 percent and is committed to making zero-emission travel and transport both accessible and convenient. Hydrogen, if adopted at scale, could meet a significant portion of global energy demand, create millions of jobs, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

BC's cleantech heroes are gaining attention…and funding

A recent government funding announcement for select BC cleantech companies underlines their significant potential impact:

Axine Water Technologies secured $6.2 million for the development and demonstration of a cutting-edge, digitized wastewater treatment system.

And Terramera Inc. received $7.9 million to develop a soil carbon validation tool, harnessing advanced technology to revolutionize agriculture economics.

BC's cleantech innovators are making impressive strides, and the transformational potential of these companies could reshape Canada – and the world – as we know it.

Let 555 vCTO help you assess your cleantech startup’s business model

Are you just starting in the cleantech space? 555 vCTO can assess your minimum viable product. Is your business ready for the next stage? We offer market validation services to gauge the interest of potential customers for your product. And if you’re scaling up, 555 vCTO experts can build a strategic plan to get you past the ‘growth’ hump. Ready to get started? Contact 555 vCTO today.