Clean50’s Clean Tech Nominees for 2024 – Part 4 of 8
This week featuring Li-Cycle, Lightspark Software Inc., Livestock Water Recycling, Lucent Bio, Meta Materials Inc., Miru Smart Technologies Corp., and Moment Energy.
Each year the Clean50 Awards attract more worthy nominees than we can possibly include on our list when we release it each fall (this year September 28th), and that’s an incredible shame – because this year we have 60 incredible nominees in the Cleantech and R&D categories alone. It’s great to know that clean tech innovation is alive and well in this country!
But innovation is not enough: Organizations and individual Canadians need to make the conscious choice to support made-in-Canada innovation – and buy Canadian wherever and whenever they can. Because here’s the thing: the incredible sums of money Joe Biden has invested in US based clean tech and the tax advantages he has conferred on clean tech investors means that US based clean tech companies are rich with cash – and they can afford to buy up Canadian competitors, and then take the intellectual property – and the jobs – and the revenues – to the USA. So we’re trying to do our part and show you 60 companies doing amazing stuff – and we hope you’ll do your part – and BUY some of it!
As we go through this process, we’ve been amazed at where some of our clean tech innovation is coming from: It’s not just start ups and university labs. We’re featuring lots of those, for sure – but also a company capturing kelp from the seabed – turning it into compostable plastic, and another recycling abandoned plastic fishing nets into brand new plastic, and a company which has figured out a way to make boats really really slippery. How does that help? you ask… you’ll find out – if you keep reading!
We promise – each of the 8 articles in this series will open your mind to some seriously cool possibilities! Congratulations to all of our nominees!
Li-Cycle
Clean50 Nominees: Ajay Kochar, Chris Biederman, Debbie Simpson, and Tim Johnston
Toronto, ON
What does the product do?
Li-Cycle is a leading global lithium-ion battery resource recovery company and North America’s largest pure-play lithium-ion battery recycler, with a rapidly growing presence across Europe. Established in 2016, and with major customers and partners around the world, Li-Cycle is on a mission to recover critical battery-grade materials to create a domestic closed-loop battery supply chain for a clean energy future. The Company leverages its innovative, sustainable, and patent-protected Spoke & Hub Technologies™ to provide a safe, scalable, customer-centric solution to recycle all different types of lithium-ion batteries.
Who should buy it?
Target customers are companies that produce or have access to EOL lithium-ion batteries.
Lightspark Software Inc.
Clean50 Nominee: James Riley, CEO
Vancouver, BC
What does the product do?
Our software helps cities, utilities and financial institutions measure, predict and validate carbon emissions in their customer’s homes – and then connect to homeowners through providing a data-rich enabling platform that makes energy efficiency choices easier for multiple use cases. In short, it maps the carbon and energy intensity in communities while providing a consumer-driven application that connects homeowners to energy advisors, trades and financing.
Who should buy it?
Cities, utilities and financial institutions.
Livestock Water Recycling
Clean50 Nominee: Karen Schuett, CEO & Co-Founder
Calgary, AB
What does the product do?
Operating at the intersection of cleantech, green energy production and agriculture, LWR’s high-tech, digital approach to on farm resource recovery enables farm-level livestock producers to engage in an exciting new profit dynamic where they become carbon negative energy producers, resulting in net-zero food production and increased food for the supply chain. This award-winning resource recovery technology reduces the environmental impacts of food and energy production while increasing profitability through the creation of new revenue opportunities including methane avoidance credits.
Who should buy it?
Livestock Producers, Biogas/RNG Project Developers, and Food Processors.
Lucent Bio
Clean50 Nominee: Michael Riedjik, CEO
Vancouver, BC
What does the product do?
Our first line of products, Soileos, use cellulose fibers as a carrier for key crop nutrients. When we use our patented process to bind nutrients to cellulose, this imparts a novel mode of action that separates Soileos from the competition. As a result of this unique composition of matter and mode of action farmers and their agronomists will see improved nutrient recovery, product quality, and yield response compared to alternatives. We typically see returns of 20$/acre or more! In a preliminary study, a third-party consultant concluded that Soileos can offset up to 8 tonnes of carbon per acre.
Who should buy it?
Our target customers encompass food processors, wholesale distributors, input retailers, and, most importantly, farmers themselves. Anyone seeking enhanced crop yields, improved soil health, and responsible nutrient stewardship can benefit from adopting our transformative solution, Soileos.
Meta Materials Inc.
Clean50 Nominee: Dr. George Palikaras, President & CEO
Dartmouth, NS
What does the product do?
Meta Materials Inc. (META®), is an advanced materials and nanotechnology company. It develops new products and technologies using sustainable science. Advanced materials improve the surfaces that surround us, making them smarter and more sustainable. META’s banknote security features and authentication products are made without the use of dyes or inks.
Who should buy it?
META’s technology platform enables global brands to develop new products for its customers in aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, authentication, 5G communications, batteries, automotive and clean energy. META has worked with some of the world’s leading companies including Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Dupont Teijin Films, PPG, Mitsubishi Electric and Sekisui.
Miru Smart Technologies Corp.
Clean50 Nominee: Danielle Salvatore, Senior Director, Technology
Vancouver, BC
What does the product do?
Miru smart windows let you electronically control the tint of your window to respond to the weather, the time of day, and the seasons. By blocking out heat in the summer and allowing warmth in the winter, our smart windows increase building energy efficiencies by 20%. We are disrupting how smart windows are produced and distributed, with a patented process that lowers costs, improves performance and significantly reduces embedded carbon emissions—enhancing the well-being of people and our planet.
Who should buy it?
We work closely with glass fabricators, installers and builders to enable the widespread deployment of smart windows.
Moment Energy
Clean50 Nominee: Gurmesh Sidhu, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer
Coquitlam, BC
What does the product do?
The Flora Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) uses second-life EV batteries to decrease demand charges, provide reliable power, and integrate with renewable energy. Our solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, which can significantly reduce infrastructure upgrade costs, making it a reliable and cost-effective option.
Who should buy it?
Our BESS can be used by on-grid or off-grid businesses with high energy costs, allowing them to increase control of their energy consumption. Companies installing EV fast charging stations facing high upgrade costs can save on those costs while providing clean and reliable power.
