SDTC calls for applications to $500M biofuel fund

A nonprofit funded by the Canadian federal government announced today its latest call for applications for its $500 million fund created to support next-generation biofuel projects in the nation.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada manages the fund, which is to help build large demonstration-scale facilities for first-of-its-kind technologies already demonstrated at pre-commercial scale.

SDTC said the fund will cover up to 40 percent of a project's cost, with the money to be repaid over 10 years after the project's completion "based on free cash flow." The projects must be located in Canada and use feedstocks available in Canada.

Examples of potential biomass feedstock include municipal waste, agricultural and forest residues, and perennial crops on marginal land.

Earlier today, Montreal, Canada-based Enerkem said it received environmental approval to build a commercial facility to turn municipal solid waste into ethanol and chemicals in Edmonston, Alberta (see Enerkem to build N.America's first waste-to-biofuel plant).

SDTC has received $1.05 billion from the Canadian government to fuel the growth of the cleantech industry, with $500 million to support biofuels and $550 million to support other projects that address climate change, air quality, water quality and clean soil. That fund allocated C$53 million to 16 startups in March (see Canada funds 16 cleantech startups in one day).

Information about applying for the funds is available on SDTC's Web site.

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