Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre

New Fund to Harness Cold Climate Innovations

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Whitehorse, Yukon (October 27, 2008) – The Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre (YCCIC) today announced the establishment of the Cold Climate Innovation Fund to support applied research projects in Yukon. With the confirmation of federal and territorial funding, YCCIC has been able to establish the fund, secure office space, and begin to recruit a project manager. The YCCIC will operate out of offices at Whitehorse’s Ayamdigut Campus of Yukon College.

“The establishment of this fund is another step towards developing leading-edge applied research in the territory,” YCCIC Board Chair Terry Hayden said. “Already we have companies interested in working with us to develop projects that will benefit Yukon.”

The YCCIC develops partnerships between scientific researchers and businesses. These partnerships apply cold climate research to create commercial solutions to the challenges faced when living and working in a cold climate.

Partnerships with Yukon College and an MOU with University of Alberta will allow researchers the benefit of expertise and support through YCCIC. The office space at Yukon College will also be an asset for researchers who will be able to access the facility.

Innovation Centre Launches New Website

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Whitehorse, Yukon (December 15, 2008) – The Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre (YCCIC) continues its quest to unite cold climate entrepreneurs and researchers with the recent launch of a new website, www.yccic.ca. The website is a central source for information including topics such as R&D funding guidelines, Yukon infrastructure and cold climate statistics.

“We’re very excited about YCCIC’s strong online presence,” YCCIC Board Chair Terry Hayden said. “This website brings our expertise and services into clear view for prospective partners and researchers. YCCIC has much to offer cold climate innovators, and the website is a key part of our strategy to be leaders in developing cold climate solutions.”

YCCIC fosters partnerships between applied researchers, industry and government for the purpose of developing, commercializing and exporting sustainable cold climate solutions. The centre’s activities focus on applied research with strong commercial prospects to help address some of the challenges of living and working in cold climates.

“YCCIC’s goal is to encourage the development of leading-edge applied research in the territory. The website enables us to reach out to applied researchers, entrepreneurs and Yukoners to communicate about the tremendous potential for Yukon-based cold climate innovation,” said Yukon College President and YCCIC Board Member Terry Weninger. “We will also publish a quarterly e-newsletter to keep our partners and stakeholders up to date on all that is happening at the centre.”

Through a partnership with Yukon College, YCCIC is now located at the Ayamdigut campus of Yukon College in Whitehorse. YCCIC offers programs and services including workspace, R&D funding, data access, institutional facilities and strategic partnerships to cold climate innovators.

YCCIC Grants $125,000 to Yukon Energy for Geothermal R&D

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Whitehorse, Yukon (January 8, 2009) – A YCCIC research grant is making an innovative search for geothermal energy possible. Yukon Energy Corporation and the City of Whitehorse have received R&D funding that may lead to the discovery of geothermal heat sources for substantial electrical production.

The project will involve testing of two technologies in a cold climate – remote sensing satellite imagery and low-level airborne infrared thermal sensors – to help identify geothermal resources with potential for electrical production. The proposed application of these technologies by Yukon Energy may be revolutionary in providing lower cost and more efficient means of conducting pre-drilling geothermal reconnaissance work.

In the North, geothermal resources are buried deep in the earth, requiring drilling to a depth of several kilometres. Researchers believe that satellite imagery and thermal sensors will help locate geothermal hotspots.

“Yukon is located in an area of the Pacific known as the Ring of Fire,” Yukon Energy president David Morrison said. “We believe the potential is good for finding geothermal resources significant enough to produce a substantial amount of electricity – possibly between 500 and 1,500 megawatts of power.”

“We recognize the need to find more renewable power,” Morrison added. “If our research is successful, it could lead to us providing Yukoners with clean, affordable electricity that that has very little impact on the landscape and habitat.”

YCCIC contributed $125,000 to the $285,000-project. In addition to receiving YCCIC funding, Yukon Energy’s R&D team will have access to YCCIC’s strategic partnerships, institutional relationships and work facilities at Yukon College. Project researchers will be a combination of local and visiting scientists.

Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre Announces Second Project

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Whitehorse, Yukon (January 22, 2009) – YCCIC today announced the funding of a second project through its Research and Development (R&D) Fund. They will be granting $30,000 to Whitehorse-based window manufacturer Northerm Windows toward the development of a four-paned window system.

“This project, and Yukon Energy’s announced earlier this month, are exactly what the fund was developed for: fostering commercially viable innovations that have the potential to benefit Yukoners” Yukon College President and YCCIC Board Member Terry Weninger said. “Beyond the long-term benefit of this type of innovation, the centre and its partners are creating an immediate positive economic impact.”

A leader in window manufacturing in the North for over two decades, Northerm employs 25 people at its 35,000 sq ft plant in Whitehorse. Over the past year, the company has been working with engineers to design a cost-effective, four-paned vinyl window for the residential/commercial market. The new window system will be listed as the Northerm 4000 Series.

“The technology is advancing to the point where we could have a grasp on some of the highest R values in Canada,” Northerm General Manager David Borud said. "We’re aiming for an R-value of about 9.5 in a standard quad-pane LOW E unit. Our triple pane LOW E currently reaches 5.6.”

"We've got a larger facility now so we can bring in automation and more advanced equipment," Borud said. "The quad-pane will require a different fabrication process because of the weight of the window and the eight glass surfaces. We originally set out to use this for its thermal value and broaden our northern markets. Now, in addition to improved energy-efficiency, we're looking at licensing our framing system to other fabricators and have had encouraging interest from southern markets for acoustic window production- essentially better soundproofing."

The R&D grant from YCCIC will contribute to the next phase in Northerm’s project involving testing, approvals, diecutting and quality control. Once the product is ready to go into production, the company will proceed with plant upgrades, equipment conversions and marketing.

YCCIC Takes a Closer Look at the 2009 Federal Budget

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The 2009 federal budget included promising commitments that should translate into increases in infrastructure, resources and support for northern research and cold climate innovation.

The budget’s overall commitments to building infrastructure will see an investment of $12 billion over two years across Canada in public works projects such as roads, bridges, broadband internet and laboratories.

The federal commitment to improving Canada’s knowledge infrastructure includes a $750 million investment in the Canada Foundation for Innovation for leading-edge research infrastructure. This not-for-profit corporation supports the modernization of research infrastructure at Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and other not-for-profit research institutions.

The budget allocates $87 million over two years to improve key Arctic research facilities. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will have up to $85 million over the next two years to invest in maintaining or upgrading key existing Arctic research facilities. Funds will be allocated on a competitive basis to projects that can be completed by March 31, 2011 with a view to providing a near-term economic stimulus while building a strong foundation for Arctic research capacity that supports government priorities. The federal government has also specifically committed to building a world-class, High Arctic research station, and the 2009 budget allocates $2 million for a feasibility study.

The budget also allocated $200 million over two years to the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program to enable it to temporarily expand its initiatives for small and medium-sized businesses. This program helps small and medium-sized enterprises innovate by providing technical and business advice, networking services, as well as direct, non-repayable, financial assistance. This program also provides companies with support to hire recent graduates from colleges and universities for up to one year to work on innovative business strategies and technology-related projects.

Northern economic development commitments totalling $140 million includes $50 million over five years to establish a new regional economic development agency for the North and $90 million over five years to renew the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program.

Remote Energy Systems Program

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

What can a telecommunications company with extensive remote operations do to help address the significant challenges associated with off-grid energy systems? It gets more innovative. This is the premise of the Remote Energy Systems Research Program, a partnership project launched by YCCIC and led by Yukon College and Northwestel.

Yukon College and Northwestel will develop a program that will examine the potential of adapting a Stirling engine design for operations in the Yukon. Beginning with a commercially viable Stirling engine electrical generator, the partners will modify it for combined solar/diesel use in cold climates, test the redeveloped technology for use in powering its remote sites and then deploy and verify the resulting cold-climate solution. YCCIC and its partners believe that innovations in this area of research have profound implications for Northwestel and other Yukon industries.

Northwestel operates over a hundred remote communications stations throughout the Yukon, Northern B.C. and the Northwest Territories. These stations serve as the backbone of voice and data systems requiring reliable off-grid electrical power sources to support their operations. Small scale (3-5kW) diesel generators with battery storage power are currently the company’s preferred system at its remote facilities. Because Northwestel’s installations are in mountainous and northern arctic environments with limited or no ground access, continuous operation and maintenance of these generators is very difficult and costly due to the significant costs of supplying these remote sites with fuel and replacement batteries. The company has been examining broader technology upgrades for their remote sites including possibly introducing entirely new energy infrastructure.

Built in 1816, the Stirling engine is a proven device that converts heat energy into mechanical power by using a differential in temperatures. This style of engine can use multiple heat sources (including solar, wood, diesel, etc) combined with a cold side to drive electric generators. Originally powered by extremely high temperature differentials (1000 C+) for large scale power production, modern Stirlings can be operated at much lower differentials (~100 C), producing power in the range that would suit Northwestel's power needs (3-5kW). The cold climate of the Yukon may greatly favour the power and efficiency of the Stirling configuration. Furthermore, since this engine is driven by temperature differential and not simply heat, the cold climate of the Yukon may greatly favour the power and efficiency of the Stirling configuration.

In its first year, this YCCIC research program will involve securing a post-doctoral researcher, installing a Stirling engine at the Yukon College test facility, and completing a battery of tests to experiment and document cold-climate efficiency and performance enhancements. An exciting aspect of this program is that an enhanced Stirling engine working model with solar and multi-fuel capacity at Yukon College will foster R&D by other businesses and researchers to experiment with its design and operation. Other applications for this type of energy could include field camps, off-grid housing and remote tourism operations.

Research Infrastructure Investment

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

March 19th saw Patrick Rouble, Minister of Education, announce $400,000 to go towards the renovation of basement of the Canada Winter Games Athlete's Village for research office space. The announcement complements Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's recent announcement of $2.5 million targeted for enhancing Yukon College's research infrastructure.

The enhanced research infrastructure will include heated and unheated storage space, as well as a fenced compound for researchers to store gear, equipment and samples.

For more information on the investments please navigate to the following pages:

New Director of YCCIC

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Dr. Gubala will work with local industry, southern universities and Yukon College to secure strategic projects that benefit Yukon. His first facilitated project is the Remote Energy Systems Project where Northwestel and Yukon College will adapt Stirling engines for remote cold applications. The project will involve finding post-doctorate researcher to lead the research.

Dr. Gubala joins Alastair Smith, who has been shepherded YCCIC from a concept with committed partners to an established applied research centre. Read more about the YCCIC team.

2010 World Geothermal Congress

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:00:00 GMT

CanGEA Chairman Alison Thompson and CanGEA Past Chairman Mory Ghomshei will be presenting at the 2010 World Geothermal Congress. The Congress is being held April 25 - 30th, 2010 in Bali, Indonesia.

For agenda and details: WGC2010 Agenda.pdf

To register: WGC2010 Registration.pdf