The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has concluded financing agreements totaling $40-million with four high-potential cleantech companies, enabling them to accelerate their growth and further consolidate their footprint as innovators in their respective markets.

These investments are the first of BDC's $700-million, five-year commitment to the cleantech industry announced earlier this year further to Budget 2017, and building on the Bank's long history of investing in the cleantech space. This new capital will allow BDC to take on more risk in order to help growth-oriented, high-potential Canadian cleantech companies overcome financing obstacles and other barriers to scale, and better compete globally.

The four firms being financed include:

•     Ensyn Technologies – Ottawa, Ontario

        Following several years of successful commercial operations converting forest residues to renewable heating fuels at its 13 million litre/year plant in Renfrew, Ontario, Ensyn is commissioning a larger-scale renewable fuels facility in Quebec. The Quebec plant will convert forest residues to 40 million litres of renewable heating fuels per year - this will remove up to 70,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions per annum.
        BDC's financing is helping the company continue to expand its production and distribution capabilities.

•     GreenMantra Technologies – Brantford, Ontario

        GreenMantra utilizes a proprietary thermo-catalytic system and patented process to cost-effectively convert and "up-cycle" waste plastics into high-value specialty polymers and other specialty chemicals. GreenMantra is helping drive a more circular economy where plastics are beneficially reused rather than landfilled.
        In conjunction with funding from other financial partners, BDC's support will help expand GreenMantra's plant and strengthen its competitive position as an innovative technology in the specialty chemical market.

•     GHGSat – Montreal, Quebec

        GHGSat launched the world's first high-resolution satellite capable of measuring greenhouse gas (CO2 & CH4) emissions in June 2016. The company is using this unique satellite and its patented technology to provide greenhouse gas emissions monitoring data and services globally.
        In conjunction with funding from other financial partners, GHGSat will use BDC's funding to continue to execute on its growth plans and build out a satellite constellation.

•     Enlighten Innovations (formerly Field Upgrading) – Calgary, Alberta

        Enlighten Innovations has developed and is commercializing a patented technology to desulphurize heavy oils, including bitumen, in order to produce lower emission marine fuels for the global shipping industry.
        BDC's financing, in conjunction with other funding and capital, will help the company build its first commercial plant, based on its successful pilot plant.