Sunday May 17, 2026 | VANCOUVER, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
British Columbia continues to move forward with building out electricity infrastructure.
The projects advance the use of clean electricity, reduce emissions, and reduce costs while working to keep up with electricity demand across the economy.
On May 13, Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions announced six more projects that include a funding contribution of $6 million through the province’s Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund.
The projects are advancing technologies in sectors such as electricity management, heat-pump technology and fleet electrification.
- Rainforest Automation, Vancouver ($700,000): Creating a demand-response management system that is expected to help utilities to manage energy and save businesses energy costs in real time. It is expected to lower utility operational costs, minimize disruptions and improve energy reliability.
- Blueforce Electrification Technologies, Burnaby ($1.276 million): Developing new technology that is expected to transform internal combustion engine vehicles into zero-emission and grid interactive vehicles, helping to reduce emissions and develop new energy resilience capabilities. to electrify medium and heavy-duty fleets where no viable commercial electric vehicle alternatives exist. The fleets can include those operating in public services, such emergency response, health and transport. The company is collaborating with the City of Victoria, Universal CoachLine, DP World, BCIT SMART and Transportation Departments, Camosun College and Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
- CRWN.ai, Kelowna ($1.5 million): Creating a new technology system that is expected to provide real-time data on electrical leakage, which will help utilities inform their maintenance schedule, switch out assets that exhibit high electrical discharge, strengthening electricity system reliability.
- Green Matters Technologies, Langley ($880,000): Developing a high-efficiency heat pump designed to replace traditional chillers, air conditioners and gas boilers in the brewing industry to enable energy efficiency and reduce operating costs for B.C.’s brewing industry.
- Vitalis Equipment Technology, Kelowna ($750,000): Developing a centralized carbon-dioxide-based heating and cooling system designed for multi-unit residential and light commercial buildings to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
- MegaHertz Power System, Vancouver ($800,000): Developing a new type of power converter that will increase power conversion efficiency up to 99.5% and lower operating costs.
New call is open:
A new call for applications is open to support more projects.
The Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund has launched its new targeted call for clean energy innovation, and the intake will be open from May 12 until June 15, 2026.
The new call is seeking to fund technology solutions that would make electrification more affordable or optimize electrical utility energy management in B.C.
A webinar will be held on May 20, 2026 about applying to the Innovative Clearn Energy Fund. Register online.
Fleets:
The fleets can include those operating in public services, such emergency response, health and transport. The company is collaborating with the City of Victoria, Universal CoachLine, DP World, BCIT SMART and Transportation Departments, Camosun College and Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
“Many fleet operators want to transition to zero-emission vehicles but simply don’t have practical EV options available today,” said Vandad Saniee, head of business development, BlueForce Energy. “Support from the Innovative Clean Energy Fund allows us to accelerate advanced electrification solutions that give existing vehicles a second life, reduce emissions and support a more circular and sustainable approach to fleet modernization.”
Since 2024, the Innovative Clean Energy Fund, under their targeted calls, have allocated more than $9 million to 10 clean-energy technology projects.
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NEWS SECTIONS: ENERGY SECTOR | TECHNOLOGY | ELECTRICITY & CLEAN TECH