Page 11 - SD_NG_BC

Copyright © 2014 by SDTC™ Sustainable Development Business Case 5

2.3 Investment Priorities

Near and long term investment priorities are summarized below based on a technical needs assessment. Needs are also divided by the degree to which they are a priority, both high and medium priority.

2.3.1 Near Term Investment Priorities

Table 1: Near Term High Priority Investments

Sub-Sector Technology Need

Residential Lower capital cost ultra-high efficiency water heaters that improve user experience, integrate with low-flow

appliances and meet footprint requirements.

Residential / Commercial Multi-unit sized Heat Pumps that improve the efficiency of heating and/or cooling for larger buildings.

Smart Energy Meters/System components and Data Management Solutions.

Commercial Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems with lower capital cost in order to increase technology

penetration in the commercial sector.

Industrial Higher-efficiency industrial heating equipment (process and/or building) with reduced capital cost.

Measurement and data management for advanced heating process control. Power Generation Higher-efficiency natural gas power generation. Renewable Natural Gas RNG cleanup technologies that improve cleanup economics.

Cost-effective small-scale anaerobic digesters.

Table 2: Near Term Medium Priority Investments

Sub-Sector Technology Need

Industrial CHP units for applications that require less heat, or less continuous heat (e.g. increased electricity generation

without sacrificing overall efficiency).

Less energy-intensive hydrogen production from natural gas / renewable natural gas.

2.3.2 Long Term Investment Priorities

Table 3: Long Term High Priority Investments

Sub-Sector Technology Need

Power Generation Technologies that focus on the capture of CO 2 from natural gas power generation. Power Generation / Transportation / Industrial Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Long-term Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage. Transportation Next Generation NG Piston Engines (Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs), Rail).

Next Generation on-board fuel storage with lower cost.

Renewable Natural Gas Cost-effective gasification technology where produced gas is converted to RNG.

Table 4: Long Term Medium Priority Investments

Sub-Sector Technology Need

Residential Small-scale (single family home) CHP units with reduced capital cost in order to encourage

uptake in the residential market.

Industrial CO 2 capture systems from industrial natural gas combustion. Transportation Alternative natural gas engine types (e.g. hybridization, NG fuel cells).

Next Generation NG Piston Engines for Light Duty Vehicles (LDVs). Next Generation NG Gas Turbine Engines. Systems for LDV fuelling at home. Lower-cost and safe fuel dispensing.

Improved efficiency of NG fuel use in bi-fuel engines.