The Canadian province has announced a second round of funding recipients under its Fisheries and Aquaculture Energy Efficiency Innovation Fund.
Photo: Province of Nova Scotia.
The government of Nova Scotia has announced the second round of funding recipients under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Energy Efficiency Innovation Fund, with 22 seafood companies and related organisations set to receive a combined total of CAD $1.73 million.
The funding aims to support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower fossil fuel consumption across the province’s seafood sector.
Projects funded in this round include electrification of fishing vessels, installation of solar photovoltaic systems and upgrades to refrigeration systems at lobster holding and processing facilities. According to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, these initiatives are intended to improve energy efficiency while helping to reduce operational costs for businesses.
“Our seafood sector is a key partner in addressing climate change,” said Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, via a press release.
“This funding will help seafood organizations in their efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, while also helping the industry lower its operational costs," Smith added.
The CAD $6.5 million fund, which runs over three years and is administered by Efficiency Nova Scotia, forms part of the province’s climate action strategy, Our Climate, Our Future, with the objective of reducing energy use and climate change impacts to at least 53% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.
To date, 36 projects have been supported with a total of CAD $3.54 million in funding.
Stephen MacDonald, President and CEO of EfficiencyOne, stated: “Energy efficiency is a powerful way for organisations in the sector to reduce costs and boost productivity both in the short and long term – and this fund is helping more businesses adopt innovative, energy-efficient practices that support a more resilient and sustainable future.”
“The investments announced today will help make our processing sector more efficient and productive," added Ian McIsaac, President of the Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia. "These investments show that the Province understands these challenges and is working to grow the sector.”
Among the second round recipients are Mersey Seafoods, receiving CAD $28,000 for wharf electrification infrastructure; Asadalia Fisheries, awarded CAD $250,000 for a hybrid diesel-electric lobster vessel; and Hot Lobster Fisheries Ltd., receiving nearly CAD $57,000 for a ground-mounted solar power system.
Other funded projects include upgrades to refrigeration at lobster pounds and the installation of solar systems on both ground and rooftop facilities.
A third call for applications to the fund is expected later this year. The Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board has also committed CAD $10 million in dedicated lending over three years to support eligible clean energy projects within the sector, officials said.
