CICE Invests $1.25M in Unilia, InnoCast, and Expander Technologies 

Funding will advance the commercialization of decarbonization solutions for the commercial transport and construction industries

VANCOUVER, B.C., September 18, 2024 – The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) today announced $1.25 million in non-dilutive investment in three innovative B.C. companies scaling solutions focused on low carbon hydrogen, carbon management, and low carbon synthetic fuels.  

Unilia (Canada) Fuel Cells Inc. and Expander Technologies Inc. are both addressing the challenge of reducing carbon emissions in transportation. Unilia is rolling out a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered heavy-duty truck, offering a zero-emission alternative to battery-electric models. Meanwhile, Expander is producing fossil-free, net-zero renewable diesel and sustainable jet fuel, providing low carbon solutions for long-haul trucking and aviation. Together, these innovations address critical emissions challenges across the transportation sector. 

InnoCast Concrete Ltd. is tackling the dual challenge of carbon sequestration during hydrogen production and reducing concrete’s high carbon footprint through the permanent capture and storage of carbon compounds in concrete, enabling large-scale carbon sequestration and potential applications for millions of tons of carbon by-products. This innovative approach supports the growth of hydrogen production and the decarbonization of sectors using hydrogen as a fuel source.   

“Hydrogen and low carbon fuel technologies are key to reducing emissions in B.C.’s commercial transportation sector, creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment for everyone. I’m excited to see innovative companies like Unilia, Expander, and InnoCast get the support they need to implement their new clean ideas, benefiting people throughout the province and propelling our clean economy forward.” 

Josie Osborne

Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

CICE leads catalytic investment into clean energy innovation at its earliest stages, enabling the next wave of made-in-B.C. technologies that address global hard-to-decarbonize challenges in high-emitting industries from transportation, mining, forestry, construction, industrial manufacturing and more. As B.C.’s largest early-stage climate investor, CICE is leveraging B.C.’s energy and technology advantages to attract investment, create good jobs and build sustainable economic prosperity for decades to come.    

“Investing in British Columbia startups is more than fostering innovation; it’s about driving economic growth and creating jobs for sustainable economic prosperity. At CICE, we are proud to support these groundbreaking companies by unlocking capital to commercialize and scale essential net-zero technologies that can transform our construction and transportation sectors.”  

Sarah Goodman

CEO of CICE

In July, CICE announced a total of $7.6 million in non-dilutive funding to nine recipients of 2024’s first Call for Innovation. Today’s investments in Unilia, InnoCast, and Expander Technologies increase this total to $8.82 million across 12 funding recipients, all focused on advancing made-in-B.C. clean energy and climate solutions. 

To date, CICE has invested $32 million in 48 clean energy and climate technology projects valued at over $174 million.  

About CICE 

The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that provides early-stage, non-dilutive investment to fast-track the commercialization of British Columbia’s most impactful clean energy solutions – from Canada to the world. We match the urgency and efficiency of the companies we fund, driving innovation like the planet depends on it. Because it does. Together with our climate-first community of innovators, industry leaders, academia, government, and Indigenous partners, we advance future pathways to net-zero – leveraging British Columbia’s clean energy advantages to attract investment, create good jobs and build sustainable economic prosperity for decades to come. www.cice.ca