Carbon Management

 Prevention of lightning ignited wildfires

THE PROBLEM

Lightning causes most Canadian wildfires, burned area, and emissions. In 2023, 70% of Canada’s wildfires  (72% in B.C.) and 93% of forest area burned (97% in B.C.) were lighting-caused. Emissions from these wildfires were 2.4 Gt CO2e in 2023, three times the Canadian economy’s emissions. Canada and the U.S. spend over $7 billion annually on wildfire fighting, with B.C. and Alberta spending over $1B each in 2023. 

The U.S. Government estimates wildfires cost the U.S. economy $394-893 billion annually. Globally, over 50% of wildfire costs are due to lightning–caused fires. Global warming is projected to double lightning strikes in Northern forests, increasing out-of-control wildfires, which have already doubled in the last 20 years compared to the prior 20 years.    

THE SOLUTION

Introducing groundbreaking lightning suppression technology to prevent wildfires and protect communities, industries, and forests.

This CICE–funded project will enable Skyward to demonstrate its lightning suppression technology at a commercial scale during the summer of 2025. 

The project will evolve from TRL 7 to TRL 9, developing the software, hardware, and team needed to deliver targeted lightning protection at landscape scale in Canada and for global export.  

PROJECT STATUS
Active
PROJECT CATEGORY
Carbon Management
FUNDING RECIPIENT
Skyward Wildfire Technologies
CICE FUNDING AMOUNT
$776,059
PROJECT VALUE
$1,617,806
  • "In 2023, Canada’s wildfires burned 15 million hectares, 5% of all Canada’s forests, with 93% of this area burned due to lightning wildfires. These fires resulted in 232,000 evacuations, cost billions, and released GHG emissions three times greater than the entire Canadian economy, equal to 5% of all global GHG emissions. With the world’s northern forests warming, lightning is becoming an existential problem. BC CICE’s support will enable Skyward to demonstrate its gamechanging technology at scale to protect Canadian and global forests, industry and communities against the devastating impacts of lightning wildfires. "
    Sam Goldman, CEO of Skyward Wildfire Technologies DISCOVER SKYWARD