Tech Update: U.S. deal is a big boost for B.C.-based EV battery recycling business

You could say it’s a big moment for the sustainable economy.
British Columbia–based cleantech company  Moment Energy, which gives EV batteries a second life by transforming them into stationary energy storage systems, has signed a U.S.$20.3-million deal with the U.S. Department of Energy.
According to Miguel Resendiz, the company’s marketing project manager, this deal will allow the company to establish the first UL1974-certified EV battery repurposing facility in the United States.
UL1974 denotes the industry standard for evaluating batteries for repurposing. There have been concerns that uncertified processing methods can be unsafe and can have inconsistent quality parameters. Plus, there’s a limited awareness of the benefits of repurposing, rather than recycling in the sector.
Typically, an EV battery gets recycled once it reaches 75 per cent of its original capacity, but because electric vehicle technology is still so new, the end-of-life potential of these resources remains underexplored. 
Without an effective way to extend the life of EV batteries, we have a green paradox on our hands: electrifying transportation has lots of benefits and will decrease carbon emissions in many parts of the world. But with increased electrification comes an increased demand for lithium, the extraction of which causes environmental devastation, generating carbon emissions and polluting water at harvest sites.
Creating a circular EV battery economy ensures the resources that go into them, are used to their full extent.
“By extending the lifespan of EV batteries, we reduce waste, decrease demand for critical minerals and enhance lithium security,” says Resendiz. The deal will create 250 jobs and produce 1 GWh of battery storage systems per year, strengthening the clean energy supply chain.
When it comes to diabetes, delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to serious complications. A new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that between 2021 and 2023, about 7,720 lower limbs were amputated in Canada due to complications from diabetes, and research shows that 85 per cent of those surgeries could have been prevented with better monitoring and care.
“Having access to the right care at the right time is a challenge,” says Dr. Karen Cross, the CEO and co-founder of MIMOSA Diagnostics, which has developed mobile tech that can provide tissue health assessments in less than a minute.
“Patients who live outside of a city are two to three times more likely to lose their limb (to diabetes) than those living in urban centres, as they do not have access to care within their community and travelling a few hours to the nearest medical centre is not always possible.”
Cross has a personal connection to this issue: Her grandfather developed a diabetic foot ulcer and died of complications following amputation, inspiring her to come up with a way to provide accurate tissue health assessments more quickly, no matter where a patient lives.
People of all ages and backgrounds suffer from diabetes. However, the disease disproportionately affects members of many marginalized communities, largely because of underdiagnosis and fewer opportunities for intervention.
According to Diabetes Canada, economically disadvantaged individuals and those with less formal education, as well as certain ethnic groups, have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
This is especially true for Indigenous communities: the diabetes rate among First Nations peoples living on reserve is three to five times higher than that of other Canadians.
Smart tech could play an important role in tackling this issue. Earlier this week, the federal government announced a new partnership between the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network, which works with  innovators and organizations to bring novel solutions into the healthcare system.
This collaborative effort will help ensure that First Nations communities in B.C. have access to vital new tools for diagnosis and treatment that could greatly improve health outcomes.
As Cross has learned with Mimosa, bringing innovative solutions directly to communities and making diagnoses more accessible and transparent will give patients a better understanding of their health and more engagement in their own care.
Nova Scotia–based CarbonRun recently launched its West River Pictou project, the venture’s landmark foray into actively reducing river acidity in an effort to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The company’s technology is anchored in basic chemistry: It adds crushed limestone (a basic, or alkaline, substance) to bodies of water to neutralize acidity, improving water quality, which in turn supports biodiversity and enhances a river’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from its surroundings.
In addition to representing an important step in carbon removal strategies, the West River Pictou project is notable for prioritizing consultation with local and Indigenous communities.
Last week marked the 2024 edition of the  Tech Impact Awards, an annual celebration of British Columbia’s innovation economy. Four leaders were inducted into the Innovators Hall of Fame, while nine companies won awards, including Daanaa, which was named Company of the Year for its energy-generating tech, and EV adoption venture 7Gen, which walked away with the Game Changer Climate Leadership award.
AI accelerator OVHcloud, which originated in France, is now accepting applications in Canada. Between 10 and 15 ventures will be selected to participate in the program, which is designed to scale the needs of AI startups; participants gain access to workshops in sales, investor readiness and PR training, as well as opportunities for mentorship and meetings with VCs.
US$2.8 billion: The amount of Canadian venture capital investment in Q3 — a significant increase from the previous quarter.
$11.35 million: Total series A funding raised by Planetary Technologiesto speed up carbon removal initiatives. 
$2.8 million: How much Open Ocean Robotics raised in its recent funding round, which was led by Canadian impact venture fund Spring Impact Capital and Antares Ventures, a Singaporean deep-tech fund focussed on sustainability in Southeast Asia.