Family-Driven Innovations Cut Methane Emissions in Canada

Jen Simmons, co-founder and CEO of Forefront Energy in Dawson Creek, B.C., has seen natural gas grow from an important employer to a major driver of Canada's economy. Born and raised in northeastern B.C., Simmons wants to ensure a sustainable future by helping the industry reduce methane emissions.

Simmons' family has been involved in the oil and gas industry for years, with her father working as an operator and her husband and business partner, Nathan, also working as an operator. Their sons, Wyatt and Oscar, have started working in the industry. This family of professionals worked together to develop methane reduction technologies for producers in the Montney natural gas heartland and beyond.

Forefront Energy was founded on these innovations, including a zero-emissions generator that uses the pressure of the wellhead to produce power. However, the company didn't wait for this technology to be patented; instead, they created low-emission units using solar and battery technology combined with a backup generator.

The Montney natural gas and liquids play straddles the northern border between B.C. and Alberta, where Forefront Energy's power units can withstand low temperatures during cold snaps. The company has worked with government and industry organizations to develop and validate its technologies, including National Research Council Canada, NGIF Accelerator, and Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC).

The experience of Forefront Energy illustrates a broader trend in Canada's oil and gas sector, where innovators have access to an ecosystem of industry partners, public programs, and private capital to help move emissions-reduction technologies from an idea to commercial deployment.