Terragon Environmental Technologies is a Montreal-based clean technology company that developed the Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS). MAGS generates energy fuelled by waste such as plastics, paper, food, used oils and wood. That waste is then converted into inert carbon products. The thermal energy it produces can be used to heat water or for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. Although MAGS is currently used in such settings as cruise ships, overseas resorts, and by the military, Terragon’s aim is to expand their market to businesses and households in Canada.

However, Terragon faced regulatory barriers in achieving this. Even though MAGS’ level of emissions is less than those of a boiler, regulators regarded the system as an incinerator because it thermally treats waste. This means that it must conform to standards and testing for large-scale and environmentally degrading products. This was costing more than the MAGS products itself.

Terragon needed to find a way to demonstrate to regulators that MAGS is a safe energy appliance. SCC identified the simplest and speediest way to get over this hurdle was to facilitate the development of an Other Recognized Document, or ORD. Certification to this document allows the company to demonstrate the product’s safety and relevance as a clean technology to break into Canada’s land-based markets.