Alberta Innovates — Bitumen Partial Upgrading Program

The Clean Resources program offers continual financial support to projects leveraging innovative technologies to foster sustainable growth in Alberta's resource sectors, aiming to meet the 2030 Innovation Targets. With a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing oil sands efficiency, and promoting clean technologies, this grant is crucial for businesses and organizations aspiring to contribute to Alberta's environmental and economic objectives.

The Clean Resources program under Alberta Innovates serves as a pivotal initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and economic diversification within Alberta's key resource sectors, including oil and gas, clean technology, agriculture, and forestry. This strategically designed program incorporates a continuous intake process, which means applications for funding can be submitted at any time, allowing for flexibility and a steady flow of potential projects that align with Alberta’s long-term sustainability goals. This setup is particularly advantageous as it provides constant opportunities for technological advancements that are essential in tackling environmental challenges and supporting economic growth.

Alberta Innovates prioritizes projects that align with the 2030 Innovation Targets, which aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resource efficiency, and enhance environmental performance. These targets include achieving a 45% reduction in methane emissions by 2025, making renewable sources contribute to 30% of Alberta’s electricity generation, and increasing the market value of Alberta's oil and gas exports by 25%. The program seeks projects that can contribute to these ambitious goals, thereby fostering an environment of innovative thinking and technological evolution.

The program is open to a broad spectrum of applicants, including research institutions, government labs, not-for-profits, and industry players outside of Alberta, provided they establish a clear value proposition for the province. This inclusive approach is designed to attract varied expertise and drive collaborative innovations that can be commercialized, thus bringing tangible economic and environmental benefits to Albertans. While the program does not require partnerships, projects with strong end-user engagement are often favored, ensuring that innovations are market-ready and address real-world challenges effectively.

Through its structured funding framework, the Clean Resources program supports up to $2 million per project, covering between 25 to 50% of the total project costs. This funding mechanism not only shares the financial burden with other partners and funding agencies but also encourages the stacking of funds, enhancing the project's financial viability. The program emphasizes the strategic use of these funds to push projects from the development phase into full commercial realization, thereby amplifying the potential for significant impacts on Alberta's resource sectors.

Moreover, the program embeds robust performance management and evaluation measures, ensuring that funded projects deliver against expected milestones and outcomes. Regular project reviews, rigorous accountability frameworks, and milestone-based funding disbursements ensure that the projects remain on track and effectively deliver their projected environmental and economic benefits.

Alberta Innovates plays a crucial role in not only funding these initiatives but also in facilitating a supportive ecosystem, ensuring long-term impact and continuous improvement in Alberta’s approach to sustainable innovation. The spirit of the Clean Resources program is one of partnership and advancement, aligning public and private sector goals to forge an economically and environmentally balanced future.