Alberta Innovates — Energy Storage and Minerals
At a glance
- Max. $2,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Unspecified
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Overview
The Energy Storage and Minerals program supports the development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products to create a competitive, modern, and sustainable minerals and materials industry. Eligible activities include novel energy storage technologies, mineral extraction and processing innovations, and battery materials recycling to enable waste reduction and develop a circular economy.
Activities funded
This grant supports projects aimed at advancing technology development in the minerals and energy storage sectors, focusing on innovation and sustainability. Eligible activities include research, development, and deployment of new materials and recycling technologies, as well as advancing energy storage solutions.
- Research and development of novel energy storage technologies and materials.
- Development and deployment of next-generation materials and end products.
- Advancement of mineral extraction and processing technologies.
- Recycling and end-of-life technology development for battery materials.
- Pilot projects for utility scale and emerging consumer energy storage technologies.
Eligibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's type and the project's alignment with provincial priorities.
- The applicant must be advancing technology development within a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range of 3-7.
- Funding is open to technology developers, industry, industrial associations, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and development organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, and individuals.
- Applicants are not required to be based in Alberta but must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the Province of Alberta.
- Successful applicants must be legally able to execute the Investment Agreement.
Who is eligible?
The Energy Storage and Minerals grant is available to a wide range of lead applicants, including technology developers, industry, industrial associations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research and development organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, and individuals. Applicants do not need to be based in Alberta but must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the province, as well as alignment with the program area's priorities.Eligible expenses
This grant supports innovative projects in energy storage and mineral processing to advance Alberta's minerals industry and energy grid reliability. Eligible activities include technology development, research applications, and recycling focused innovations.
- Development of next-generation materials for energy storage.
- Innovative mineral extraction and processing technologies.
- Advancement of battery and non-battery energy storage solutions.
- Pilot projects for energy storage technology integration.
- Projects focused on recycling and end-of-life technologies for battery materials.
- Research on mineral processing of critical economic minerals including lithium and rare earth elements.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is open to applicants who do not need to be based in Alberta. However, a clear value proposition for the province must be demonstrated to align with the program area priorities.
- Applicants can be located anywhere but must justify the benefits to Alberta.
Selection criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on a set of major categories, specifically focusing on Innovation, Execution, and Impacts, as detailed in the application form.
- Innovation - Assessing the novelty and uniqueness of the technology or approach proposed.
- Execution - Evaluating the project plan, including feasibility, expertise of the team, and appropriateness of the budget.
- Impacts - Considering the potential benefits, such as economic, environmental, and societal impacts, and alignment with Alberta's strategic priorities.
How to apply
Preliminary Assessment
Registration
Submit Intake Form
- Complete and submit the Intake Form available on SmartSimple.
- Await the review of your Intake Form to determine if you will be invited to submit a Detailed Proposal.
Detailed Proposal Submission (If Invited)
Application Review
Project Management (If Successful)
- Execute an agreement with Alberta Innovates if the project is approved for funding.
- Manage the project according to the terms of the agreement and regularly report progress and outcomes.
Additional information
This program supports technology and knowledge development projects that demonstrate a clear value proposition for Alberta and aligns with strategic priorities and 2030 Innovation Targets.
- Applicants are not required to be based in Alberta but must show a clear value proposition for the province.
- Projects should be within Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range 3-7.
- Funding can be up to and typically does not exceed $2 million per project.
- The program usually supports 25-50% of total project costs, encouraging co-funding from other sources.
- Eligible expenses include salary, materials, capital assets, travel, and sub-contractor services.
- A regular project management and reporting process is part of the agreement with Alberta Innovates.
- Alberta Innovates employs a milestone completion basis for funding release.
- Details on the evaluation process and eligible expenses can be found in the Clean Resources Program Guide.