
Closed
Capital Retrofits
Funding for non-emitting industrial retrofits reducing energy use and emissions
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,000,000
Timeline
- Closing date : March 19, 2026
Location
Alberta, Canada
Overview
Capital Retrofits, under Emissions Reduction Alberta’s SEMI program, supports Alberta industrial and manufacturing facilities to implement non-emitting, energy-efficiency capital retrofit projects that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5%, with up to 50% of eligible costs covered and up to $1,000,000 in funding per facility. Eligible activities include upgrades such as HVAC retrofits (including heat pumps), building envelope improvements, compressed air and pumping efficiency, waste heat recovery, process electrification, smart manufacturing and automation, and certain renewable energy integration (e.g., solar PV) subject to specific rules and caps.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Optimize production processes
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : March 19, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Energy-efficiency capital retrofit projects that permanently upgrade existing equipment or systems to reduce facility energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Installation of energy-efficient electrical and mechanical system upgrades (e.g., motors with VFDs, pumping, fans/ventilation, compressed air, refrigeration, HVAC/heat pumps, building envelope improvements).
- Process efficiency and production process electrification projects that reduce energy consumption and emissions.
- Waste heat recovery and reuse projects.
- On-site renewable energy integration projects (e.g., solar PV, geothermal) implemented as part of a retrofit project.
Documents Needed
- Feasibility study supporting the proposed capital retrofit(s)
- At least 12 months of energy consumption data (Excel format) for the applicable system(s)
- Detailed project budget/cost estimate supported by vendor quotes for major cost items
- Retrofit workplan/implementation schedule with key milestones
- Measurement & Verification Reporting (M&VR) document (plan/methods for verifying results)
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Industrial facilities located in Alberta
- Manufacturing facilities located in Alberta
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting operations (including related support activities)
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction businesses (including related support activities)
- Utilities, transportation, construction, and eligible waste management/remediation service operations
Who is not eligible
- Businesses whose project consists of a new construction (this type of project is indicated as ineligible).
- Businesses with renovation projects focused on fossil fuel equipment (e.g., replacing a boiler with a more efficient boiler), where the project’s sole aim is to improve the efficiency of equipment powered by fossil fuels.
- Businesses whose main activity falls under the Administrative and Support Services sector (NAICS 56 – administrative and support component), since this subsector is specified as ineligible (note: waste management and remediation remain eligible).
- Businesses in a state of bankruptcy or insolvency (or subject to bankruptcy/receivership proceedings, etc.), as this status is explicitly excluded.
Eligible expenses
- Capital costs to purchase and install retrofit equipment.
- Professional and contracted services directly tied to the retrofit (e.g., engineering, project management, construction, technical/management services, training, logistics, maintenance, contracting).
- Data collection and data management services (including processing and analysis) related to the retrofit.
- Meters and related costs for measurement and verification (purchase, design, installation, configuration).
- Travel costs required for the retrofit work (meals and accommodation) in line with National Joint Council rates.
- Licence fees, data purchases, certification costs, regulatory compliance costs, inspection costs, construction insurance, and permits.
- Environmental assessment costs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs not directly required to purchase or install the capital retrofit.
- Costs incurred before October 16, 2024 or after March 31, 2027.
- Costs to expand the facility (e.g., new construction, new processes, or capacity increases beyond the allowable threshold).
- Costs that have already received incentives, subsidies, grants, or other funding from any Canadian government source (federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal).
- Operating and maintenance costs (including upkeep), as well as overhead/administrative costs not directly related to the retrofit.
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta, Canada
Processing and Agreement
- ERA’s service provider reviews complete applications submitted during the intake window and scores/ranks them using ERA’s evaluation criteria.
- During the fixed intake period, applications are not assessed on a first-come, first-served basis; incomplete files must be revised by the deadline to remain eligible for evaluation.
- Funding is allocated to the highest-ranked applications until the available budget is fully committed; eligible but unfunded projects may be placed on a waitlist and contacted if funds become available.
- Applicants are notified of the funding decision (target: by March 31, 2026 for fixed intake submissions), and approved projects receive an ERA-executed Capital Retrofits Terms & Conditions agreement.
- After installation and verification of results (per the Measurement & Verification requirements) and after invoices are reviewed/approved, the incentive payment is issued by electronic funds transfer.
Additional information
- Capital Retrofits has a new fixed intake model effective January 7, 2026 (replacing first-come, first-served for new/unsigned applications).
- For the fixed intake round, complete pre-applications must be received by March 2, 2026 at 4 p.m. MST, with funding decisions targeted by March 31, 2026.
- Projects may begin implementation before a funding decision, but this is at the applicant’s own risk since funding is not reserved until ERA executes the Terms and Conditions.
- Incentive payments are issued after the retrofit is completed and verified, and participants must maintain and submit project data until March 31, 2031.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Capital Retrofits Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Capital Retrofits. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Capital Retrofits?
Capital Retrofits, under Emissions Reduction Alberta’s SEMI program, supports Alberta industrial and manufacturing facilities to implement non-emitting, energy-efficiency capital retrofit projects that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5%, with up to 50% of eligible costs covered and up to $1,000,000 in funding per facility. Eligible activities include upgrades such as HVAC retrofits (including heat pumps), building envelope improvements, compressed air and pumping efficiency, waste heat recovery, process electrification, smart manufacturing and automation, and certain renewable energy integration (e.g., solar PV) subject to specific rules and caps.
How much funding can be received?
Capital Retrofits Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Capital Retrofits program?
To be eligible for the Capital Retrofits program, you must:
Operate a business (e.g., corporation, non-profit, co-op, sole proprietor, partnership, government/public entity, or Indigenous-owned) owning or leasing an eligible Alberta facility.
Facility must have completed a SEMI Facility Readiness Assessment (FRA).
Applicant must not be insolvent (per the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act).
What expenses are eligible under Capital Retrofits?
Energy-efficiency capital retrofit projects that permanently upgrade existing equipment or systems to reduce facility energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Installation of energy-efficient electrical and mechanical system upgrades (e.g., motors with VFDs, pumping, fans/ventilation, compressed air, refrigeration, HVAC/heat pumps, building envelope improvements).
Process efficiency and production process electrification projects that reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Waste heat recovery and reuse projects.
On-site renewable energy integration projects (e.g., solar PV, geothermal) implemented as part of a retrofit project.
Who can I contact for more information about the Capital Retrofits?
You can contact Government of Alberta by email at semi@eralberta.ca or by phone at 1-844-407-0025.
Where is the Capital Retrofits available?
The Capital Retrofits program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the Capital Retrofits a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Capital Retrofits is a Grant and Funding
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