Clean Fuels Fund — Indigenous-Led Projects

• The applicant must be an Indigenous organization, registered Indigenous business or Indigenous community with at least 50% Indigenous ownership.
• Eligible applicants may include not-for-profit or for-profit organizations such as Indigenous communities, development corporations, electricity or gas utilities, private sector companies, industry associations, research associations, standards development organizations, and academic institutions that meet the Indigenous ownership requirement.
• The project must be Indigenous-led and focused on clean fuel production capacity in Canada.
• The project must fall under one of the following: capital clean fuel production project designed for commercial deployment; feasibility study; basic or detailed front-end engineering study for new or expanded low-carbon fuel production; or feasibility study on blending hydrogen into natural gas systems.
• The project must be planned so that all activities are completed and facilities are commissioned by March 31, 2026.

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous communities
• Development corporations
• Electricity or gas utilities
• Private sector companies
• Industry, research, standards development, and academic institutions/associations

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies are not eligible for this grant. Only Indigenous organizations or registered Indigenous businesses or communities, including not-for-profit and for-profit organizations demonstrating a minimum of 50% Indigenous ownership, are eligible. Other types of companies not meeting these criteria are not eligible for this grant.

• Non-Indigenous-owned organizations
• Organizations without at least 50% Indigenous ownership

Eligible expenses

This grant supports Indigenous-led clean production capacity projects by funding various stages of development and commercialization of clean fuel technologies. Eligible projects are focused on enhancing production capabilities and conducting necessary studies for future development.

• Capital clean fuel production projects using fuel production technologies ready for commercial deployment.
• Feasibility studies evaluating the new build or expansion of low carbon fuel production facilities.
• Basic engineering studies and detailed front-end engineering studies for potential projects.
• Feasibility studies assessing the blending of hydrogen into natural gas systems.
• Applications for Feasibility study, Front End Engineering Design study, or Production project separately or as an End-to-End project.

Eligible geographic areas

• Indigenous organizations and businesses located anywhere within Canada.

The evaluation and selection criteria for projects under this grant are not explicitly detailed in the provided context.

• Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the program’s funding is fully allocated.
• All funded projects must be completed and facilities commissioned no later than March 31, 2026.
• The program’s review process includes completeness and mandatory criteria checks, followed by Evaluation and Investment Committee validation before a final decision.
• Service standards include target timelines for acknowledging inquiries, assessing applications, issuing decisions, drafting agreements, and processing payments.