Energy Innovation Program — Clean Fuels Call for Proposals

• Applicants must be legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada.
• Eligible entities include for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous organizations.
• Indigenous recipients may include Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations majority-owned and controlled by Indigenous people.
• University spin-offs are eligible if they are separate legal entities from academic institutions.
• Applicants can work with project partners who provide in-kind or financial contributions, including those from non-eligible entities.
• Projects must focus on the development and demonstration of innovative pre-commercial clean fuels-related technologies.
• Project activities can take place outside of Canada but must provide significant tangible benefits to Canada.
• Projects must start at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4-8.
• Projects already receiving funding from other NRCan programs may be ineligible.
• Eligible projects include those improving cleanness and functionality of transport and storage solutions for clean fuels.

Who is eligible?

• For-profit organizations incorporated or registered in Canada
• Not-for-profit organizations incorporated or registered in Canada
• Indigenous communities or governments
• Tribal Councils or entities that perform similar functions
• National or regional Indigenous councils or tribal organizations
• Indigenous for-profit or not-for-profit organizations with majority Indigenous ownership and control
• Provincial and territorial governments and their departments and agencies (Focus area 2)

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for employees on the payroll of the Recipient for the actual time spent by the employees on the project.
• Training and workshops.
• Professional, scientific, technical, and contracting services.
• Travel expenditures, including meals and accommodation, based on National Joint Council Rates, adjusted to reflect costs in Northern and remote areas, where appropriate.
• Capital expenditures such as the purchase, installation, testing and commissioning of qualifying equipment, materials and products, including diagnostic, testing tools and instruments, and original equipment manufacturer equipment warranty (including extended warranties where deemed appropriate to mitigate risk and lack of capacity).
• Laboratory and field supplies and materials.
• Printing services and translation.
• Data collection services, including processing, analysis, and management.
• Facility costs for seminars, conference room rentals, etc. (excluding hospitality).
• Construction insurance.
• Accreditation.
• License fees and permits.
• Honoraria.
• Field testing services.
• Overhead expenditures, provided they are directly related to the conduct of the project and can be attributed to it, up to a maximum of 15% of Eligible Expenditures. These include administrative and corporate support provided directly by the Recipient's employees, routine laboratory and field equipment maintenance, and office operating expenses directly related to the project.
• GST, PST, or HST, net of any tax rebate to which the Recipient is entitled.

• Innovation and originality of the project proposal, specifically in clean fuels production and transport/storage technologies.
• Feasibility and clarity of the implementation plan, including the articulation of how partnership roles and contributions will support project success.
• Alignment with the Energy Innovation Program's strategic goals, particularly regarding net-zero emissions and the expansion of clean fuels use in challenging areas like heavy transport and industrial processes.
• Potential environmental and economic impact, emphasizing the reduction of carbon footprint and lifecycle carbon intensities of clean fuels.
• Integration and demonstration of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) principles within the project framework and among stakeholders involved.
• Extent of collaboration and partnerships formed, with emphasis on diverse organizations and cross-sectoral cooperation.
• Value for public spending and the plan for knowledge dissemination, including how project results will be shared and benefit Canadian society.
• Ensurance of intellectual property management and strategy for sharing knowledge while securing competitive advantages.
• Consideration of regional needs and potential benefits, especially for remote communities not connected to traditional energy networks.

• Indigenous applicants can apply for up to 100% of the total project cost, subject to maximum contributions specified.
• The program encourages collaboration and leveraging of partnerships, although this requirement does not apply to Indigenous applicants.
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) reserves the right to assess project proposals to ensure alignment with Government of Canada policy and program priorities at both the Expression of Interest (EOI) and Full Project Proposal (FPP) phases.
• Funding will be available between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2031.
• Successful applicants will need to enter into a contribution agreement with NRCan before funding is confirmed.
• The grant includes non-repayable contributions for pre-commercial projects with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-9.
• NRCan is working with a network of "Trusted Partners" to explore co-funding opportunities. Consent for information sharing is required for NRCan to explore these possibilities.
• Projects must include knowledge dissemination activities and provide NRCan with copies of all knowledge products developed under the project.
• All projects are subject to a due diligence assessment covering financial, technical, legal, and regulatory aspects before final approval.
• Applicants invited to the FPP phase and subsequent funding recipients are expected to fulfill inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) objectives within their projects.