Closed
Source verified July 31, 2026
Grid Innovation Fund
Supports electrification and demand management projects
Latest source updateLast Update: July 31, 2026Latest change: The Grid Innovation Fund 2024 content now shows the Electrification and Demand Management proposal guideline with project streams, eligibility requirements, submission timing, and funding details.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 31, 2026
Latest change: The Grid Innovation Fund 2024 content now shows the Electrification and Demand Management proposal guideline with project streams, eligibility requirements, submission timing, and funding details.
Grid Innovation Fund 2024 guideline now visible
The Grid Innovation Fund 2024 content now shows the Electrification and Demand Management proposal guideline, including two project streams for Electric Vehicles and Space and Water Heating and Cooling, along with detailed eligibility requirements and evaluation sections. The guideline now states that proposals may be submitted between May 27, 2024, and July 22, 2024, and that up to $9.5M in total funding is available for approved projects. It also adds application guidance, required project documentation, and a structured submission, evaluation, approval, and funding disbursement process.
Funding available
$ 1,000,000 - $ 4,750,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Grid Innovation Fund supports non-profit and for-profit incorporated entities in Ontario with up to $9.5M in total funding to advance electrification and demand management for the province’s electricity system. Eligible projects include electric vehicles, space and water heating, and energy management tools.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 4,750,000 $
- Minimum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
- Professional Associations
Target groups
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Electric vehicle aggregation and fleet projects using managed charging, vehicle-to-grid, vehicle-to-home, or vehicle-to-building
- Space and water heating projects across all sectors
- Large-scale heating with thermal storage
- Non-residential controllable HVAC load aggregation and management
- New energy management tools, systems, or approaches for system flexibility
Documents Needed
- Completed Proposal Templates Part A, Part B, and Project Brief Template
- Certificate of incorporation
- Most recent audited financial statements
- Signed letters of support from all project partners
- Project team CVs and, if applicable, proof of no duplicate funding for the same tasks
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Non-profit and for-profit incorporated entities
- Electricity distributors
- Technology companies and consulting firms
- Fleet owners/operators and academic institutions
- Industry associations and public sector organizations
Who is not eligible
- Individuals, including incorporated individuals
- Sole proprietorships, trusts, and joint ventures
Eligible expenses
- EV charging equipment, bi-directional chargers, smart inverters, and related infrastructure upgrades
- Heat pumps with thermal storage, project-specific materials, and other necessary equipment
- Software integration, licensing, telemetry, monitoring, verification, and data analysis
- Direct labour and professional, engineering, scientific, technical, management, and contracting services
- Participant incentives, training and communications, and other project implementation costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Purchase of personal-use light-duty electric vehicles and uni-directional EV supply equipment
- Stand-alone heat pumps without thermal storage for residential applications and smart thermostats
- Supplementary generation assets, including stationary storage
- Costs related to System Impact Assessment (SIA) or Connection Impact Assessment (CIA) processes; budget deficits; and activities completed or costs incurred before funding is approved or after project completion
- Costs over $50,000 for any single consultant or contractor not selected through a competitive process; hospitality, travel, incidental or food expenses; overhead costs; and any costs not directly related to project objectives
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- Project purpose, outcomes, and grid flexibility (25 points)
- Demand-side program design and innovation (20 points)
- Project design and implementation plan (20 points)
- Project funding and team capacity (20 points)
- Emissions reductions and sector evolution (15 points)
How to apply
- Review the Proposal Guideline, including the eligibility and submission requirements.
- Contact the Grid Innovation Fund team at gridinnovationfund@ieso.ca to discuss your project prior to submitting a proposal, if desired.
- Submit proposals by email to gridinnovationfund@ieso.ca.
- Include the words Electrification and Demand Management Targeted Call in the subject line.
- Submit between May 27th, 2024, and July 22nd, 2024, and include the documentation specified in Appendix C.
- The IESO will respond by email to confirm receipt within two business days.
Processing and Agreement
- Proposals are screened for eligibility.
- Eligible proposals are evaluated and scored by the internal Technical and Financial Review Committee, with external technical experts as needed.
- Highly ranked proposals may be refined with the Review Committee before IESO executive approval.
- Successful applicants will be directed to the OEB’s Innovation Sandbox and must seek and receive regulatory guidance as a condition of their first project milestone to be eligible for GIF contribution funding.
- Successful applicants must enter into the Contribution Agreement Template, funding is disbursed on a milestone basis, and the IESO may request or require project reports on an annual basis.
Additional information
- Successful applicants will have the opportunity to participate in IESO communication activities, including public announcements of the selected 2024 Grid Innovation Fund projects.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Grid Innovation Fund Program
What is the Grid Innovation Fund?
The Grid Innovation Fund supports non-profit and for-profit incorporated entities in Ontario with up to $9.5M in total funding to advance electrification and demand management for the province’s electricity system. Eligible projects include electric vehicles, space and water heating, and energy management tools.
How much funding can be received?
Grid Innovation Fund Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $4,750,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Grid Innovation Fund program?
To be eligible for the Grid Innovation Fund program, you must:
Ontario-based project
At least three partners
Stream 1 requires an LDC partner
What expenses are eligible under Grid Innovation Fund?
Electric vehicle aggregation and fleet projects using managed charging, vehicle-to-grid, vehicle-to-home, or vehicle-to-building
Space and water heating projects across all sectors
Large-scale heating with thermal storage
Non-residential controllable HVAC load aggregation and management
New energy management tools, systems, or approaches for system flexibility
Who can I contact for more information about the Grid Innovation Fund?
You can contact Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) by email at gridinnovationfund@ieso.ca or by phone at 416-967-7474.
Where is the Grid Innovation Fund available?
The Grid Innovation Fund program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Grid Innovation Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Grid Innovation Fund is a Grant and Funding