Reshaping Energy Systems

This grant offers flexible financing modalities tailored to the needs of recipients while ensuring optimal resource utilization. The modalities vary based on the project type and targeted objectives.

• Co-financing of up to 50% of total project costs, with a specific funding cap per project.

Eligibility for this Reshaping Energy Systems grant is determined by specific criteria focusing on the applicant's organizational type, project goals, and collaboration efforts.

• Applicants could include innovators, technology developers, Indigenous communities, industrial facility owners/operators, industrial associations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research and development (R&D) organizations, universities, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, and individuals.
• Projects must be piloted, demonstrated, or deployed within Alberta.
• Collaboration between multiple organizations is encouraged, particularly partnerships with Alberta’s post-secondary and research institutions, Indigenous communities, and municipalities.
• Projects must demonstrate a justified value proposition for reducing GHG emissions or enabling the transition to a carbon-neutral economy in Alberta.
• Technologies proposed for the grant must be at the stages of field piloting, commercial demonstration, or first-of-kind commercial implementation.
• The applicant could request funding ranging from a minimum of $250,000 to a maximum of $10 million.
• The maximum ERA contribution to a single project is no more than 50 per cent of the project’s eligible expenses.
• The project must align with at least one of the targeted project areas, such as energy transport and distribution technology, energy storage, digital energy management solutions, and others as specified in the call for applications.
• While direct GHG emissions reduction is not mandatory, projects must support the transition to net-zero emissions.
• The applicant is encouraged to produce and share a final outcomes report publicly, detailing project achievements, particularly GHG reductions and economic impacts.

Who is eligible?

This grant targets a diverse array of applicants, including innovators, technology developers, and organizations focusing on clean energy and emissions reduction technologies, specifically for projects aimed at transforming Alberta's energy systems.

• Innovators and technology developers in the energy sector.
• Industrial facility owners/operators and industrial associations.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in energy innovation.
• Research and development (R&D) organizations and universities.
• Municipalities and Indigenous communities participating in energy projects.
• Not-for-profit organizations and government research labs focused on energy systems.

Eligible expenses

The grant includes expenses necessary to carry out the project in eligibility. Eligible expenses include various costs associated with the project development and implementation:

• Materials and supplies
• Equipment costs
• Salaries and benefits
• Contractor and consultant fees
• Travel expenses related to the project
• Overhead costs
• Research and development costs

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies operating in the province of Alberta, Canada. Eligible projects must demonstrate clear benefits to the energy systems within Alberta.

• Companies and projects located within Alberta.

The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on rigorous assessment by experts from various fields, ensuring transparency and alignment with emissions reduction objectives.

• Independent review conducted by a team of science, engineering, business development, and financing experts.
• Rigorous assessment of project potential for greenhouse gas reduction and transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
• Consideration of economic benefits, including job creation and GDP impact.
• Evaluation of knowledge sharing and potential for project outcomes to contribute to the broader benefit of Alberta.
• Final decision by ERA’s Board of Directors based on expert recommendations.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Funding recipients must produce a final outcomes report that is publicly shared to illustrate project impact, including GHG reductions and job creation.
• The funding is sourced from the Government of Alberta's Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund.
• Projects must be piloted, demonstrated, or deployed within Alberta to show a clear and justified value proposition for reducing GHG emissions or transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy.
• The ERA’s Reshaping Energy Systems funding competition encourages collaboration among applicants, including partnerships with Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, Indigenous communities, and municipalities.
• The Technology Innovation Emissions Reduction (TIER) regulation is a core component of Alberta's industrial carbon pricing system and invests in clean technology.
• Applicants are encouraged to present projects featuring integration between multiple energy carriers (e.g., electricity, natural gas, hydrogen).
• Successful projects aim at indirect or enabled GHG emissions reductions instead of direct reductions, providing a strong case for transitioning to a net-zero emissions energy system.