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Study: Community Energy Systems
Supports feasibility studies for low-carbon community energy system design
Funding available
$ 200,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Canadian municipal governments (e.g., municipalities, regions, districts, local councils)
See full eligibility
Overview
This grant provides up to $200,000 (up to 50% of eligible costs) to fund a detailed feasibility study describing the design of a proposed low‑carbon community energy system. Eligible activities include detailed project design, assessing local renewable energy sources, stakeholder engagement and public consultation, financial analysis, regulatory approvals, impact assessments, and climate risk assessment.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 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
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Conduct a feasibility study to define the concept and implementation viability of a proposed low‑carbon community energy system.
- Develop and validate the final system concept (technical approach, expected costs, and potential revenue sources) for a community energy system.
- Carry out stakeholder engagement and public consultation to inform the feasibility study and incorporate feedback.
- Complete an in-depth financial analysis to support the feasibility study (cost estimates, revenue projections, return on investment, and financing options).
- Assess project impacts and risks to support implementation planning (including climate risk assessment and regulatory/approval processes, as applicable).
Documents Needed
- Pre-application form
- Full application form
- Project workbook
- Supporting documents required in the funding application guide
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Community Energy Systems application process updated
The Community Energy Systems page now emphasizes a new multi-step application process, updated submission portal guidance, and expanded contact details.
The Community Energy Systems page was updated with substantial application instructions, including a pre-application review, a full application workbook, and additional supporting documents. It also adds updated portal guidance and new contact options, including email, phone, and booking support. The overall funding program basics appear largely unchanged, with only minor adjustments reflected in the surrounding eligibility, timing, and scope language.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian municipal governments (e.g., municipalities, regions, districts, local councils)
- Private-sector entities partnering with a municipality
- Municipal corporations
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and non-profit organizations
- Research institutes (e.g., universities)
Eligible expenses
- Detailed project design and engineering fees for the proposed community energy system.
- Studies and verification costs to confirm the availability of local energy sources.
- Costs to confirm energy off-takers (energy customers) and other end-users of products created by the proposed system.
- Detailed financial analysis costs (e.g., cost estimates, revenue forecasts, return-on-investment analysis, financing options).
- Preparation of tendering/procurement documents for the capital project.
- Stakeholder engagement and public consultation costs.
- Regulatory approval process costs.
- Impact assessment process costs.
- Climate risk assessment costs.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada (Canadian municipalities and eligible partners).
- Northern Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the northern parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia (as defined by Statistics Canada codes).
- Quebec (specific submission process for Quebec municipalities via the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation).
Selection criteria
- Projects are assessed to prioritize the most innovative initiatives and those expected to have the greatest impact (meeting eligibility requirements alone does not guarantee funding).
How to apply
- Step 1: Consult the application guide and plan your file
- Download and review the funding application guide.
- Review the prerequisite conditions and supporting documents listed in Appendix D of the guide.
- Review eligible and ineligible costs (Business cases, plans, studies and pilot projects; Capital projects).
- Build a detailed project budget and identify other funding sources.
- Step 2: Discuss your project with the fund provider (FMV/GMF)
- Contact a GMF representative to discuss your project: fmvinfo@fcm.ca or 1-877-417-0550.
- Step 3: Create a profile and submit a pre-application (FCM Funding Portal)
- Create a client profile on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Funding Portal.
- Follow the portal steps to submit the pre-application form.
- Step 4: Eligibility review (GMF assessment)
- Wait for GMF to review the pre-application to determine eligibility before moving to the next stage.
- Receive an eligibility response within 15 business days after GMF receives the pre-application form.
- Step 5: Prepare and submit the full application (FCM Funding Portal)
- Complete the full application form in the FCM Funding Portal once eligibility is confirmed.
- Complete the project workbook using the template provided and attach it to the full application.
- Attach all supporting documents required by the application guide.
- Contact GMF staff if you have questions while completing the form.
- Submit the completed full application through the FCM Funding Portal.
- Step 6: File review with a GMF Project Officer
- Work with a GMF Project Officer who will review the application for accuracy and completeness.
- Revise elements of the application if requested to ensure completeness and quality.
- Step 7: Peer review and internal review
- Undergo external peer review (for studies and capital projects).
- Undergo GMF internal analysis to develop a funding recommendation.
- Step 8: Funding decision and timeline
- For business cases and studies: receive a decision within three to five months from submission of the complete application.
- For capital projects: receive a decision within four to six months from submission of the complete application.
- Step 9: Additional submission stage for Quebec municipalities (MAMH pre-review)
- After completing the steps under “How to apply,” submit the application to Quebec’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) for review before it is sent to FCM/GMF.
- Save the application form using the required filename format: GMF_[your municipality name]_[date (YYMMDD)].
- Log into the “Portail gouvernemental des affaires municipales et régionales (PGAMR)” with your user code and password.
- Use “Transfert de fichiers” to upload the form in PGAMR.
- Select the relevant program as the recipient in the dropdown menu.
- Add files and click “Transférer” once the submission is complete.
- Receive confirmation from MAMH.
- Allow up to 15 business days for MAMH to review and forward a compliant application to GMF evaluators.
- Wait for GMF evaluators to confirm receipt and review once the file is transmitted by MAMH.
Processing and Agreement
- FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) reviews your pre-application to confirm eligibility before inviting a full application (response within 15 business days).
- After the full application is submitted, a GMF project officer reviews it for completeness and accuracy and may request revisions to strengthen the file.
- The application is assessed through external peer review and an internal GMF review to develop a funding recommendation for GMF and FCM decision-makers.
- FCM issues the funding decision: feasibility studies are decided within 3–5 months after the full application is submitted (capital projects: 4–6 months).
- If approved, FCM prepares a funding agreement between FCM and the applicant.
Additional information
- Funding applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, but this offering may end once all available funds have been allocated.
- A detailed feasibility study describing the proposed low-carbon community energy system concept is the expected deliverable.
- It is strongly recommended to complete a business case before the feasibility study; a business case and feasibility study can also be carried out in parallel within the same project.
- For Quebec municipalities, the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH) reviews applications before they are submitted to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Study: Community Energy Systems Program
What is the Study: Community Energy Systems?
This grant provides up to $200,000 (up to 50% of eligible costs) to fund a detailed feasibility study describing the design of a proposed low‑carbon community energy system. Eligible activities include detailed project design, assessing local renewable energy sources, stakeholder engagement and public consultation, financial analysis, regulatory approvals, impact assessments, and climate risk assessment.
How much funding can be received?
Study: Community Energy Systems Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $200,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Study: Community Energy Systems program?
To be eligible for the Study: Community Energy Systems program, you must:
Canadian municipal governments (e.g., municipalities, regions, districts, local councils).
Municipal partners (private-sector entity, municipal corporation, NGO/non-profit, or research institute such as a university).
Indigenous community as lead applicant, partnered with a Canadian municipal government (or with a shared-services agreement with one).
What expenses are eligible under Study: Community Energy Systems?
Detailed project design and engineering fees for the proposed community energy system.
Studies and verification costs to confirm the availability of local energy sources.
Costs to confirm energy off-takers (energy customers) and other end-users of products created by the proposed system.
Detailed financial analysis costs (e.g., cost estimates, revenue forecasts, return-on-investment analysis, financing options).
Preparation of tendering/procurement documents for the capital project.
Stakeholder engagement and public consultation costs.
Regulatory approval process costs.
Impact assessment process costs.
Climate risk assessment costs.
Who can I contact for more information about the Study: Community Energy Systems?
You can contact Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) by email at fmvinfo@fcm.ca or by phone at 1-877-417-0550.
Where is the Study: Community Energy Systems available?
The Study: Community Energy Systems program is available across Canada.