ERA commits $5 million to
$50 million global CCUS initiative

$5 MILLION IN ERA FUNDING THROUGH $50 MILLION GLOBAL CCUS INITIATIVE

ERA is partnering with the global initiative, Accelerating CCS Technology (ACT), to invest in world class innovation that can lead to safe and cost-effective CCUS technology. ERA is committing $5 million to ACT’s current Call for Proposals, ACT 3. The total funds available through ACT 3 is currently estimated at $50 million (CAD), with additional funding being secured. In addition to leveraging international funding for CCUS initiatives, the partnership represents a significant opportunity for knowledge sharing about international CCUS activities.

Through ACT 3, ERA is seeking innovative CCUS technologies with the strong potential for commercialization in Alberta. ERA is targeting its funding toward projects at the stages of scale-up, field testing, field pilot, demonstration, and first-of-kind commercial implementation. Partnerships are encouraged to make use of the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre (ACCTC).

ACT 3 consists of two stages:

  • Stage 1: Pre-proposals (closed)
    • to be submitted by Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 5 a.m. MST (13:00 CST)
  • Stage 2: Full proposals
    • to be submitted by Monday, March 15, 2021 at 5 a.m. MST (13:00 CST)

Applications must use the ACT templates below to submit project proposals. Please note that each of the countries participating in the ACT consortium have specific national requirements for their applicants. For more information, the full Call text is available in this PDF file.

Template for Stage 1: Pre-proposals:
Download as PDF | Download as Microsoft Word file

Template for Stage 2: Full proposals:
Download as PDF | Download as Microsoft Word file

Budget template:
Download as Microsoft Excel file

All project proposals are to be submitted to the Research Council of Norway (RCN), who administers the program on behalf of the ACT Consortium. ERA will support proposal evaluation, monitoring of project activities, and continuous outreach and communication.

Stage 1: Pre-proposals can be submitted to RCN by email to act-ccs@rcn.no no later than Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 5 a.m. MST (13:00 CST)

ABOUT ACT 3 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Project proposals must be submitted by a project consortium consisting of at least three eligible applicants from at least three countries/regions participating in ACT 3. The partnership requirement demonstrates international collaboration and is a way for countries to leverage new knowledge, expertise, and resources. Large projects, requiring a budget over $4.6 million (CAD), are encouraged to have a consortium of four or more partners, with no single partner representing more than 70 per cent of the activities in the project.

All proposals will undergo a two-stage evaluation process:

  • Pre-Proposal Review: The first phase consists of “pre-proposal” submissions. National/regional funding bodies will evaluate these pre-proposals to determine suitability for moving on to the next phase. ERA will use its standard expression of interest (EOI) review process for evaluation of these pre-proposals.
  • Full Proposal Review: A shortlist of applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal, which will be evaluated and ranked by a team of independent international experts. The final funding decision will be made by the relevant funding bodies based on the ranking and approval of ACT consortium’s individual funding organizations. ERA will use its standard approval process for final funding decisions.
  • Project Execution: Successful applicants will be required to enter into a legal agreement with their respective national/regional funding organizations (e.g., Alberta companies with ERA, Norwegian companies with RCN, etc.). For each approved project, the entire consortium of applicant partners must have a signed agreement detailing the internal organization and management of the consortium, intellectual property arrangements, and settlement of internal disputes.

Projects will be evaluated based on three primary criteria, in addition to national/regional funding organization criteria:

  • Excellence: dealing with the overall fit within the scope of the call, credibility of the technology, scientific merit, ambition and innovation potential, trans-national cooperation within the CCUS community, and relevance and clarity of overall objectives.
  • Impact: underscoring the importance of the results of the project, expected contribution to the advancement of CCUS, impact on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), and industrial relevance.
  • Quality and Efficiency: including a coherent and effective project plan, appropriate budget allocation, risk management procedures, and team capability.
WATCH A WEBINAR ABOUT THE ACT 3 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Want to learn more about building a consortium and how to submit an application for ACT 3? Dr. Aage Stangeland, The Research Council of Norway/ACT coordinator, gave a 20-minute online presentation on August 26, 2020. Watch it here.

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

ERA is the first sub-national member of an international funding initiative. ACT is coordinated by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and is a collaboration of 15 research and innovation funding organizations from 16 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others. This multi-national funding program, initiated in 2015, accelerates and matures CCUS technologies from around the globe. This partnership continues Alberta’s momentum toward lowering the costs of CCUS technologies that will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase the province’s competitiveness.

By engaging in the ACT partnership, ERA is participating in an international initiative that will leverage additional funding for CCUS, while also directing international funding to projects that benefit Alberta. This initiative also represents a significant opportunity for knowledge sharing international CCUS activities.

ERA’s previous investments in CCUS technologies through initiatives such as the Grand Challenge demonstrate a commitment to advancing these projects and technologies. Alberta’s CCUS-related investments such as Shell Quest, the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line, and the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre (ACCTC) also make the province a leading candidate to showcase and share knowledge and expertise gained through these initiatives.