EDMONTON, AB – Today, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) announced the launch of its 2024 Industrial Transformation Challenge, a $50 million funding competition for technologies that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the economic competitiveness of Alberta’s industrial and natural resource sectors.
Initially launched in 2022, the Industrial Transformation Challenge will now be an annual offering from ERA each Spring with funding sourced from the Government of Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund. Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta; and Justin Riemer, CEO, ERA; made the announcement on Friday, May 10 in Calgary.
The $50 million Industrial Transformation Challenge focuses on scale-up, pilot, demonstration, and first-of-kind commercial projects across various sectors, including agriculture, forestry, manufacturing industries, oil and gas, and other natural resource sectors, with a focus on solutions with the potential to deliver a step-change in emissions performance.
“We are helping develop, test and commercialize the technologies that companies need to stay competitive and attract talent while they drive innovation. The last industrial funding challenge led to more than a dozen ground-breaking projects, and I look forward to seeing even more impressive ideas this year.”
Rebecca Schulz, Minister, Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta
“This annual offering demonstrates there is an ongoing opportunity to support Alberta’s natural resources and industrial sectors through the acceleration of transformative technology. Like several other technologies we have funded before, this $50-million Industrial Transformation Challenge will help accelerate the development and commercialization of some of the most promising innovations the province needs to reduce emissions and maintain competitiveness.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
In the inaugural Industrial Transformation Challenge (2022), ERA committed over $60 million to 14 projects worth more than $225 million, one of ERA’s most successful funding programs to date. To ensure sustained support, 2024’s Industrial Transformation Challenge commits continuous investment for technologies such as breakthrough industrial process improvements, fuel switching and electrification, thermal energy storage, emissions solutions in agriculture and forestry operations, critical minerals extraction, advanced energy materials, elimination of methane emissions, and more.
While technology solutions can originate from anywhere globally, they must be piloted, demonstrated, or deployed in Alberta. The funding opportunity plays to Alberta’s unique advantages, including a talented workforce, locations available to host pilot projects, and concentrated clusters of industrial activity.
Successful applicants are eligible for up to $10 million per project with a minimum request of $500,000. ERA contribution to a single project will be no more than 50 per cent of the project’s eligible expenses. The application deadline is Friday, June 21, at 5 p.m. MDT (UTC-6h) and an informational webinar will be held on Monday, May 27, from 10-11 a.m. MDT (UTC-6h).
“Government of Alberta funding through ERA’s initial Industrial Transformation Challenge is helping District Energy lower the carbon footprint of Calgary’s thriving Rivers District and downtown core. This ongoing support shows a commitment from the province to enable resilient, reliable, and sustainable thermal energy production.”
Jason Grabinsky, Director, Development & Innovation, Calgary District Heating
“Thanks to funding support from the Government of Alberta through ERA’s first offering of the Industrial Transformation Challenge in 2023, Strathcona is well positioned to advance a post combustion carbon capture pilot. Support for this, and other industrial decarbonization projects, serves as important examples of how innovation and emissions reduction funding advances emerging technology.”
Rob Morgan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Strathcona Resources Limited
“The Government of Alberta and ERA continues to work with industry to reduce emissions by investing in the testing and scale-up of new technologies. In the forest industry, ERA has supported several projects that reduce emissions by capturing waste heat and reducing fuel requirements for transporting and processing wood. It is unlikely these projects would have occurred without this leadership and support.”
Roger Ashfield, Managing Director, Mercer Peace River
Submissions will be selected through ERA’s competitive review process. A team of experts in science, engineering, business development, commercialization, financing, and GHG quantification will conduct an independent, rigorous, transparent review overseen by a Fairness Monitor.
For more information contact:
Kevin Duncan
Media Relations
Emissions Reduction Alberta
403.431.2859
kduncan@eralberta.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA (ERA):
Emissions Reduction Alberta has been investing revenues from the carbon price paid by large emitters to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions for 15 years. Since established in 2009, ERA has committed nearly $935 million toward 267 projects worth $8.8 billion that are helping to reduce GHGs, create competitive industries and are leading to new business opportunities in Alberta. These projects are estimated to deliver cumulative GHG reductions of 42.5 million tonnes by 2030 and 117.6 million tonnes by 2050.
ABOUT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION (TIER) FUNDING
The Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation is at the core of emissions management in Alberta. The TIER system implements Alberta’s industrial carbon pricing and emissions trading system. TIER helps industrial facilities find innovative ways to reduce emissions and invest in clean technology to stay competitive and save money.