Energy Innovation Program: Renewable Energy Demonstrations (Canada)

Deadline: 2-Jul-24

The Government of Canada is offering grants to reduce environmental impacts and contribute to Canada’s net-zero goals.

Objectives

Aligned with OERD’s commitment to driving innovation to accelerate Canada’s clean energy transition, the Renewable Energy Demonstration Call (“the Call”) will fund demonstration projects that help to advance innovative renewable heat or power generation and/or integration through novel applications that provide local benefits.
Projects must address one or more of the following objectives:
- Increase local participation in, and local benefits of, renewable energy generation and use;
- Improve the reliability and accessibility of renewable energy generation;
- Reduce environmental impacts and contribute to Canada’s net-zero goals; and/or,
- Advance replicable renewable energy solutions.
To further OERD’s objectives to support projects that advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA), applicants will be asked to describe how their project will positively impact local communities. The Call will also aim to fund at least one project led by an Indigenous applicant, recognizing the importance of Indigenous participation and leadership in advancing renewable energy initiatives.

Funding Information

This Call is open to demonstration projects that request between $500,000 and $4,000,000 over a period of up to a maximum of five years.
Stream 1
- Maximum Contribution: $4,000,000
- Minimum Contribution: $500,000
- Project Life: Up to 5 years
Stream 2
- Maximum Contribution: $4,000,000
- Minimum Contribution: $500,000
- Project Life: Up to 5 years

Eligible Projects

The Call is open to demonstration projects that improve local energy systems through innovative renewable heat or power generation and/or integration. Applications will be scored against their ability to meet the Call objectives.
Projects must start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or higher and have a minimum installed capacity of 100 kW electrical or 300 kW thermal.
For this Call, renewable heat or power must be generated from solar, wind, geothermal and/or marine (e.g. tidal, wave or river current) resources.
In-Scope and Out-Of-Scope Examples for this Call:
- Solar
  - In-Scope Examples
    - Innovative integration of solar thermal with agri-food
    - Solar photovoltaic (PV) integrated with crop growing (agri-voltaics or agri-PV)
    - Floating solar PV integrated with aquaculture pens (aqua-voltaics or aqua-PV)
    - Floating solar PV on an existing water body
    - Solar integrated with thermal storage for a district energy system
  - Out-of-Scope Examples
    - Domestic rooftop solar PV systems
    - Solar thermal systems <300 kWth
    - Development of new solar cell materials
- Wind
  - In-Scope Examples
    - Wind farm implementing innovative systems and/or adaptive approaches to minimize potential impacts on wildlife (birds/bats)
    - Wind farm demonstrating use of recyclable turbine blades
  - Out-of-Scope Examples
    - Energy storage system for existing wind farm
    - Domestic rooftop micro-wind turbine systems
    - Offshore wind producing hydrogen for export
    - Development of new wind turbine designs
- Geothermal
  - In-Scope Examples
    - Geothermal direct use for northern greenhouses
    - Geothermal direct use for high-value light industry applications
    - Innovative geothermal combined heat and power (CHP) applications for a district energy system.
  - Out-of-Scope Examples
    - Geothermal exploration
    - Domestic ground source heat pump systems
- Marine
  - In-Scope Examples
    - Tidal, wave, or river current energy generation integrated into a hybrid microgrid system
    - Tidal or wave energy generation combined with energy storage system for port decarbonization
  - Out-of-Scope Examples
    - Establishment of an open sea test facility
    - Stand-alone resource assessments
    - Development of new wave/tidal energy converter design

Location

While some project activities can take place outside of Canada where necessary, the project must have significant tangible benefits to Canada and preference will be given to projects with activities taking place in Canada.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Canadian Recipients will be:
- Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including:
  - For profit and not for profit organizations
  - Community groups
  - Canadian academic institutions
- Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies where applicable
- Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including:
  - Indigenous communities or governments
  - Tribal Councils or entities that fulfill a similar function (e.g., general councils)
  - National or regional Indigenous councils, or tribal organizations
  - Indigenous (majority owned and controlled by Indigenous people) for-profit or not-for-profit organizations
For the purposes of this Applicant Guide, the term “Indigenous” is understood to include Inuit, Métis, First Nation, Status Indian and non-Status Indian individuals, or any combination thereof.
Eligible recipients must apply under one of these streams:
- Stream 1 is open to all eligible recipients.
- Stream 2 is open to eligible Indigenous recipients.
Applicants are permitted to work with partners on their project, including partners that do not qualify as eligible applicants. This could include academic institutions, government labs, other for-profit or non-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, or other entities. Foreign entities are eligible to act as partner organizations for the project. While project partners do not need to be confirmed at the Expression of Interest (EOI) phase, applicants can provide information if available.

For more information, visit Natural Resources Canada.