The government of Canada has put in motion a C$155 million ($121 million) program that will fund clean technology projects in the area of energy and other sectors to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The program, announced on November 20, 2017, by Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, will focus on five areas in energy, mining and forestry.
One of the aims of the program is to reduce greenhouse gas and air emissions from natural resource operations by funding projects related to advanced emission reduction solutions, low-emissions technologies, and clean energy systems.
The program will only support projects advancing pre-commercial technologies between technology readiness levels (TRL) 3 to 9, according to the government of Canada.
TRL 3 projects are those where active research and development is initiated to establish proof of concept, while the TRL 9 level marks the system proven though successful demonstration where the actual application of technology is in its final form.
Funding is open to natural resources and clean technology firms, federal researchers, Indigenous organizations and groups, and post-secondary institutions.
The letters of intent for the program should be submitted before the anticipated deadline of January 24, 2018.
Jim Carr , Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, said: “Clean growth is good for our planet and our economy. It also plays to Canada’s competitive advantage with the clean technology innovation that will make our country a global leader in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
“Strategically developing and using clean technologies in our natural resource sectors is one more way we can make Canada stronger and more sustainable, future-proof our economy and create new opportunities for generations to come.”
To remind, Canada’s Budget 2017 committed C$200 million to encourage clean technology in the natural resource sectors.
Natural Resources Canada will deliver C$155 million of this funding under the Clean Growth Program.
The remaining C$45 million will support clean technology research and the development, demonstration and adoption of clean technology through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the government of Canada informed.