Climate Innovation Grant Program
Expression of interest for the 2024 grant stream will open January, 2024.
We want your groundbreaking, innovative, and low-emissions projects.
We know that Calgary and Edmonton need support to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That is why we offer funding to a variety of organizations for local low-carbon solutions, so you can take your remarkable emission reducing project from idea to reality.
Download Grant GuidelinesWe can make a difference by doing things differently.
From technology demonstration to collective impact, and policy advancement, we support a variety of projects that inspire innovation and create tangible benefits in our communities. Most importantly, we want to support and strengthen those working on groundbreaking solutions to the climate emergency.
Plus, we only support solutions that can be scaled up, and have the potential to make a meaningful difference for the long haul.
Apply for funding in one of our four focus areas:
1. Overarching or Foundational
2. Building Better or Retrofitting Wiser
3. Moving on Mobility
4. Decarbonization and Renewable Energy
All program criteria are available on this page, or you can download a PDF of the grant program guidelines.
Focus Areas
Projects are eligible for funding if they align with a Challenge Statement in one of our four focus areas.
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Overarching or Foundational
- Groups trying to advance actual climate solutions run into unexpected roadblocks. Projects in this category will address systemic, regulatory, and/or policy barriers to the deployment of low carbon products, technologies or processes.
Project example: Reducing the additional costs incurred when developing large scale solar project; addressing social and technical barriers to enable heat pump installations.
- Groups trying to advance actual climate solutions run into unexpected roadblocks. Projects in this category will address systemic, regulatory, and/or policy barriers to the deployment of low carbon products, technologies or processes.
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Building Better and Retrofitting Wiser
- Our current building stock must be retrofitted rapidly and the performance of new buildings must improve faster than what energy codes currently mandate. Projects in this category will increase capacity or advance efforts to build and retrofit residential and commercial buildings on a pathway to emission neutral standards.
Project example: Home Performance Stakeholder Council (HPSC) in British Columbia. - Considering the whole life cycle of a building, including the embodied carbon - the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials - provides an opportunity for further reductions beyond targeting the operations of a building. Projects in this category will explore the impact of considering embodied carbon in the construction and retrofitting of buildings.
Project example: BEAM - Building Emissions Accounting for Materials estimator tool for assessing the carbon footprint of building materials.
- Our current building stock must be retrofitted rapidly and the performance of new buildings must improve faster than what energy codes currently mandate. Projects in this category will increase capacity or advance efforts to build and retrofit residential and commercial buildings on a pathway to emission neutral standards.
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Moving on Mobility
- Active transportation, as an alternative to single occupancy vehicles, can be encouraged in numerous ways that doesn't always involve large scale changes to existing infrastructure. Projects in this category will identify practical, tangible, or low-cost improvements, such as minor infrastructure changes, adoption of software, tools, or new systems, to encourage active mobility.
Project example: Software solutions addressing accessible routes for those who wouldn’t normally consider active transportation, neighborhood-level infrastructure improvements for cycling. - To support the transition to zero emissions vehicles, we will require a robust public charging network. Projects in this category will accelerate publicly accessible fast-charging infrastructure for zero emissions vehicles.
Project example: Deployment of strategic publicly accessible fast-charging stations - Vehicles that drive a lot, such as taxis and delivery vans, have a bigger impact when they are replaced with low emissions options. Projects in this category will deploy tactics or tools to decarbonize urban freight and/or vehicle for hire activity.
Project examples: Demonstrating the efficacy of electric-cargo bikes or low emissions vehicles as a last-kilometer solution.
- Active transportation, as an alternative to single occupancy vehicles, can be encouraged in numerous ways that doesn't always involve large scale changes to existing infrastructure. Projects in this category will identify practical, tangible, or low-cost improvements, such as minor infrastructure changes, adoption of software, tools, or new systems, to encourage active mobility.
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Decarbonization and Renewable Energy
- As we electrify our buildings and transportation sector, reducing the usage of emissions intensive fuels and minimizing the strain on our electricity grid will be necessary. Projects in this category will enable electrification at the building or neighborhood scale, while minimizing the strain on the grid and/or enable alternative low emissions fuels to move towards emissions neutral neighborhoods, buildings and transportation.
Project examples: SunAlta Power Inc. project on distributed generation, Passive House Alberta’s exploration of load sharing devices - Modeling suggests that removing carbon from the atmosphere is necessary to reach net zero emissions. Projects in this category will remove and sequester carbon in urban centers via technology solutions.
Project examples: Alberta Ecotrust Foundation's Carbon Capture for Nonprofits pilot in partnership with Clean O2.
- As we electrify our buildings and transportation sector, reducing the usage of emissions intensive fuels and minimizing the strain on our electricity grid will be necessary. Projects in this category will enable electrification at the building or neighborhood scale, while minimizing the strain on the grid and/or enable alternative low emissions fuels to move towards emissions neutral neighborhoods, buildings and transportation.
Get up to $100,000
We support a diverse range of activities in both Calgary and Edmonton. You can request up to $100,000 in funding.
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Calgary
$550,000 is available for projects that benefit Calgary.
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Edmonton
$400,000 is available for projects that benefit Edmonton.
Are you eligible?
Organizations are able to submit more than one project at the Expression of Interest stage, but only one full application will be accepted per City, per grant round.
The following organizations are eligible to apply for the Climate Innovation Grant Program:
Nonprofit and Qualified Canadian Donees (charitable) organizations are eligible to apply for projects based in Calgary or Edmonton.
The Cities of Edmonton and Calgary.
Contact our grant team if you are unsure if you can apply
Book a call with a Program Specialist
Book a call with Adil for Calgary-based projects
View ResourceBook a call with Stefanie for Edmonton-based projects
View Resource
Program Timeline
Application to the 2023 Grant Stream is now closed. Check back in March, 2024.
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January 29-February 26: Expression of Interest Stage
The application portal will open on January 29, 2024 at 9 a.m. MST. Expressions of Interest must be submitted by February 26, 2024 by 6 p.m. MST. We strongly encourage you to meet with our program team to discuss your project prior to submitting an Expression of Interest.
During the call, staff will:
Get to know your organization and project objectives and work directly with you to ensure your project fits within the Climate Innovation funding focus areas.
Connect you with additional resources and partners, if applicable.
Build a relationship with you and help you improve the quality of your application.
Book a 30-minute call with Stefanie for Edmonton based projects or book a call with Adil for Calgary based projects.
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February 27-March 13: EOI Screen
Our team will screen all Expressions of Interest, utilizing the evaluative criteria detailed in the Application Scorecard.
Then we will invite a short list of applicants to submit full proposals.
We’ll offer direct feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
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April 1-April 30: Full Applications
Our team will work closely with those invited to apply. We will assist you in technical and financial due diligence, providing feedback and direction from the Expression of Interest stage.
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May-July: Decision Making
Our Grant Review Committee will decide which projects to fund. Whether or not you are successful, we will reach out to you to confirm and discuss.
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August-September: Feedback
All unsuccessful applicants will be offered feedback regarding the decision and their project from AEF staff.
Resources for Applicants
Book a call with Adil for Calgary-based projects
View ResourceBook a call with Stefanie for Edmonton-based projects
View ResourceProgram Guidelines
View ResourceExpression of Interest questions
View ResourceApplication Scorecard
View Resource
About the Climate Innovation Fund
This program is funded through the Climate Innovation Fund which aims to accelerate urban climate solutions in Calgary and Edmonton.
What our grantees are saying...
Projects we've funded
Policy Tools for Low-Energy and Emission Buildings
Community Energy Association is exploring regulatory and incentive structures the City of Edmonton can use to reduce emissions in new construction.
3D Printed Homes to Reduce GHG Emissions
Green Violin’s is aiming to use low carbon in their 3D Concrete Printed House technology to bring affordable and efficient homes to Edmonton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources for Grantees
Contact our grant team if you have further questions: grants@albertaecotrust.com or by calling 403-209-2245, or 1-800-465-2147 (outside of Calgary).
Alberta Ecotrust Logo Guidelines
View ResourceAlberta Ecotrust Primary Logo
View ResourceElectronic Fund Transfer form for Grantees
View Resource
Thank you to our grant program contributors.
Projects we've funded
See our showcase of projects that we have funded.
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