Alberta Ecotrust

Climate Innovation Grant Program

Submit your expression of interest from March 27th to April 21st.

Apply Now
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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 Guidelines

We 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 Guidelines.

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Focus Areas

Projects are eligible for funding if they align with a Challenge Statement in one of our four focus areas.

  1. 1

    Overarching or Foundational

    1. 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 projects; addressing social and technical barriers to enable heat pump installations.
  2. 2

    Building Better and Retrofitting Wiser

    1. Research completed in 2022 identified that homeowners are more inclined to include energy efficiency upgrades as part of other renovation work they are undertaking and that the contracting sector is an untapped resource to deliver energy efficiency information. Projects in this category will build capacity, processes, and networks in the renovation and retrofit sector (residential or commercial) to support contractors to include energy efficiency in standard building renovations.
      Project example: Home Performance Stakeholder Council (HPSC) in British Columbia.
  3. 3

    Moving on Mobility

    1. Communities know their neighbourhoods best and can identify how to encourage walking and wheeling. Projects in this category will identify practical, tangible, or low-cost improvements to active mobility networks.
      Project example: Youth En Route surveys student populations and develops a custom plan for each school which includes infrastructure improvements and upgrades.
    2. As the adoption of electric vehicles grows, more people will need access to plugs for charging, but won’t have it easily available. Projects in this category will increase shared or public access to electric vehicle charging.
      Project example: Improving electric vehicles charging access in MURBs.
    3. 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 accelerate the uptake of low emissions vehicles and / or develop alternatives to privately owned fleets (co-ownership for example).
      Project examples: Electric school bus pilot demonstration; Pembina Institute research on barriers to fleet electrification; cargo delivery bikes.
  4. 4

    Decarbonization and Renewable Energy

    1. Traditional energy generation is centralized and relies on fossil fuel inputs. Projects in this category will accelerate the adoption of local energy generation and / or alternative fuels.
      Project example: SunAlta Power Inc. project on distributed generation, neighbourhood-level district energy projects
    2. The push towards electrifying our buildings and transportation will put strain on our electrical grids and major upgrades to infrastructure are costly. Projects in this category will enable electrification without a service upgrade through low-cost, demand side management solutions.
      Project examples: Volta Research’s Grid Sandbox project, Passive House Alberta’s exploration of load sharing devices.
    3. Removing carbon from the atmosphere is necessary to reach net zero emissions. Carbon can be removed naturally by trees, plants, and soil or through technology such as carbon capture equipment.   Projects in this category will remove and sequester carbon in urban centers including nature based or technology solutions. 
      Project examples: Calgary Climate Hub’s Miyawaki Forest project, Carbon Capture for Nonprofits pilot with Clean O2.

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.

  1. 1

    Calgary

    $400,000 is available for projects that benefit Calgary.

  2. 2

    Edmonton

    $500,000 is available for projects that benefit Edmonton.

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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 or Calgary

Contact our grant teams if you are unsure if you can apply.

Program Timeline

Expressions of Interest will open 9:00 am MST March 27, 2023, and close 5pm MST April 21st, 2023.

  1. 1

    March 27 - April 21: Submit your Expression of Interest

    The application portal is open as of March 27, 2023, at 9:00 AM MST. Expressions of Interest must be submitted by April 21, 2023, by 6:00 pm 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. 

  2. 2

    April 25 - May 3: Evaluating Expressions of Interest

    • 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.

  3. 3

    May 8 - June 5: 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.

  4. 4

    July-August: 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.

  5. 5

    September-October: Feedback for Applicants

    All unsuccessful applicants will be offered feedback regarding the decision and their project from AEF staff.

Resources for Applicants

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.

Learn more
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What our grantees are saying...

  • “We need to better understand the materials and technologies we are utilizing in the housing economy to reduce our footprint. We will research the potential emissions savings from building new homes using 3D printed concrete technology vs. traditional methods and materials. The project also has significant co-benefits as we demonstrate this technology in a Veterans Village in the neighbourhood of Evansdale to provide economical, efficient pocket homes in an infill neighborhood that can help our veterans transition to permanent housing and live in harmony within our neighbourhoods again.”
    Yasushi Ohki, Executive Director, Green Violin Development Company
  • “The Climate Innovation Grant from Alberta Ecotrust provides us with seed funding that allows the Institute to start engagement of private and public sector partners, collaboratively design the demonstration project in a manner that is equitable and allows various stakeholders to gain valuable lessons, as well as share the learnings widely through Calgary and beyond. Enabling EV charging in apartments allows more Albertans to literally bring home the important energy transition that is happening around the world.”
    Binnu Jeyakumar, Director, Clean Energy, Pembina Institute
  • “We need to better understand the materials and technologies we are utilizing in the housing economy to reduce our footprint. We will research the potential emissions savings from building new homes using 3D printed concrete technology vs. traditional methods and materials. The project also has significant co-benefits as we demonstrate this technology in a Veterans Village in the neighbourhood of Evansdale to provide economical, efficient pocket homes in an infill neighborhood that can help our veterans transition to permanent housing and live in harmony within our neighbourhoods again.”
    Yasushi Ohki, Executive Director, Green Violin Development Company
  • “The Climate Innovation Grant from Alberta Ecotrust provides us with seed funding that allows the Institute to start engagement of private and public sector partners, collaboratively design the demonstration project in a manner that is equitable and allows various stakeholders to gain valuable lessons, as well as share the learnings widely through Calgary and beyond. Enabling EV charging in apartments allows more Albertans to literally bring home the important energy transition that is happening around the world.”
    Binnu Jeyakumar, Director, Clean Energy, Pembina Institute

Projects we've funded

See all project success stories
  • Landscape shot of Edmonton downtown

    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.

    Learn more
  • Machine 3D printing a home.

    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.

    Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources for Grantees

Contact

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).

Thank you to our grant program contributors.

Projects we've funded

See our showcase of projects that we have funded.

View all projects
AEEA Summit

Priming the Pump for DSM

Climate Change

Engaging Tenants in Apartment Retrofits Resource Guide

Calgary

Climate Change

Common Ground - Mobilizing School Jurisdictions as Active Transportation Leaders

Edmonton

Climate Change

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