Alberta Directs More Funding to Cut Methane Emissions

The Alberta government said October 27 it will direct another C$50mn (US$38mn) from its Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (Tier) fund towards technologies that reduce methane emissions and improve industrial energy efficiency.

To be disbursed to shovel-ready technologies over the next three years, the latest tranche of funding is expected to support 230 jobs. Leveraging the Tier contribution with industry dollars will push total investments to about C$200mn and support 910 jobs.

“This money will help Alberta become an even stronger competitor in clean energy technologies,” Doug Schweitzer, Alberta’s minister of jobs, economy and innovation, said in announcing the funding plan. “These projects will reduce GHG emissions over the near and long term while creating jobs for Albertans.”

Cleantech projects already submitted through Alberta Innovates’ ongoing funding application process may be considered for the Tier funding. Other projects have until November 30 to submit their applications through the Alberta Innovates application portal.

“There is a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that drives solutions in Alberta,” Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease said. “This investment will accelerate the deployment of new technology to improve industry competitiveness, environmental performance and to diversify energy products.”

The Tier system is funded by large industry emitters which pay into the fund when they do not meet greenhouse gas emission targets. The province has made C$750mn available from the Tier fund to support various methane emission reduction programs, carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects and the construction of renewable natural gas and clean fertiliser production capacity in the province.