Know your grants – Episode 09: Energy Innovation Program

Discover the Energy Innovation Program with Leyton! In this new series of monthly videos, our consultant team will help you discover specific government grants available in Canada, and share key details that you need to know.

For this episode, our Government Grants Consultant, Antoine Giroir, will go through the Energy Innovation Program, and explain how this program can advance clean energy technology focused on reducing emissions through carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

This video has been recorded in English.

What is the Energy Innovation Program?

The Energy Innovation Program (EIP) advances clean energy technologies that will help Canada meet its climate change targets while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.  

The government is investing $319 million over seven years, into research, development, and demonstrations to advance the commercial viability of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies. 

These funds will bring together businesses, academia, non-profits, industry, and governments on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050. You are eligible as long as you are a legal entity validly incorporated or registered in Canada.  

There are 5 streams under this program:  

1. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage RD&D – Call for CO2 Capture RD&D Proposals Now Open 

All the following are closed to application but will mostly be resumed later in this form or another 

2. Clean Fuels and Industrial Fuel Switching 

3. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Front-End Engineering Design Studies 

4. Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network 

5. Breakthrough Energy Solutions Canada 

So for now let’s focus on the first stream: Energy Innovation Program – Carbon capture, utilization, and storage RD&D Call.  

Stream 1 – Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage RD&D 

This stream has 3 components: 

• Capture: To drive down the cost and enhance performance of capture technologies for different emission sources. 

Expression of Interest: Open July 7, 2022 

Deadline to apply: October 3, 2022 

• Storage/Sequestration: To characterize and develop safe, permanent sub-surface CO2 storage to support planning of cost efficient storage opportunities across Canada 

Expression of Interest: Will open fall 2022 

• Utilization: To expand the strategic uses of CO2, and support the development of cost and energy efficient utilization pathways. 

Expression of Interest: Will open winter 2023 

For each focus area you can either engage in R&D activities or Demonstration. 

R&D activities include TRL 2 to 5 

TRL: Projects must be advancing early-stage and pre-commercial technologies between Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 and 7, with the potential for significant improvement in system cost and performance, rendering them ready for technology transfer, scale-up, and commercialization. 

2. (2) Technology development begins. 

3. (3) Research and development are initiated to establish proof of concept, and individual components are not yet integrated into the technology. 

4. (4) Basic technological components are integrated to establish that the pieces will work together. Standalone component prototypes are implemented and tested. 

5. (5) The basic technological components/prototypes are integrated within a reasonably realistic supporting environment so that the technology concept can be tested in a simulated environment. 

Demonstration activities include TRL 5 to 7 

6. (6) Model/prototype well beyond TRL 5 is tested in a relevant environment. Examples include testing a prototype at the pilot scale, integrated with existing systems. In addition, Engineering feasibility is demonstrated. 

7. (7) Prototype near or at the planned operational system. Examples include field-testing or field trials over a period sufficient to provide meaningful data on the performance of the technology. 

Eligible projects 

• CO2 capture process development (including novel cryogenic and hybrid processes) 
• Materials development and CO2 capture chemistry (e.g. advanced solvents, adsorbents, metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, membrane materials, hybrids) 
• Membrane-based separation technologies 
• CO2 purification and treatment (including compression for the purpose of purification) 
• Applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other computational methods for development of CO2 capture – materials and processes 
• Design improvement to increase input flexibility (e.g. range of flue gas compositions) and operability (e.g. quicker start-ups, better energy integration) 

At Leyton, we constantly monitor grant programs to let our clients know what is available to them in a timely fashion.  Since only the first stream is open at this time, we’ll inform you of any updates. 

If you wish to learn more information about this grant and how we can help you apply for it, contact one of our experts today!

About our Government Grant Consultant, Antoine Giroir

Antoine Giroir has a master’s in International Relations with experience in European project management and proposal writing. He has worked with researchers and entrepreneurs on various topics, from sustainable development to oncology targeting, in the European Union, the United States of America, and the People’s Republic of China. He is now helping Leyton’s clients leverage public funding (federal and provincial) to achieve their objectives while lowering the financial risks.