The government of the Canadian province of Alberta will launch two hydrogen funding competitions using the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund. The new funding will support hydrogen technologies to be used in production, transmission and distribution, storage, and in industries such as heavy-duty transportation, industrial heat and chemicals.

$20 million is available through Alberta Innovates’ Hydrogen Centre of Excellence for early-stage innovations. Natural Resources Canada is also providing another $5 million to Alberta Innovates through its Energy Innovation Program.

$25 million is available through Emissions Reduction Alberta for later-stage technologies.

The funding is intended to support projects exploring innovative technologies rather than what is currently commercially available.

The two parallel competitions are open to a wide range of applicants, including technology developers, industry and industry associations, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and development organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations and municipalities.

Applications for both funding streams are now open. To simplify the process, applicants can submit a single proposal to apply for two funding streams.

Alberta Innovates is a research and innovation agency working to move Alberta to a lower-carbon future, promote the responsible use of land and water, and contribute to the improved health and well-being of Albertans.

Through the TIER program, the Government of Alberta invests revenues from the industrial carbon price to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions.

As part of implementing the new Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan, Emissions Reduction Alberta received $25 million in TIER funding in 2023 to support investments in hydrogen development and the hydrogen value chain. To date, Emissions Reduction Alberta has invested more than $60 million from the TIER fund into hydrogen technologies across the value chain, including a net-zero production complex, hydrogen-powered transit buses, and Canadian Pacific’s hydrogen locomotive – North America’s first line-haul hydrogen-powered locomotive using fuel cells and batteries for power.