Alberta’s ERA commits up to $3.2M to global clean-tech funding call

EDMONTON — Emissions Reduction Alberta is putting up to $3.2 million into the Clean Energy Transition Partnership’s Joint Call 2026, a transnational pot that pools money from funding agencies across 30 countries to back clean-energy research, development and innovation projects led by consortia from at least three countries or regions.

ERA’s slice of the call will focus on energy-system flexibility, advanced renewables, industrial carbon management, hydrogen and renewable fuels, stationary batteries, heating and cooling, and integrated industrial energy systems. Money comes from Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund. Pre-proposals are due October 8, 2026, for projects at scale-up, field pilot, commercial demonstration or commercial implementation stages.

“This investment will help Alberta companies expand their reach, build international partnerships, strengthen our economy and showcase Alberta-made solutions around the world,” Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter said. ERA CEO Justin Riemer said partnerships like CETP help innovators collaborate across borders, access expertise and open markets so Alberta tech can compete and scale globally. ERA has joined CETP joint calls since 2022 and has so far funded one CETP project plus seven through the predecessor Accelerating CCS Technologies challenge; since 2009 it has committed $1.19 billion toward 364 projects valued at more than $10.8 billion.

Industrial carbon pricing recycled into cross-border R&D is an inflation story about future energy costs: technologies that cut emissions and raise industrial efficiency can lower the long-run price of keeping Alberta’s export industries competitive.