Deadline: 1 May 2019

Alberta Innovates and Natural Resources Canada are seeking applications for Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network (CERIN) Program with an objective to establish a world-class Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network (CERIN) that positions Canada as a leader in developing exportable emissions management solutions and achieving cost-effective emissions reduction and regulatory compliance.

The Network will:

• Connect national capacity, facilities and sites;
• Enable coordinated and collaborative R&D and technology testing;
• Facilitate knowledge and information sharing, including technology performance data; and
• Support training and development of next-generation highly qualified personnel (HQP) to drive oil and gas sector innovation.

Program Scope

Alberta Innovates and Natural Resources Canada’s collaborative $12 million investment will support Consortia that advance national outcomes for improved oil and gas emissions reduction, including targeted technology testing infrastructure at existing facilities or sites in Alberta and nationally. Technology testing infrastructure investments outside of Consortia that fill key gaps will also be considered.

Testing will cover all areas of GHG and SLCP emissions mitigation, including, detection, measurement, reporting, verification and reduction. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is out of scope and proposals related to CO2 reduction will not be accepted.

Key Objectives

• National approach to oil and gas emission reduction that brings together expertise and builds capacity in emissions management innovation (R&D, technology testing/validation)
• Consortia-based delivery that links national expertise through an integrated network
• Enhanced access to cost-effective third-party technology testing
• Transparent sharing of results and technology performance data
• Training and development of next generation highly qualified personnel (HQP) to drive oil and gas sector innovation Key Outcomes
• Improved environmental performance
• Reduced compliance costs for industry
• Accelerated adoption of technologies
• Creation of a national Consortia and Network for oil and gas emissions reduction
• Mobilize data sharing across stakeholders
• Development and integration of HQP working to reduce emissions from oil and gas activities

Key Criteria

• Consortia will require
  • A lead convener capable of connecting emissions reduction technology testing facilities, sites, and expertise into an integrated network
  • Infrastructure investments for key facilities or sites linked to desired emissions reduction outcomes
  • Working with others outside their Consortium towards achieving national outcomes
  • A robust and sustainable business model for a network that has a long-term vision and fosters collaboration, including with new players as they emerge. Key features should include:
    • A range of testing capabilities covering lab, pilot and field-scale testing
    • Data-sharing infrastructure that fosters innovation
    • Effective integration/training of HQP
    • Ability to mobilize private sector funding
    • Ability to lower testing costs for companies – Integration of new infrastructure, assets, facilities or sites that may emerge in the future that enhance the network
  • Note: Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for Consortia with broad representation (e.g. industry, academia, research institutes, government).
• Facilities or sites benefiting from targeted infrastructure investments to build emissions reduction technology testing capacity (both within, and outside Consortia, as required) will:
  • Provide broad access to a variety of stakeholders (e.g. technology developers, researchers, end-users, post-secondary institutions, regulators, governments) for technology testing and analysis.
  • Allow for the testing and validation of a wide range of potential solutions that take into account the large variance of location, scale, and source-type. • Include systems and protocols for benchmarking performance of technologies and methodologies (including proving equivalency or better performance than currently available solutions).
  • Include data sharing processes/systems to ensure information collected can be shared with Consortia, the broader Network and key stakeholders (e.g. end-users, regulators, government, technology developers, researchers).
  • Enable opportunities for technology developers to work together to create collaborative solutions that meet technical performance requirements and support cost-effective regulatory compliance.
  • Enable opportunities for effective integration/training of HQP

Project Funding

• Through this Call for Proposals, $12 million has been made available: $6 million each from Alberta Innovates’ Climate Change Innovation Technology Framework (CCITF) Clean Technology Facilities Support Program (see Appendix A) and Natural Resources Canada’s Innovation and Clean Growth Research, Development and Demonstration Programs.
• Generally, up to a maximum of 50% of total Project costs (including cash and in-kind support) will be supported through this Call for Proposals. Remaining funding must come from the Applicant and their partners.
• Industry funding (either cash or in-kind support) is a requirement. Partnerships with postsecondary institutions are highly encouraged.

All Project tasks funded under this Call for Proposals must be completed by March 31, 2022.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible recipients may include:
  • Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada or a Canadian province, including:
    • For profit and not for profit organizations such as utilities, operators, companies, industry associations, research associations, and standards organizations;
    • Indigenous organizations and groups;
    • Community groups;
    • Canadian academic institutions; and
    • Consortia comprising any combination of the above.
  • Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies, where applicable.
  • Federal research centres (eligible for CCITF funding ONLY; NOT eligible for Natural Resources Canada funding)

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include the following:

• Technology testing Infrastructure, including equipment and facility or site instrumentation, with a focus on building field-scale capacity
• Consortia operation/administration
• Support for testing of technologies (Technology Readiness Levels 5-9), with a focus on nearcommercial technologies
• Systems development for data collection/sharing
• HQP training programs with post-secondary institutions/industry

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via given website.

For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2HnRRDx