June 1, 2024 — May 31, 2025
ERA’S VISION is for Alberta to have a diversified economy with competitive industries that deliver sustainable environmental outcomes and attract investment.
DOWNLOAD the full Annual Report to get a detailed look at our impact, growth, and achievements over the past year.
Message
from the
Chair
Kelly J. Ogle
“As a trusted public funding agency respected for its rigorous and transparent approach, ERA creates new jobs and advances new technologies that are developed and deployed in Alberta and shared with Canada and the world.”
Message
from the
CEO
Justin Riemer
“Every day at ERA, we help keep Alberta’s industries competitive in a changing global economy by investing in the technologies to make that possible. Guided by transparency and integrity, we work closely with innovators, industry, and government to accelerate the development and adoption of solutions that cut costs, reduce emissions, and open new market opportunities.”
2024-25 HIGHLIGHTS-AT-A-GLANCE
Launched the $50 million Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program
Welcomed four new trusted partners
Appointed five new board members
Sarah Applebaum
Partner
Pangaea Ventures
Kevin Birn
Head of Carbon
Research and Center of Emissions Excellence,
S&P Global
Commodity Insights
Stuart Cullum
President
Red Deer Polytechnic
Dr. Monica Gattinger
Director
Institute for Science,
Society and Policy,
University of Ottawa
Dale Swampy
Founder
National Coalition of Chiefs
Co-hosted GHGT-17 with the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG) with record attendance
Coordinated the inaugural
BECCS Leadership Summit
NEW FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE IN 2024-25
ALBERTA COMMITS UP TO $35 MILLION TO ERA TO HELP ALBERTA’S DRILLING EXPERTS DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES
To support advanced drilling technologies, Alberta’s government committed up to $35 million to ERA to design a funding call aligned with the Alberta Drilling Accelerator. This funding will help advance new and emerging technologies, reduce emissions, and increase responsible energy production around the world.
INVESTING $3 MILLION IN INTERNATIONAL CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
As one of 50 national and regional funding partners representing 30 countries, ERA committed up to $3 million to CETP’s Joint Funding Call 2024. ERA funding will focus on advancing technology solutions for renewable fuels and hydrogen, as well as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), with strong potential for commercialization in Alberta.
NEW APPROVED INVESTMENTS IN 2024-25
INVESTING NEARLY $46 MILLION IN 11 PROJECTS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND INCREASE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF ALBERTA’S INDUSTRIES
ERA invested $46 million in 11 projects worth $185 million in the second annual Industrial Transformation Challenge. Funding ranges from $700,000 to $10 million for projects in Alberta’s industrial and natural resource sectors: oil and gas, concrete and cement, pulp and paper, forestry, biotechnology, and municipal wastewater treatment.
COMMITTING $49 MILLION TO SHAPE THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND CREATE LOW EMISSIONS PRODUCTS
ERA committed $49 million to accelerate a broad range of technologies and solutions to help accelerate the circular economy, create economic opportunity, and improve the environment. In total, 18 projects valued at $199 million in public and private investment are receiving funding through ERA’s Advanced Materials Challenge. Funding will increase the competitiveness of Alberta’s manufacturing and resource sectors, grow new provincial industries with export potential, and reduce the emission footprint of material supply chains.
CONTINUOUS INTAKE PROGRAM SUPPORTS HIGH-POTENTIAL AND STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT PROJECTS
This year, ERA announced $66 million to 15 projects worth $303 million through the Continuous Intake Program. Referrals from our Trusted Partners are critical for this process. Projects include supporting the world’s first direct air capture centre in Innisfail, turning forestry waste into industrial fuel, tackling methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, and more.
ERA CONTRIBUTES TO A $2.4 MILLION DECENTRALISED ENERGY INITIATIVE
In 2024, ERA announced $100,000 in support for Decentralised Energy Canada’s and the City of Medicine Hat’s Energy Innovation Challenge, a three-year program designed to invest approximately $2.4 million in small businesses to help them overcome commercialization obstacles and advance their decentralised energy solutions to the market. In December 2024, Arcus Power and Edgecom Energy were announced as the first two winners of the Energy Innovation Challenge.
FOUR NEW TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS SIGNED
In 2024-25, ERA welcomed four organizations as our newest Trusted Partners: Genome Alberta, Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC), NorthX Climate Tech (formerly BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy), and Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). These Trusted Partners will support the Partnership Intake Program, a component of the Continuous Intake Program that allows ERA to leverage funds and due diligence, share risk, and reduce administrative burden for applicants.
NEW $50 MILLION PROGRAM SUPPORTS ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN ALBERTA’S INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
This new $50 million commitment from the Government of Alberta and Natural Resources Canada will help program participants increase profitability by reducing energy costs, growing organizational skills and capacity building, and helping cover the cost of capital retrofits. Eligible industrial sectors include agriculture, forestry, mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, utilities, construction, manufacturing, transportation, waste management, and more.
ERA CLEAN FUEL REGULATIONS COMPLIANCE FUND CONFIRMED
ERA was approved as a registered compliance fund under Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulation. This is a compliance option under the regulations for primary fuel suppliers who may choose to contribute up to 10% of their annual carbon intensity reduction requirements to an emissions reduction program. These funds will be managed by ERA and invested in projects that deliver outcomes aligned with the regulation. Programming will be announced in Fall 2025.
PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO LABS FOR EARLY-STAGE EMISSIONS REDUCING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPERS
In December 2024, the new Lab Services Incentive Program Pilot (LSIP) was launched, with $1 million in funding. LSIP aims to improve collaboration and access to lab services for early-stage clean technology developers in Alberta. It’s designed to provide easier access, greater efficiency, and enhanced affordability when it comes to engaging with post-secondary research institutions in Alberta. The three participating post secondary institutions are the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge.
SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS TO COMPLETE PROJECTS, COMMERCIALIZE TECHNOLOGIES, AND GROW THEIR COMPANIES
To help address barriers to commercialization, ERA provides mentorship support to its funded SME’s through our new Innovator Support Services. Entrepreneurs can access expert mentors who can provide advice and assistance with challenges such as funding and financial management, as well as strategies for human resources, market fit and go-to-market, business model scalability, product development, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, internationalization and exporting. Fourteen companies signed up to the program as of May 31, 2025.
REFRESHING THE TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP
ERA engaged with government, industry, academia, and innovators to update the Technology Roadmap (TRM). The Fifth Edition of this important document articulates the pathways that will enable Alberta to have a competitive economy that delivers sustainable environmental outcomes. It outlines the strategic direction for ERA’s investments and ensures a balanced focus on short-, medium-, and long-term technologies.
SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND KEY FINDINGS FROM COMPLETED PROJECTS
ERA delivers on its mandate by tracking progress, reporting outcomes, and sharing what’s been learned from its investments. Every funded project is required to submit a final report that highlights key results and unique insights that could help drive further innovation. To support transparency and knowledge sharing, these reports are publicly available on ERA’s website.
In 2024-25, 25 projects were completed.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS ALBERTA’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, BOLSTERS INDUSTRY OBJECTIVES
Aligned to our commitment of knowledge sharing, ERA contributed funding and support for two white papers:
Study of Water Impacts of CCUS Developments in Alberta
With funding and support from ERA, Alberta Innovates, Lafarge, and other industry partners, WaterSMART Solutions LTD., a Hazen Company, prepared a report studying the potential water impacts of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in Alberta. The report is intended to inform policies, regulations, and investments that will best enable the CCUS sector’s growth.
Lessons Learned from 11 Industrial CCS Feed Studies
In 2022, ERA funded 11 Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies spanning 27 facilities across the oil and gas, power, cement, forestry, fuels, and chemical sectors through the Carbon Capture Kickstart funding call. ERA and the International CCS Knowledge Centre summarized key learnings from the program in this report to guide projects towards Final Investment Decisions and operational readiness by 2030.
CCUS EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ATTEND GHGT-17
ERA co-hosted the GHGT-17, setting record attendance levels by attracting more than 1,500 scientists, researchers, innovators, and industry leaders from 47 countries. The event showcased Alberta as a leader in energy transition and a hub for collaboration among industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers.
INAUGURAL SUMMIT POSITIONS ALBERTA AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN BECCS
ERA convened the inaugural BECCS Leadership Summit in Banff. More than 100 leaders from forestry, government, First Nations, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credit buyers and more, convened to discuss how to address barriers and accelerate adoption of BECCS in Canada.
WEBSITE ENHANCEMENTS VISUALIZE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO AND PROJECT INFORMATION ACCESS
ERA revamped its website with an interactive project map and launch of an Open Data Portal. These exciting new features are user-friendly, visually appealing, and effectively convey the almost $1 billion worth of investments in more than 300 projects across multiple sectors. Enhancing transparency and accessibility make it easy for the public to view and understand the impacts of our funding and increase their awareness of ERA’s role in the innovation system.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
ERA was named Foresight Canada’s Funder of the Year at the 2025 Alberta Cleantech Awards.
The 15 Years of Emissions Reduction Alberta documentary was recognized as the best video production at the 46th Annual ACE Awards in Edmonton.
ERA Board member Céline Bak was named a King Charles IIICoronation Medal winner.
ERA Board member Stuart Cullum was named a King Charles IIICoronation Medal winner.
ERA Board members Kelly J. Ogle named a King Charles III Coronation Medal winner.
ERA’s Chief Operating Officer, Heather Stephens, was awarded the highest honour granted to a CPA: the Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA).
ERA’s Director for Technology Impact, Grace Meikle, was recognized as one of Alberta’s emerging female leaders at the Young Women in Energy (YWE) Awards.
Showcasing ERA’s impact through podcasts, videos, and written stories
Through podcasts, videos, and written narratives produced throughout the year, ERA showcases its funded projects and tells the stories of the people behind them.
RAISING ALBERTA’S PROFILE AT STRATEGIC EVENTS
At a series of strategic conferences, workshops, roundtables, and other events, ERA worked to raise Alberta’s profile as a global leader in technology investment through keynote speeches, panel participation, trade show booths, and more.
DOWNLOAD the full Annual Report to get a detailed look at our impact, growth, and achievements over the past year.
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