annual report
2025-26
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.
2025/26 Highlights-at-a-glance
57 new technology innovation projects funded. 27 technology innovation projects completed. $256 million in approved investments worth $1.3 billion in total project value. $72 million in funding committed for active opportunities in 2026-2027 fiscal year. 440 new energy efficiency incentive projects approved. $42 million Methane Reduction Deployment Program rolled out.
Fuel Innovation Fund launched as a compliance option under Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations
In 2025-26, ERA expanded its role in advancing clean technology innovation through the establishment of the Fuel Innovation Fund, a subsidiary approved under Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations. The Fund provides regulated fuel suppliers, industry innovators, and technology developers with an opportunity to deploy technology that lowers the carbon intensity of transportation fuels.
“CFA was pleased to collaborate in the development of this important program. This new funding represents a strong opportunity to advance low-carbon fuel projects, technologies, and infrastructure that will deliver direct, measurable emissions reductions across Canada.”
Bob Larocque, President and CEO, Canadian Fuels Association (CFA)
Approved projects in 2025-26
INDUSTRIAL
TRANSFORMATION
CHALLENGE 2025
Transforming industries through annual funding challenge
Through the annual Industrial Transformation Challenge, ERA invested $107 million across 20 projects focused on first-of-kind manufacturing upgrades, advancing geothermal power generation, pilot carbon capture systems, launching Alberta’s first robotic fabrication platform, enhancing grid management, converting agricultural byproducts into renewable natural gas, and more.
“Alberta knows how to innovate in energy, and the Government of Alberta’s support through ERA helps GeoGen move from shop floor to field. By deploying modular geothermal systems built with an Alberta-based supply chain, we’re strengthening energy security and reducing baseload energy costs for commercial operators across the province.”
Matt Hogg, CEO, GeoGen
TAILINGS
TECHNOLOGY
CHALLENGE
Advancing tailings and mine water technologies in Alberta’s oilsands
Responsible management of tailings and mine water is one of the most important long-term environmental challenges facing Alberta’s oil sands industry. ERA committed $46 million through the Tailings Technology Challenge to support 9 projects focused on tailings treatment, mine water management, water recycling, and faster and more effective reclamation.
“With industry leadership and TIER investment, we’re deploying technologies that clean up mine water, protect land and water, and deliver the jobs and competitiveness Alberta needs.”
Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta
DRILLING
TECHNOLOGY
CHALLENGE
Supporting next-generation drilling and subsurface technologies
ERA’s Drilling Technology Challenge builds on Alberta’s extensive energy extraction history by investing $37 million in 10 projects to advance next-generation drilling and subsurface technologies that can reduce emissions, improve efficiency, lower costs, and unlock new opportunities across the energy, geothermal, carbon storage, and critical minerals sectors.
“Built on decades of responsible resource development, Alberta is home to the world’s best drilling expertise, and this investment will ensure Alberta remains a global leader in cost-effective, reliable, and responsibly produced energy.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, ERA
ADVANCED
MATERIALS
CHALLENGE
Additional Advanced Material Challenge projects approved
In 2024-25, ERA committed $49 million to advance a broad range of technologies and solutions to help accelerate the circular economy, create economic opportunity, and improve the environment. Last year, two additional projects were approved for funding; Quantiam Technologies to demonstrate green methanol production process and Zylotex Inc. to scale up production of lower-emissions cellulose materials from agricultural residues.
Continuous Intake Program supports strategically important projects
This year, ERA announced $58 million to 15 projects worth $235 million through the Continuous Intake Program. Referrals from our Trusted Partners are critical for this process. Projects include testing a pilot-scale lithium refining system, assessing the feasibility of Canada’s first uranium conversion facility, enhancing a continuous methane emissions monitoring platform, and more.
International collaboration advances carbon storage innovation
ERA committed $840,000 through the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETPartnership) Joint Call 2025, to support an international research collaboration led by the University of Calgary. CETP is a transnational initiative that brings together more than 50 funding organizations across 30 countries to accelerate clean energy research, development, and innovation.
ERA supports project through Energy Innovation Challenge
In 2025, Take Energy Inc., Aqua-Cell Energy Inc., and Eguana Technologies were named the final recipients of the Energy Innovation Challenge, a three-year program supported by ERA that is investing approximately $2.4 million in small businesses to accelerate the commercialization of decentralised energy solutions.
New funding made available for 2026-2027
INDUSTRIAL
TRANSFORMATION
CHALLENGE 2026
$50 million committed for annual Industrial Transformation Challenge
The annual Industrial Transformation Challenge plays a central role in building a long-term pipeline of technologies that strengthen Alberta’s competitiveness. Launched in April 2026, the 2026 iteration of the funding call committed up to $50 million to support pilot, demonstration, and first-of-a-kind commercial projects across Alberta’s industrial and natural resource sectors.
Canada provides $20 million to support ERA’s Continuous Intake Program
In 2025–26, the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund provided $20 million in new funding to ERA’s Continuous Intake Program. The additional funding enables continued investment through this flexible program, complementing ERA’s competitive funding calls and supporting the advancement of innovative solutions across sectors.
$2 million committed to CETPartnership Joint Call 2026
ERA is contributing up to $2 million to the CETPartnership Joint Call 2026. Co-funded by the European Union and other partners, the initiative enables Alberta organizations to participate in international research, development, and demonstration projects. Funding is pooled to support selected projects spanning a broad range of technologies and energy system solutions.
Advancing a more strategic Trusted Partners model
ERA refined its Trusted Partners to focus on a core group of high-volume referral organizations with active funding programs and robust project evaluation processes. This targeted approach strengthens collaboration across the innovation ecosystem, enhances the identification of high-potential projects, and creates more seamless pathways for innovators to access support at key stages of growth.
Accelerating methane reduction across Alberta’s oil and gas sector
Almost $42 million in federal and provincial funds were committed to launch ERA’s Methane Reduction Deployment Program, focused on incentivizing commercial-ready technologies for methane emissions reduction. This multi-year program is open to upstream and midstream oil and gas facilities across Alberta.
Strong demand for Strategic Energy Management for Industry program
Demand for ERA’s $70 million Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program exceeded expectations in 2025-26, with all program streams becoming fully subscribed well ahead of the March 2027 end date. SEMI helps industrial facilities identify and implement opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
Evolving and extending the Lab Services Incentive Program
Following a successful 2024 pilot, the Lab Services Incentive Program (LSIP) was extended for an additional three years, funding increased to $4.5 million, and participation expanded to additional eligible post-secondary institutions. The program helps Alberta-based small and medium-sized enterprises access specialized testing, validation, and technical services through post-secondary research institutions.
Supporting entrepreneurs on the path to commercialization
ERA’s Innovator Support Services (ISS) Program continued to help ERA-funded SMEs address non-technical barriers to commercialization by connecting companies with expert service providers for tailored advisory support such as Executives in Residence. 19 companies utilized the program in 2025-26 to strengthen go-to-market strategies, improve investor readiness, clarify financial models, validate market opportunities, and more.
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 2025-26, 27 projects were completed.
Highlights from ERA’s portfolio
Deep Sky Alpha began operations just one year after breaking ground; they also raised $11 million in debt financing to support project growth and deployment.
Thiozen completed front-end engineering and design for Alberta’s first commercial-scale hydrogen production unit.
Aqua-Cell Energy secured $1.6 million to advance commercialization of its saltwater battery technology.
Carbon Upcycling broke ground on Canada’s first commercial carbon capture and utilization cement facility.
Diesel Tech Industries developed a proprietary hydrogen leak detection system with commercialization potential across automotive and industrial applications.
Litus deployed its first lithium extraction pilot, achieving 99.5 per cent lithium recovery.
Linde’s low-carbon LNG demonstration project became fully operational.
Northstar Clean Technologies secured a five-year agreement with the City of Calgary to recycle asphalt shingles from three municipal facilities.
Measuring impact beyond the investment
In 2025, ERA undertook a Commercialization Impact Project to better understand the long-term outcomes of ERA-funded technologies and businesses. Through surveys and interviews with project proponents, the study examined commercialization success, job creation, revenue growth, environmental benefits, and the factors that influence market adoption.
Research spotlights Alberta’s innovation ecosystem, bolsters industry objectives
Aligned to our commitment of knowledge sharing, ERA contributed funding and support for three research papers:
Upstream oil and gas mitigation: high impact opportunities for Alberta
Prepared for ERA by Modern West Advisory, this report examines opportunities to reduce methane emissions in Alberta’s upstream oil and gas sector through technology deployment and innovation.
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology
Researched by Alberta Innovates with support from ERA, this report explores Alberta’s potential to advance carbon dioxide removal technologies by leveraging the province’s geology, infrastructure, expertise, and industrial capacity.
Opportunities for critical minerals production
Developed with Alberta Innovates, this report examines opportunities to grow Alberta’s critical minerals and advanced materials industries by leveraging the province’s industrial strengths, technical expertise, and natural resources.
Bringing together leaders in sustainable construction
Co-hosted with the Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association (SSRIA), Materials that Matter: Sustainable Construction in Alberta brought together more than 130 builders, researchers, technology developers, and industry leaders to explore innovations in low-carbon building materials, circular economy solutions, and sustainable infrastructure.
Listen to the Carbon Copy Podcast
Watch our videos
Read our stories
Watch Justin Riemer interview Peter Tertzakian
In this episode of Carbon Copy, Justin Riemer (CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta) sits down with Peter Tertzakian, one of Canada’s most respected energy economists and Founder of Studio.Energy. Peter breaks down why AI and electrification have overtaken environmental policy as the dominant forces reshaping clean energy investment, how Canada is caught in an economic “sandwich” between the U.S. and China, and why we keep repeating the same boom-and-bust cycles in energy technology.
Strengthening storytelling across Alberta’s innovation ecosystem
ERA’s inaugural Storytelling Workshop brought project proponents and partners together to strengthen how innovation stories are shared, helping participants communicate project successes, lessons learned, and measurable impacts more effectively.
“The session explored the neurological reasons why stories resonate, how to craft a compelling narrative, and how to balance storytelling with data. The biggest takeaway for me? Data informs, but stories inspire action. Thank you for the valuable insights!”
Taylor Kawaguchi, Policy and Fund Development, SolarSteam
RAISING ALBERTA’S PROFILE AT STRATEGIC EVENTS
Throughout 2025-26, ERA helped showcase Alberta as a global leader in clean technology and innovation by participating in strategic conferences, workshops, and industry events across Canada and internationally. Highlights included CERAWeek, the Global Energy Show, along with participation in several other events focused on energy, emissions reduction, technology commercialization, and economic growth.
Download the full Annual Report to get a detailed look at our impact, growth, and achievements over the past year.