Frequently Asked Questions

Under normal circumstances all IP remains with the original owner. As stewards of public funds, ERA does require public reporting of the project outcomes and learnings which is the reason for the required license of IP, but business/competitive confidentiality is maintained. Upon funding award, ERA will enter into a legal participant agreement with the project proponent. The agreement includes terms that pertain to confidentiality and privacy for both ERA and the proponent. For more information on ERA’s privacy and confidentiality policies visit https://www.eralberta.ca/privacy/.

ERA collects and publicly reports key outcomes data, such as emissions reductions and job creation, for all funded projects on an aggregated basis. Public reporting of outcomes and learnings is required in order for ERA to satisfy its accountability obligations to the Government of Alberta. Application details are kept confidential on a permanent basis.

There is a range of eligible technologies available to reduce methane slip (see the Eligible Technology list). Note that other technologies not listed may be considered for funding through the program. For questions about eligible project types or how to submit an application for other technologies, please contact support@mrp-deployment.ca

No, ERA does not provide this type of service. Interested parties are encouraged to make use of industry associations, technology accelerators, and other resources when assembling a consortium.  

We will post all webinar recordings about the Methane Reduction Deployment Program to ERA’s website. There will be additional webinars added to the website in the future. For technology-specific training we suggest consulting your technology or service providers.

Projects that do not reduce methane emissions may be subject to corrective measures, including withdrawal from MRDP or repayment of funding. 

Emission Performance Credits (EPCs) and Emission Offset Credits (EOCs) are both compliance instruments under Alberta’s emissions reduction framework, but they are generated in different ways.

• Emission Performance Credits (EPCs) are generated by regulated industrial facilities that reduce their emissions below the benchmark established under Alberta’s emissions performance system. These credits represent emissions reductions achieved by facilities subject to the regulatory framework and may be used or sold within that system, depending on applicable rules.
• Emission Offset Credits (EOCs) are generated by projects that reduce, remove, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions outside the emissions performance system, following an approved Alberta offset protocol. Importantly, EOCs often represent a more direct market-based revenue stream, as they can be sold in carbon markets to generate income based on verified emissions reductions.

Yes. Under the MRDP, participants may generate and retain both Emission Performance Credits (EPCs) and Emission Offset Credits (EOCs). The MRDP does not place any restrictions on the generation, ownership, or sale of EPCs. In addition, MRDP funding may be combined with revenue from EOCs, provided the project meets all applicable eligibility requirements and complies with the requirements of the relevant Alberta offset protocol.

Note: All costs associated with generating these credits are not eligible for funding.

Yes, any natural gas engine that has methane slip is eligible for funding if there is a solution to eliminate the slip.

Measurement monitoring technologies are only eligible when paired with a solution which reduces methane emissions. Additionally, the monitoring technology must remain installed with the paired abatement technology throughout the duration of the solution. 

Past recipients are eligible for funding for new Methane Reduction Deployment Program projects provided their project is distinct from the work previously funded by ERA.  

Only brownfield (retrofit) projects are eligible. These are projects at existing facilities that involve upgrades, modifications, or retrofits. New construction or major expansions (greenfield projects) are not eligible. Greenfield projects include either a completely new site or an expansion that significantly changes a facility’s footprint, capacity, or function.

No. All projects must be completed within two years of the Participant Agreement execution date, or by March 31, 2029—whichever comes first.

Yes. To be eligible for funding, projects must achieve methane reductions beyond existing compliance with any applicable regulations, including but not limited to Directive 060 and Directive 087. Activities undertaken solely to meet regulatory obligations are not eligible. The program is intended to support measures that reduce methane to levels above and beyond current standards.

Example 1: If a project reduces emissions from pneumatic devices from high-bleed to zero-bleed, funding will generally apply only to the reduction from low-bleed to zero-bleed.

Example 2: If a SCVF project is proposed and there is an active “serious” vent flow as per Directive 087, the project would not be eligible as the designation would require the Participant to fix the vent to comply with regulation.

Projects are assessed on a case-by-case basis for regulatory compliance.

If a technology is not on the list, proponents may still apply for funding. Please contact the program’s support team at support@mrp-deployment.ca for guidance on how to submit an application for an unlisted technology.

No. LDAR activities are currently ineligible under the Methane Reduction Deployment Program.

The program is limited to Upstream and Midstream oil and gas producers. Low-pressure and municipal utility lines that serve retail natural gas customers are considered Downstream and are not eligible.

No. New or existing flares used for the combustion of captured gas are not eligible. However, vapour destruction through combustors, incinerators, or catalytic oxidizers is considered eligible under the program.

Solutions such as advanced or predictive process control that directly reduce methane emissions within operations are considered eligible. While we cannot provide specific examples at this time, the program is open to applications proposing digital solutions—including machine learning or artificial intelligence—that demonstrate measurable methane reductions.

Monitoring equipment, whether stationary or mobile, must be paired with an eligible emission-reducing technology to qualify for funding. Additionally, the monitoring equipment must remain installed alongside the abatement technology to be considered an integral part of the solution. Technologies that only monitor or detect emissions, without contributing to emission reduction, are not eligible.

The program aims to balance the goal of reducing methane emissions and optimizing the limited amount of incentive funds available. In this sense, projects with abatement costs above $500 per tonne of CO₂e (calculated as ERA funding requested/tCO₂e)  may be required to demonstrate how they contribute to the Government of Canada’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

Yes. Large Final Emitters and facilities regulated under Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation are eligible to apply for funding under the MRDP, provided they meet all other program eligibility requirements.

Previously, participation by TIER-regulated facilities was limited to aggregated facilities. Under the updated program rules as of August 2026, all regulated facilities are now eligible to receive MRDP funding for eligible methane reduction projects.

Multiple technologies can be aggregated into one application only if they belong to the same parent technology type.

For example, pneumatic electrification and pneumatic device vent gas capture solutions can be submitted together because they are both under the pneumatics parent technology. Projects involving different parent technology types, for example, a storage tank vapor recovery project (routine venting) and an engine retrofit project (methane slip), require separate applications.

A separate application must be submitted for each parent technology type. However, multiple sites may be included in one application if the same technology type is being installed at each site and all sites fall within the same economic region. (Reference: Alberta economic regions)

Project applications must be submitted by the participant. However, during the application process, participants may identify Eligible Contractor(s) they are working with. Participants may also invite Eligible Contractor(s) to collaborate on their application at any time. This enables Eligible Contractor(s) to upload supporting information required for the project application submission.

The quantification guides in the program portal outline the information required to be submitted as part of the GHG quantification for each eligible technology type. For example, the guides include applicable testing requirements (e.g., methane slip) and appropriate emissions rates for pneumatic devices (e.g., pneumatics). Please note that pre- and post-project exhaust testing is an eligible expense.

For project-specific GHG quantification questions, please refer to the quantification guides or contact support@mrp-deployment.ca.

No, the costs associated with generating EPCs or EOCs are ineligible.

Yes. Participants can stack funding with other programs. However, participants must disclose other funding sources and the total amount of funding cannot exceed 100% of project costs.

Yes, you may start your project before receiving approval at your own risk, provided work starts no earlier than January 1, 2025. However, only costs incurred between the program launch date, November 12, 2025, and March 31, 2029, are eligible. Funding is formally reserved only after the Participant Agreement is executed.

Some eligible project costs can be incurred prior to project approval, including FEED, flow rate measurements, gas composition analysis, and ordering of project equipment, at the risk of the applicant. However, project construction or installation cannot occur before project approval.

Only projects that have executed the Participant Agreement can submit eligible expenses for review and approval. If your project is not approved, those expenses will not be funded. Additionally, your project must be completed by the Project Completion Date in the Participant Agreement, which will be within two years of acceptance into the Program and no later than March 31, 2029.

On June 10, 2026, ERA updated the parent company funding cap from $1 million to $2 million. We also introduced a new $1 million cap per technology category. Funding remains available for up to 50% of eligible project costs, subject to both caps.

Note: ERA will enforce the funding caps by either funding only the project with the lowest abatement cost (calculated as ERA funding requested/lifetime tCO₂e, if applicable) or pro-rating the funding amount to remain within the applicable funding caps.

Example scenario: A company applies for three projects under different technology categories.

Under the updated funding structure, the total approved funding is $2 million, reflecting the $2 million parent company and $1 million per technology caps. 

Yes. In an effort to ensure broad uptake over different technology types, we have limited the amount of funding available for “Methane Slip – from Engine Operations” to $15 million. Depending on available budget, ERA may revisit the maximum funding amount.

Yes. Service providers must register as eligible contractors under the Methane Reduction Deployment Program. Project applications can only be submitted by registered participants (facility owners/operators). Contractors may assist with application preparation, but the participant (your client) is responsible for submitting the application and managing contract obligations.