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Home > Funding Programs > Bitumen Partial Upgrading Program
The Bitumen Partial Upgrading program supports technologies that enhance the value of a processed barrel of bitumen while reducing associated emissions.
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The unique characteristics of bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands create value challenges for producers, as additional processing is required to convert the raw bitumen into consumer products like gasoline, diesel, and heating fuel. Moreover, significant volumes of diluent must be added to transport the viscous bitumen via pipelines, which represent substantial operating costs.
Partial upgrading technologies are those that process bitumen to enhance value while reducing or eliminating the need for diluent. This family of technologies can also provide better feedstocks for generating non-combustion products, like carbon fibre and asphalt binder, per the Bitumen Beyond Combustion Program.
The Bitumen Partial Upgrading (BPU) program invests in technologies that meet these objectives, while facilitating stakeholders with common interests working in collaboration, such as the Bitumen Value Enhancement Committee, formerly the National Partial Upgrading Program.
Due date: Continuous
Clean Resources Continuous Intake Guide
Funding is open to all categories of lead applicant including technology developers, industry, industrial associations, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and development (R&D) organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, government research labs, individuals and others, who are advancing technology development within a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range of 3-7.
Applicants are not required to be based in Alberta, but must demonstrate a clear value proposition for the Province and be able to clearly demonstrate alignment to the program area priorities.
For full details of eligibility criteria, consult the Clean Resources Continuous Intake Program Guide.
Successful applicants must be legally able to execute the Investment Agreement.
For more details on eligibility and the intake process, consult the Program Guide.
If you have determined that your project meets our criteria, please contact a Project Advisor before submitting your Intake Form.
During the review process, Alberta Innovates leverages internal staff with subject-matter and business expertise and external reviewers to evaluate applications submitted.
Proposed projects will be evaluated against criteria in three major categories: Innovation; Execution; and Impacts. The considerations for each criterion are detailed in the SmartSimple online application form.
As this is a continuous intake program, applications are accepted at any time and are reviewed regularly.
CNOOC Petroleum North America
Nov 1, 2016 – Mar 31, 2023
Turner Mason & Company
University of Calgary
CanmetENERGY
MEG Energy Corp.
University of Alberta
January 17, 2020
May 11, 2018