We develop and invest in applied research and innovation programs to sustain, grow and diversify the energy and resource industries, develop clean technology, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect Alberta’s environment.
Clean Resource Technologies
Investing in Natural & Renewable Resources
We develop and invest in applied research and innovation programs to sustain, grow and diversify the energy, agriculture, food and forestry industries; develop clean technology; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; increase productivity; add value to commodity products, and protect Alberta’s environment.
What we do
Support
We support resource and technology companies, small and medium enterprises, and post-secondary institutions in their research, technology development and commercialization.
Accelerate
We help industry clients accelerate technology development and deployment, grow their businesses, and enhance competitiveness. Market pull is assured through direct end-user support of all invested projects.
Guide
We provide technical insights to the Government of Alberta on resource development, energy diversification, climate leadership, and water/land policies.
Manage
We provide technical due diligence and project management services to Emissions Reduction Alberta.
Browse our programs
Bioenergy
This Clean technology program contributes to low carbon fuels and value-added product creation through a focus on waste conversion and renewable fuels. We seek to leverage our existing oil and gas infrastructure and activities to support a growing bioenergy supply chain. We explore waste material diversion and conversion across large and small communities to realize the value and mitigate the impacts of waste.
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration and Hydrogen
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) is an important pathway for Alberta and to decarbonize its heavy industries, like oil and gas, petrochemicals, and cement manufacturing, to meet 2030 to 2050 emissions reductions targets and net-zero ambitions. CCUS can enable a low-emissions hydrogen industry using Alberta’s massive natural gas reserves. We can build on our resources, research, and Alberta Innovates’ extensive experience to accelerate the development of next-generation technologies and the broad commercial deployment of CCUS.
Alberta Innovates’ TIER Economic Recovery Program (Program) will consist of a set of “shovel-ready” projects that will accelerate innovation in support of GHG emissions reduction, increase long-term economic competitiveness and stimulate growth in critically important sectors of Alberta’s economy.
The Cleaner Hydrocarbon Production (CHP) program supports new/improved methods of extracting hydrocarbons through the Recovery Technologies sub-program, technologies in detecting and mitigating industrial methane releases in the Methane Emissions Reduction sub-program, and emerging technologies in the Digital Oilfield sub-program. In addition to technology development, CHP also supports ecosystem growth though leadership in collaborations such as the Solvent Leadership Series, Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network, and Digital Innovation in Clean Energy.
The Innovative Hydrocarbon Products (IHP) program supports the development of technologies to refine raw bitumen into a pipelineable product through the Bitumen Partial Upgrading sub-program, technologies to convert bitumen into valuable non-fuel products (e.g. carbon fibre, asphalt binder, activated carbon) in the Bitumen Beyond Combustion (BBC) sub-program, and novel methods to convert natural gas into new products through the Natural Gas Value Add sub-program. Similar to above, IHP also supports ecosystem growth through leadership in collaborations such as the National Partial Upgrading Consortium and the BBC Strategic Advisory Committee.
The Land and Biodiversity program works collaboratively with partners in government, academia, industry and others in the private sector to find innovative solutions that will help minimize or resolve impacts to land and biodiversity from land-use activities. Focus areas include: Environmental Monitoring; Oil Sands Tailings; Remediation and Restoration; Climate Adaptation; and more recently Abandoned Well Reclamation.
Our focus on electricity generation and grid modernization supports renewable and alternative energy development from individual technology components to systems-level integration. The future of electricity systems involves the generation, transmission, distribution and storage of energy using smart, data-enabled, and digital solutions. New opportunities for generation from geothermal to nuclear help in transitioning to low-carbon electricity.
The Water Innovation Program (WIP) is designed to achieve the goals of the Alberta’s Water for Life Strategy. Broadly speaking, the WIP research portfolio is designed to advance knowledge and technology to support policy, operations and best practices leading to sustainable water resource management in Alberta. The program invests in four key themes: (i) Future Water Supply and Watershed Management; (ii) Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems; (iii) Water Use Conservation, Efficiency, and Productivity; and (iv) Water Quality Protection.
Innovation is changing the face of farming and food around the world. Our Agri-Food Innovation program is committed to propelling the development and application of technologies to increase the productivity and sustainability of agri-food products and advancing prion research. We work with government, academia, and industry to support Alberta’s agri-food sector. In addition to investing in new technology development, we support ecosystem growth though collaborative initiatives.
Bioindustrial Materialssupports economic development and diversification by investing in greener products and processes using Alberta biomass. This portfolio supports the agriculture and forestry sectors to optimize sustainable resource use and develop new revenue streams for byproducts and residuals.
Critical Minerals and Emerging Technology advances homegrown capacity of technologies and products that support a low-carbon economy with a focus on rare earth elements and critical minerals such as nickel, vanadium, and lithium for applications in electronics, e-mobility, and energy storage.