Energy Storage and Minerals

This program supports development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products for a more competitive, modern, and sustainable minerals and materials industry.

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Program at a Glance

Program Status: Active
Strategic Initiative: Clean Technology
Business Area: Clean Technology
Priority Area(s): Supports development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products for a better minerals and materials industry.

Eligibility

Program Status: Active
Alberta-based: No
Organization Type: Academic Institutions & Researchers
Multi-National Enterprise
Post-Secondary Students
Small to Medium Enterprise

Overview

Energy Storage and Minerals focuses on the value chains and lifecycles of battery and non-battery energy storage in support of utility scale deployments and emerging consumer technologies. Key technology areas include mineral extraction and processing, multiple forms of energy storage, and material recycling and best practises.

This focus area invests in novel energy storage research, development and deployment projects such as next-generation materials and end products. Alberta Innovates funding enables a more competitive, modern, and sustainable minerals and materials industry.

Energy Storage Technologies

Energy storage is an affordable and sustainable way to integrate intermittent renewable energy sources and support a reliable, resilient electricity grid.

Focused on advancing multiple facets of energy storage through technology development and pilots, this area targets work in novel energy storage technologies, materials and chemistries.

Mineral Extraction Technologies

Focused on innovation in the minerals, mining, and materials sectors in Alberta through investment in solutions supporting the development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products. Strategic priorities include novel primary and secondary extraction technologies, processing of key economic minerals, and the creation of value-add high tech materials from resources and raw materials readily available in Alberta . Critical minerals include lithium, vanadium, titanium, helium, rare earth elements, potash, and others identified on Canada’s list of critical minerals.

Battery Materials Recycling

Management of battery materials at the end of useful life is important to enable waste reduction, and the development of a circular economy associated with the materials utilized in energy storage.

Focused on supporting technology development and pilots exploring recycling and other end of life technologies.

Open Intakes

Energy Storage and Minerals - Continuous Intake

Due date: Continuous

More details

Eligibility

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.

How To Apply

  1. Contact a Clean Resources Project Advisor, listed below, to determine if project scope meets the requirements.
  2. Register on SmartSimple, the online application portal.
  3. Complete and submit the Intake Form on SmartSimple.
  4. Wait for your Intake Form to be reviewed to determine if the proposed proejct will be invited to submit a Detailed Proposal.

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.

Evaluation Process

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.

Resources

Support Resources

Lithium White paper (CERI Study 198)

This white paper aimed to assess lithium production potential from Canadian Oil and Gas Operations in Canada. Highlights of the paper included details on domestic lithium resources, key deposit features, methods for extraction, economics for resource development and lithium projects in Canada at the time of publication.

Learn more

Renewing Alberta’s Mineral Future

Alberta’s mineral strategy and action plan is intended to advance efforts to strengthen and diversify the province’s economy as a preferred producer and supplier of metallic and industrial minerals and mineral products.

Learn more

Contact

Open and Upcoming Intakes

Energy Storage and Minerals - Continuous Intake

This program supports development of next-generation materials, critical minerals, and end products for a more competitive, modern, and sustainable minerals and materials industry.

Funded Projects

View All Projects

Modified Redox Flow Battery Membranes for Improvement in Energy Storage Technology

University of Calgary, Edward (Ted) Roberts

Feb 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2023

Technology Verification for Extracting Lithium from Brine

Summit Nanotech

Aug 25, 2021 – Feb 14, 2023

The Western Hub: Developing a Pan-Canadian Battery Metals Value Chain

Battery Metals Association of Canada (BMAC)

Jan 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2025

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