Energy

Energy is a cornerstone of Alberta’s economy, contributing significantly to economic growth, exports, investment, and employment while providing the energy needed to power communities and industries. As global energy systems evolve in response to increasing energy demand, decarbonization goals, and technological advancements, Alberta has a unique opportunity to strengthen its position as a global energy leader through innovation and technology development.

Alberta’s abundant natural resources, skilled workforce, world-class research institutions, and industrial expertise provide a strong foundation for developing next-generation energy solutions. By advancing innovative technologies and integrating new approaches across the energy value chain, Alberta can enhance energy security, improve system performance, reduce environmental impacts, and create new economic opportunities.

The Energy Portfolio aims to accelerate the development, demonstration, and adoption of technologies that support a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future. Through strategic investments in research, technology development, and collaborative partnerships, the portfolio seeks to address energy system challenges while enabling economic growth and competitiveness.

The portfolio aligns research and innovation with government priorities and industry needs by focusing on two key areas: Energy Sources and Energy Systems. Strategic investments in these areas aim to bridge technology gaps, improve energy production and distribution, enhance system efficiency and resilience, and support the transition to a more sustainable and integrated energy future.

The portfolio uses a continuous intake process, as described in the Application Guide. In addition, periodical calls for proposals (also known as funding competitions) will be issued to award grant funding. Each call for proposals will have specific priorities and criteria, along with a dedicated portfolio description and application process guide.

Innovation Areas

Energy Sources

Energy Sources focuses on the development of innovative materials, components, technologies, and energy generation systems that enable the production of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. This includes advancements in photovoltaic materials, turbine and generator components, fuel cell materials, catalysts, membranes, advanced coatings, thermal management systems, reactor materials, renewable and distributed energy generation technologies, and other core technologies that improve energy conversion and production across renewable, nuclear, hydrogen, bioenergy, geothermal, and emerging energy platforms.

The innovation area supports innovations that enhance energy production efficiency, durability, performance, and scalability through novel materials, manufacturing processes, component designs, system architectures, energy generation technologies, and energy conversion mechanisms. Investment priorities include breakthroughs in energy-generating materials, advanced geometries and structural designs, high-performance catalysts and electrolyzers, next-generation reactors and fuel technologies, integrated energy storage materials, and innovative energy generation solutions. These innovations strengthen Alberta’s energy competitiveness by enabling more efficient, cost-effective, and lower-emission energy generation solutions.

Energy Systems

Energy Systems focuses on the infrastructure, technologies, and processes required to transport, distribute, store, and manage energy safely, efficiently, and reliably throughout the energy value chain. As energy systems become increasingly diverse and interconnected, innovation is needed to ensure the effective movement of electricity, fuels, and energy carriers from production to end users.

This focus area supports innovations in electricity transmission and distribution, energy storage systems, hydrogen transportation and storage solutions (including compressed gas, liquefied hydrogen, carriers, and advanced containment technologies), carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) infrastructure, pipeline technologies, fuel distribution networks, and integrated energy management systems. It also includes digital technologies, automation, and system optimization solutions that improve reliability, resilience, efficiency, and interoperability across energy networks. These innovations will strengthen Alberta’s energy infrastructure, enable adoption of emerging energy technologies, reduce emissions, and support the transition to a more flexible and sustainable economy. An example of one of Alberta Innovates initiatives regarding energy systems is the Alberta Smart Grid Consortium.

See our portfolio guide for more details and investment priorities.