Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson announced that approximately 60 projects have been selected to receive funding under the Government of Canada’s CAD 1.5bn Clean Fuels Fund (CFF).
These projects represent a first tranche of the highest-ranking applications from last year’s call for proposals and have a total combined value of more than CAD 3.8bn. They include production facilities, as well as feasibility and front-end engineering and design studies, spanning seven jurisdictions and covering five different fuel types.
The federal government is undertaking negotiations to finalize the terms of funding for each project, and the total federal investment in these projects will be up to CAD 800m. This funding will help project proponents address critical barriers to growth in the domestic clean fuels market and lays the groundwork for the low-carbon fuels of the future.
A second tranche of projects, from last year’s call for proposal, is currently being reviewed, with funding decisions expected to be finalized in December. Once successful applicants have been informed, Natural Resources Canada will start contribution agreement negotiations.
Canada’s clean fuels industry is rapidly growing, owing to the global demand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bolster energy security. The importance of continued investment into the production, development and distribution of clean fuels together with their infrastructure and technology is clear, as Canada strives to position itself as a global leader with investments such as the CFF.
At today’s announcement, Minister Wilkinson also highlighted a combined investment of more than $8.8m to six organizations for 10 hydrogen and natural gas refuelling stations to help accelerate the decarbonization of road transportation. Federal funding for these projects was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) and the Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment (EVAFIDI).
The funding under ZEVIP and EVAFIDI includes:
- $3m to HTEC to install three hydrogen refuelling stations in British Columbia
- Over, $2.2m to FortisBC Energy Inc. to build three natural gas refuelling stations in Delta, Kelowna and Abbotsford, British Columbia
- $1m to the University of British Columbia to install one hydrogen refuelling station in Vancouver, British Columbia
- $1m to Carlsun Energy Solutions Inc. to build one hydrogen station in Ontario
- $1m to Tomlinson Environmental Services Ltd. to install one natural gas refuelling station in Ottawa, Ontario
- $647,000 to the County of Vermilion River to build one natural gas refuelling station in Kitscoty, Alberta
