CETP Funding: Global Cleantech Projects to Help Achieve Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

It has been scientifically established that to avoid the worst possible outcomes of climate change, global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide must fall by at least 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, in the hopes of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. This has been deemed crucial to keep Earth comfortably habitable for all future generations, and to avoid the drastic outcomes predicted if the temperature continues to rise.

“Businesses planning for the future can see already that it pays to be part of the low-carbon economy of the 21st century. The Net-Zero Challenge is designed to challenge businesses, big and small, to transition to cleaner ways of doing business, and offers both the tools and recognition to support their efforts.”
– Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

To empower the move to net-zero emissions, the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) is a global program that provides funding for cleantech projects in 30 participating countries and supports businesses in taking on projects that will advance net-zero emissions goals. The CETP’s Joint Call 2022 is their first funding call and is structured around 7 thematic Transition Initiatives (TRIs). In support of this program, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) has committed $5M for projects focused on TRI3: Enabling Climate Neutrality with Storage Technologies, Renewable Fuels, and CCUS (or Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage).

About the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) Funding Program

The CETP funding program aims to drive forward global cleantech projects that will focus on meeting net-zero emissions by 2050. By pooling together national and regional funding from hundreds of associations around the world, businesses can join the fight against the ongoing climate crisis by developing technology solutions for the clean energy transition.

“Investing in climate action is an important part of our Canada’s plan to build a clean, inclusive, and resilient economy when this pandemic is behind us.”
– Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle-Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

Current applications require a project consortium consisting of at least three eligible applicants from at least three separate countries/regions. In the Joint Call 2022, the CETP TRI3 offers two call modules, and they must address at least one of the Mandatory Focus topics:

Mandatory Focus

Projects must address at least one of the multidisciplinary topics such as:

• Barriers, opportunities, and solutions to technology/process scale-up
• Consumer attitudes, public acceptance, risk perception, and levers that could influence public behaviours
• Infrastructure and distribution aspects including pipelines reuse and cost-competitive materials for pipelines
• Legal frameworks, business models, and digitization
• Life cycle, techno-economic and environmental impact analysis including mass, water, land, and energy consumption
• System analysis and integration of processes in the energy system, continuity/intermittence.

Projects should be industry-relevant and aim for a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 or higher, though lower TRLs may be part of the larger project.

Module 1: Enabling Climate Neutrality with Storage Technologies, Renewable Fuels and CCU/CCS

CCUS technologies maximize carbon reuse in a circular economy, removing carbon from the energy system in response to technological, environmental, social, and economic challenges. Research target areas for CCUS are:

• Advancing low-cost capture technologies and technologies capable of handling flue gases with lower CO2 concentrations
• CO2-capture from energy intensive or heavy industry sectors, as well as power, maritime transport, and hydrogen production
• CO2–storage, elements required for the characterization and management of large-scale permanent storage of CO2
• Enabling CCUS technologies
• Integration into the energy-system
• Negative emission technologies or carbon dioxide Removal technologies
• Transport and injection of CO2.

Module 2: Enabling Climate Neutrality with hydrogen and renewable fuels

Hydrogen and renewable fuels encompass the development of innovative technologies for cost-effective, energy-efficient, and carbon/resource-efficient systems. Research target areas for renewable fuels and hydrogen are:

• Production of hydrogen and renewable fuels including conversion of synthetic fuels
• Storage
• Transport
• Usage, including usage of hydrogen in fuel production.

How to Apply, Process, and Deadline

Submissions for pre-proposals are due November 23, 2022, at 6:00 AM (MST). Funding decisions will be in June of 2023 and projects are expected to start in September of 2023.

All project proposals must be submitted through the CETP Application Portal. Please note that no project proposal will be accepted after the submission deadline.

Government Funding for Cleantech Innovation

The absolute need for clean technology solutions worldwide cannot be understated or exaggerated. With the help of the Canadian government, businesses can take advantage of funding available to help them lower emissions, boost the economy, and take steps in building a cleaner future for all generations to come. Looking for cleantech programs? Visit our Cleantech Funding Programs Directory for a list of the top programs or check out the Zero Emission Transit Fund to get started.

“One can see from space how the human race has changed the Earth. Nearly all of the available land has been cleared of forest and is now used for agriculture or urban development. The polar icecaps are shrinking and the desert areas are increasing. At night, the Earth is no longer dark, but large areas are lit up. All of this is evidence that human exploitation of the planet is reaching a critical limit. But human demands and expectations are ever-increasing. We cannot continue to pollute the atmosphere, poison the ocean and exhaust the land. There isn’t any more available.”
– Stephen Hawking

Learn more about cleantech innovation and cleantech government grants and loans which are available for businesses working to help meet the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. For more information, sign up for our free weekly newsletter and receive live updates about funding programs across Canada.