Energy

Alberta is leveraging its cleantech expertise and leadership in carbon capture and CCUS to produce new low-carbon petrochemical products.

• CO2 CAPTURE, AGGREGATION AND SEQUESTRATION

• HYDROGEN TRANSFER, HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
• BLUE METHANOL PRODUCTION

Alberta has modern, world-scale plants and the largest natural gas infrastructure network in North America.

• WORLD-CLASS VALUE-ADDED PROCESSING
• EXTENSIVE NATURAL GAS DELIVERY SYSTEM
• PROPYLENE DERIVATIVES PLANTS
• ETHANE CRACKING COMPLEXES

Alberta’s efficient transportation systems allow access across North American and Asian markets.

• CP AND CN: TRANSCONTINENTAL RAIL CARRIERS WITH INTERMODAL TERMINALS

• RAIL ACCESS TO CANADA’S TWO LARGEST PORTS

Alberta’s abundant supplies of natural gas provide petrochemical plants with low-cost feedstocks to develop a range of products.

• NATURAL GAS AND NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS FRACTIONATION
• PROPYLENE AND POLYPROPYLENE
• ETHYLENE AND POLYETHYLENE
• METHANE AND METHANOL

• CanmetMATERIALS
• CanmetENERGY
• Forestry research centres

The Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP) is a key part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan and the Natural Gas Vision and Strategy to turn the province into a top global petrochemical producer. It provides grants to companies to attract investment in existing or expanded market-driven petrochemical facilities.

GPRC is home to a clean technology innovation laboratory that aims to develop clean power options in collaboration with industry partners. The laboratory is equipped with a 500W EFOY-Pro methanol fuel cell and a complete photovoltaic array.

Flow-Through Shares (FTS) allow foreign investors to transfer eligible exploration and development expenses to their beneficial owners, which can then be applied for tax credits for these expenditures. This feature generates attractive prices for FTS, enabling investors involved in exploration, drilling, production, refining or pipeline operation to fund its activities more easily.

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) is an vital pathway for Alberta to decarbonize its heavy industries, like oil and gas, petrochemicals, and cement manufacturing, to meet 2030 to 2050 emissions reduction targets and net-zero ambitions. CCUS can enable a low-emission 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.

InnoTech aims and works toward becoming the leading consultants for the energy industry when they are seeking innovative solutions. The Energy services division primarily serves the upstream (production), midstream (production fluids gathering/ distribution/processing), and downstream (upgrading and refinery) production segments of the oil and gas industry.  

The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC) helps exploration companies raise equity funds by passing on tax credits to investors of eligible expenses. The 15% non-refundable tax credit can be applied against investors’ federal income tax that would otherwise be payable in the taxation year in which the investment was made.

Alberta’s oil and gas industry is world-renowned and integral to the economy. As the world explores a low-emission future, the oil and gas industry is poised to be a leader in the development and integration of clean technologies and renewable energy.  

From 2008-2015, global clean technology exports increased by roughly 4%, and reached nearly $1.2 trillion annually. It is projected that this industry will rise to $2.5 trillion by 2022, and Alberta has the capacity to serve this global market.

Innovation is already happening in Alberta. Cleantech and renewable energy companies in Alberta continue to grow, with 155 cleantech firms operating in the province in 2020.

Not only are these companies servicing the Alberta ecosystem, but they also generate interest from international companies and investors. Of the 20 companies inducted into the Norway-based Techstars Energy accelerator, 4 were from Alberta. In 2019, Calgary, the province’s largest City was ranked as one of the world’s top 15 clean technology start-up ecosystems by Startup Genome.

Although most cleantech companies in Alberta are focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in oil and gas, these companies are also expanding into industries such as agriculture and food processing. For example, Alberta-based Radicle (formerly Carbon Credit Solutions) won the 2019 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program and has created a software platform to measure, qualify and aggregate greenhouse gas emissions across multiple sectors.

Alberta is well-positioned to be a leader in cleantech and renewables for a multitude of reasons, but mainly because it is a province built on energy, with the expertise and capacity to continue developing all of its energy assets. Rystad Energy has predicted that by 2025, Alberta will host 83% of Canada’s utility-scale wind and solar capacity. In addition, the province has committed to stopping burning coal within 10 years, which will allow renewable energy capacity expansion.

When you think about Alberta’s energy industry, don’t just think of oil and gas. This region has a lot to offer in energy and other industries.

• Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) Formerly Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) is a research and innovation hub in the community of Grande Prairie. With faculty, staff and student researchers active in a range of specialty areas—including renewable energy, sustainable systems, data analytics, community enhancement, and human health and wellness—NWP has the expertise to support community initiatives and address persistent industry problems.
• Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) is home to a clean technology innovation laboratory that develops clean power options in collaboration with industry partners. The laboratory is equipped with a 500W EFOY-Pro methanol fuel cell and a complete photovoltaic array.
• Additional proposed NWP projects include the design, development and testing of a compact mobile solar power plant. In addition, they include options for small off-highway electric vehicles.
• For more information on NWP’s research initiatives, news and opportunities, visit nwpolytech.ca/research.

The County of Grande Prairie is attracting investment in the clean tech industry. With projects such as Aquatera’s landfill, Cielo’s planned biodiesel plant, combined with the City’s investment in solar electric transit and combined heat and power installation, we continue to use our expertise in energy to attract clean tech industries and diversification opportunities.