Alberta Indigenous Green Energy Development Program

The Alberta Indigenous Green Energy Development Program (AIGEDP) assists Alberta Indigenous communities and organizations acquire an ownership stake in Alberta’s rapidly-expanding renewable energy sector. The AIGEDP focuses on the development of commercial-scale, renewable-energy projects that will lead to significant reductions in Alberta’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These projects will support the increase of renewable energy, which aligns with the government’s Climate Leadership Plan.

The AIGEDP supports two separate funding streams directly related to commercial-scale, renewable energy projects that are directly related to Climate Leadership outcomes.

  • Project Development: To support all stages of renewable-energy projects development from pre-feasibility assessments, technical feasibility studies and business plans.
  • Project Implementation: To support commercial-scale renewable-energy projects owned by an eligible Indigenous community or organization. The energy produced from these projects must be sold into Alberta’s energy grid system, and needs to adhere to the Alberta Utility Commission Guidelines on Distributed Generation or the Alberta Electric System Operator’s full participant rules. All forms of renewable energy production that support a measurable reduction in Alberta’s GHG emissions may be considered for funding.

Eligibility

  • First Nation communities, Metis Settlements, Metis Nation of Alberta, and the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation
  • Indigenous community-owned businesses; and
  • Not-for-profit Indigenous organizations.
  • Applicant communities or organizations must be located in the Province of Alberta

Projects eligible for funding

The following costs are eligible:

  • Expenses related to feasibility studies, technical assessments and regulatory requirements, including business plans;
  • Salary or contract costs associated with the development of the renewable energy project for a project manager with a demonstrated track record;
  • Capital purchases required for implementation of the project, including solar panels, wind turbines and technical equipment that is required to operate and store the renewable energy project; and
  • Travel expenses for project participants or personnel.

The following costs are ineligible:

  • In-kind expenses are not part of eligible costs, but should be included in the budget;
  • Payments for services normally provided without charge (e.g., honoraria for a community service);
  • Expenditures not related to the approved project; and
  • Costs already paid on a project.

Renewable Energy is defined by Natural Resources Canada Renewable Energy as energy obtained from natural resources that can be naturally replenished or renewed within a human lifespan, that is, the resource is a sustainable source of energy.

Application deadline

  • The Alberta Indigenous Climate Leadership Programs are currently closed.  The programs are  currently under review and will open with revised guidelines shortly.

Funding levels

  • The maximum grant amounts to support project development are capped at $60,000 for prefeasibility work and $550,000 for feasibility studies, technical and regulatory work, and businesses plans.
  • There is no maximum funding cap for costs related to project implementation. Projects will be assessed by third-party subject matter experts to ensure costs align with industry standard.
  • There is no requirement for the applicant to contribute financially to the project costs. However, the project will be assessed for financial viability and all sources of funding must be disclosed.
  • The grant stacking level of funding to a recipient from all government sources (including federal, provincial, and/or municipal) for any initiative can be up to 100 per cent of eligible costs.

Assessment process

Once the Application package is received, the following process is implemented:

  • After an application, proposal and supporting documents are submitted, it will undergo a preliminary assessment, conducted by program staff, to screen projects for completeness and general adherence to the program’s guidelines.
  • Projects that meet the requirements of the preliminary assessment will be assessed by a
    third-party contractor who is a subject matter expert at reviewing renewable energy projects. The purpose of this secondary review is to determine the project’s technical viability, costing, as well as potential community and environmental impact.

Note: All AIGEDP grant applications are subject to Ministerial approval.

How to Apply

Questions

Have questions about the program, services or the grant application process?