Ottawa, ON — Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is currently accepting expression of interest submissions for its Low Carbon Economy Challenge through its “Champions stream.” Applications are due March 25 at 8:00 pm (EDT).
The challenge is part of the Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF), and the program provides funding support to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and can contribute between $1 million and $25 million to projects that meet program criteria.
The Low Carbon Economy Challenge is divided into two streams, the Champions and the Partnerships stream. Current submissions will be for the Champions stream. The Champions stream provides approximately $450 million in funding to eligible applicants, specifically: provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations.
The ECCC is looking for projects that result in “material, incremental and cost-effective GHG emissions reductions in 2030 and over the lifetime of the project.” To be eligible, the reductions must be:
- To sources of emissions controlled by the applicant or project partner (direct) and or to grid electricity emissions (acquired)
- Beyond what is required by existing regulations, standards, or codes and ongoing work by project proponents (incremental)
- Directly and immediately the result of activities funded by the program.
In addition, projects must also meet other eligibility criteria that include:
- Capacity to make use of commercially available technology
- Confirmation of project location
- Production of electricity or fuel must be primarily for own use, within the applicant’s or identified partner’s operations (except for projects located in rural or remote communities or for district energy or industrial combined-heat-and-power).
Projects that explore possible methods of reducing GHG emissions reductions but do not implement them (e.g. projects focused on research and development, feasibility/pre-engineering studies, behavioural change, or education and capacity building) are not eligible. However, ineligible projects can consider other funding opportunities.
The application process involves two stages: submitting an expression of interest to screen projects for eligibility and submitting a formal proposal to evaluate projects for merit. Only applicants with eligible projects will be invited to submit a formal proposal.
Once ready to apply, applicants must submit their expressions of interest through an online application portal called the Program Information Management System (PIMS).
For more information on project eligibility and how to apply, visit Low Carbon Economy Challenge.