Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is looking for innovations to help reduce greenhouse as emissions in the oil sands sector and increase the cost competitiveness of bitumen production. The provincial government agency is making $50 million available.

"ERA knows that improving both environmental and cost competitiveness is key to the continued success of Alberta's energy sector," said Steve MacDonald, CEO at ERA. "We have worked with our industry partners to identify the gaps that technology can close, and developed this funding opportunity to help accelerate the demonstration, scale-up and deployment of the most promising solutions."

This funding opportunity supports the recommendations from the Oil Sands Advisory Group's (OSAG) first report to government. ERA worked closely with the Government of Alberta, Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), and others to develop the ERA Oil Sands Innovation Challenge. 

"Oil sands innovation was crucial in the past and remains key to Alberta's economic future," said Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks and the Minister Responsible for the Climate Change Office. "Improvements in technology and efficiency will lead to made-in-Alberta solutions that protect jobs, our environment, and set Alberta up for a healthy, prosperous future."

The focus of the ERA Oil Sands Innovation Challenge is on breakthrough technologies for surface mining as well as in situ operations that are now ready to go to a field pilot, demonstration or first-of-kind deployment. The intent is to reduce both greenhouse gases and costs by investing in opportunities including alternative steam generation methods, advanced reservoir production technologies and novel surface mining processes.

ERA will leverage its $50 million in funding. Industry and other partners will be required to at least match this commitment, creating the opportunity for more than $100 million in combined new investment.The ERA Oil Sands Innovation Challenge will close September 7, 2017. Additional details on the funding opportunity are available on the ERA website.