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Energy efficiency support for industrial facilities through NRCan’s Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program

June 25, 2024 – Natural Resources Canada’s Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) provides cost-shared financial assistance to support the implementation of energy efficiency and energy management solutions designed to maximize energy performance, GHG emissions reductions, and competitiveness for industry in Canada.

The Canadian Industry Partnership for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) says GIFMP is now providing industrial facilities with an application package under its “Industrial Facility Track”, which provides direct-to-industry support to help implement energy efficiency and energy management solutions within their respective facilities.

These activities are intended for industrial facilities that are engaged in energy-consuming processes that involve the physical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products.

Proposals can involve a single facility or multiple. The Industrial track offers cost-shared financial assistance of up to 50% of eligible implementation costs to a maximum of $10 million per proposal (the minimum contribution is $40,000 per proposal).

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

1. Training for energy management practitioners

Raise workforce competencies to ensure the Canadian industrial sector has adequate access to skilled energy practitioners to lead energy efficiency projects and guide energy management solutions.

2. Energy assessments and audits

Energy assessments and audits identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, increase business competitiveness, and reduce GHG emissions. This activity may also include Process Integration and Computational Fluid Dynamic studies, which are designed to determine where, when, why, and how energy is being used in an industrial facility.

3. Energy managers

Energy managers identify energy-saving opportunities, build an energy-savings culture, and implement energy management systems. Industrial facilities require energy managers to identify energy and GHG emissions reduction opportunities and related cost-savings to provide advice and to make a compelling case to implement projects.

4. Energy management systems

Energy management systems establish frameworks for organizations to systematically track, analyze and manage energy, set priorities, and adopt energy efficient practices that are proved to continuously improve energy performance. This activity may include Energy Management Information Systems (EMIS) in accordance with NRCan Guidelines, ISO 50001-compliant energy management systems recognized by the 50001 Ready Canada program, ISO 50001-certified energy management systems, Superior Energy Performance-certified energy management systems, and other custom approaches.

5. Capital investments

Energy efficiency-focused retrofit capital investments support modifications or upgrading of a facility’s energy-consuming systems and equipment (stationary and mobile), processes, or infrastructure. They include (but are not limited to) boiler plant systems, compressed air systems, domestic and process hot water systems, fan and pump systems, process furnaces, dryers and kilns, refrigeration systems, and steam and condensate systems and waste heat recovery, as well as metering equipment, automation, and control systems (instrumentation and software). Investments pertaining to building envelopes and fleet vehicles are not eligible.

This activity must be implemented along with a recognized energy management system as part of the project or must demonstrate that an energy management system was already in place.

In addition, energy efficiency-focused retrofit capital investments must be non-emitting (e.g. use energy sources that result in zero emissions at end use).

ELIGIBLE COSTS can include:

• Salaries and benefits of employees of the eligible recipient.
• Professional services.
• License fees, data purchases, certification costs, regulatory compliance and inspection costs, construction insurance, and permits.

INELIGIBLE COSTS include:

• Costs incurred prior to the signature of an agreement, and after March 31, 2027.
• New construction.
• Investments pertaining to fleet vehicles not used directly for an industrial process, lighting, warehouse, and building envelopes.

Applications will be evaluated using a set of merit-based criteria, including the extent to which the proposal addresses assessment criteria such as:

• Awareness and uptake of industrial energy efficiency and energy management.
• Outcomes and benefits.
• Risks and mitigation.

NRCan will make funding decisions that take into consideration the assessment results, the risk level of the project and other factors, such as regional distribution of funding, distribution of funding across industry sub-sectors, organizations, and eligible activities, and distribution and availability of funding.

HOW TO APPLY

1. DOWNLOAD the Application Package (contains Application Guide, workbook, CIPEC letter, and application form): NRCan GIFMP Industrial Facility Track PACKAGE

2. Access the online portal. Register for an account or log in with your existing credentials. Portal will be available for registrations as of July 8, 2024.

3. Fill out your application. Use the online portal to fill out your proposal information and upload necessary documents. Applications will be accepted starting July 8, 2024.

4. Submit before the deadline. Ensure your proposal is submitted on time. Closing date for the Industrial Facility Track is August 30, 2024 (March 31, 2025, for Indigenous applicants).

QUESTIONS about the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP)? Email NRCan at rfpindustry-ddpindustrie@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.