Canada rings $200M call for emerging renewables

 
The government of Canada has launched a call for expressions of interest for the C$200 million ($161 million) program for emerging renewables under which tidal energy projects are eligible to apply.

Canada’s Emerging Renewable Power Program has been set up to mitigates the risk of emerging renewable power projects through federal government funding, allowing emerging renewables to play a larger role in the country’s electricity supply mix.

The program is expected to expand the commercially viable, investment-ready, renewable power technologies, such as tidal, geothermal and offshore wind and reduce the risks associated with these technologies.

It will also seek to reduce their cost, and allow the sector to more easily navigate through regulatory issues, making the technology more accessible in the long run.

Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, said: “This program will help pave the way to a low-carbon future by further diversifying Canada’s clean electricity mix, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the growth of clean jobs and new green industries.”

The expressions of interest for the program should be submitted by February 11, 2018 via a dedicated website, which also includes a guide to funding for eligible projects.

The funding allocated for the program is part of the government’s investment of C$21.9 billion ($17.6 billion) over 11 years to support green infrastructure under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.