The Government of Alberta and Natural Resources Canada have jointly announced a $50 million investment to help businesses reduce energy use and emissions — and your operation might be eligible to take advantage.
Launched by Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) in October 2024, the Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program supports a wide range of Alberta industries in identifying, planning, and funding energy improvements. The program is open until March 2027, but early engagement increases your chances of accessing funding.
“With SEMI, Alberta companies now have even more opportunity to invest in energy- and cost-saving technologies, right here in the province.”
— Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
What does SEMI offer?
SEMI is designed to help organizations manage their energy strategically and fund high-impact projects through five key areas of support:
- Analysis of energy use
- Recommendations for improving energy management
- Support for strategic energy management programming
- Implementation of Energy Management Information Systems (EMIS)
- Assistance with capital retrofits
These supports are unlocked through a mandatory Facility Readiness Assessment (FRA) — a structured energy analysis identifying your biggest opportunities. Once that’s complete, facilities can apply for:
- Up to $50,000 for energy assessments
- Up to $100,000 for SEM (Strategic Energy Management) training
- Up to $250,000 for EMIS (Energy Management Information Systems)
- Up to $1,000,000 for capital retrofits
Who’s eligible?
To qualify, your facility must:
- Be located in Alberta
- Be owned or leased (with landlord approval)
- Have been operating for at least one year
Eligible sectors include:
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Mining and oil & gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Waste management and remediation services
The SEMI program is funded by:
- $40 million from Natural Resources Canada’s Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program
- $10 million from Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund
Now is the right time to take action
Funding is available until March 2027, but early adopters are better positioned to access the full range of support. If your Alberta facility has been operating for a year or more, ERA’s SEMI team can help you identify options and next steps.
