Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD)

The Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD) advances energy innovation and invests in the most impactful energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects that maximize economic and environmental outcomes.

OERD is hosting a live session on the Energy Innovation Program where program officials will share useful tips and tricks on submitting your application and answer your questions. Limited spots are available on a first come first serve basis.

 

Can’t attend the live session? Visit our resource page for an overview of the EIP process, along with tips and guidance for the standard application process.

Current opportunities

Request for information

Artificial Intelligence and energy innovation

Open for submissions

NRCan is seeking information on the opportunity for artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate energy innovation.

Funding

AI and Energy Call for Proposals*

Coming soon

AI has the potential to quickly advance technology that lowers the operational costs of energy, improves energy system effectiveness, accelerates the discovery of new, lower cost, and more efficient energy materials, and drives Canada’s energy transition through accelerated innovation.  Launching in fall 2025, this call will support Canadian projects that use AI to accelerate energy innovation.

*Call scope, title, timing and details are subject to change at Natural Resource Canada's sole discretion.

Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program

Open for applications

Currently accepting applications under the Research, Development, and Demonstration stream to be added to a waitlist, should funds become available.

Programs

Energy Innovation Program

Funds energy RD&D projects to advance clean energy technologies that will help Canada meet its environmental targets while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program

Aims to validate the benefits and business cases of aggregated deep energy retrofit approaches in up to six community housing neighbourhoods in Canada.

Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program

Provides funding for renewable energy and capacity building projects to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for heating and electricity in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities across Canada.

Impact Canada – Oil Spill Response Challenge

Aims to spark new ideas and engage diverse perspectives to spur the development of innovative and rapidly deployable solutions that improve oil spill response in diverse Canadian aquatic environments.

Green Infrastructure: Energy Efficient Buildings

Funds projects that showcase innovative building technologies through deep-energy retrofits and the construction of new buildings.

Federal Energy R&D

The Federal Energy R&D suite of programs promote and supports energy R&D by funding related R&D activities in federal departments and agencies.

Past programs

Breakthrough Energy Solutions Canada

This collaborative initiative between leading public and private sector investors fostered new financial and in-kind investments into high-risk, high-potential clean energy technologies made in Canada.

Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network

Alberta Innovates and Natural Resources Canada worked together to speed up the development, validation, and deployment of technologies that reduce oil and gas sector emissions.

Clean Growth Program

This program funded projects focused on major environmental issues and economic opportunities in Canada’s energy, mines and forestry sectors.

Green Infrastructure: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstrations

This program funded demonstration projects that sought to address technological gaps and barriers to the introduction of electric vehicles, such as cost, safety, charging speed and function in very cold climates.

Green Infrastructure: Smart Grids

This program funded utility-led projects focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, optimizing the use of current electricity assets, and promoting innovation and the creation of clean jobs.

Impact Canada Clean Tech Challenges

The Clean Tech Challenges helped innovators find breakthrough solutions to complex and persistent problems in clean technology development.

Current investments

OERD invests in a wide range of organizations, including businesses, industry, non-profits, academia, other levels of government, and Indigenous organizations. It also funds energy research and development in federal labs and research centres.

Learn more about the projects we are funding

Impact

50 years of innovation: for half a century, OERD’s investments have helped energy innovators research, develop, and demonstrate technologies that reduce emissions, lower costs, attract investment, and create jobs.

Our 50-year history

Since 2016, OERD has invested over $1.4 billion in more than 850 energy innovation research, development, and demonstration projects.

434

datasets, models, platforms, software, and tools created

585

patents, or other intellectual property rights, filed

1415

presentations and conferences

75%

projects advanced 1 or more technology readiness levels*

3089

publications, technical reports and other products produced

212

codes, standards, or regulations influenced

$3.60 contributed by project partners for every $1 invested by OERD, exceeding a target of 1:1.

* Based on the number of completed projects that had technology readiness level advancement as an expected outcome.

Partnerships

OERD has many “Trusted Partnerships” in place with regional and national organizations that support energy innovation to align priorities, maximize impact and reduce risks across the energy innovation funding ecosystem.

We collaborate with our “Trusted Partners” to:

  • Share information: We share market research, project information and processes and methodologies to inform one another’s programming and identify opportunities for co-funding.
  • Lend expertise: Our technical experts participate in each other's review committees for project selection, bringing valuable perspectives to the process.
  • Co-fund: We invest in impactful projects together and refer projects to each other’s programs where there is a strategic fit. This reduces the administrative burden for applicants seeking funding from both organizations and strengthens our respective pipelines of projects. It also provides a more coordinated continuum of support for energy innovators in Canada.

Our current “Trusted Partners” include:

Latest updates

Join our email list to receive latest news and funding opportunities directly to your inbox.

In the spotlight

Battery Innovation: Batteries play an important role in the ongoing energy transition. Across Canada, battery research and innovation activities are actively taking place in small, medium, and large-scale industry, universities, and governments. The expansion of the battery ecosystem provides an opportunity to differentiate Canada’s industry on a global scale through a deliberate approach tailored to Canadian battery innovation. Read more about OERD's work on battery innovation.

About us

Leveraging 50 years of experience and unique science and technology expertise, OERD leads the Government of Canada's efforts in energy innovation. OERD’s programs target these four missions to realize a clean energy future and a sustainable natural resources sector:

Improve energy efficiency and processes to reduce emissions from energy end-use

Accelerate electrification and maximize benefits of renewable heat and power

Develop cleaner fuels pathways

Reduce reliance on diesel in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities

Contact us

 
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