Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program
Program Intake Status
The program is fully allocated and is not accepting project applications at this time.
While Budget 2023 includes a recapitalization of the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), project eligibility, program timeline, and other details are not yet available. Information will be shared with program stakeholders through the program distribution list as it becomes available.
To receive future program updates by email, please send a request to sreps-erite@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to be added to the SREPs distribution list.
Accelerating Canada’s Low Carbon Future
The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) provides up to $1.56 billion over eight years for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects. This includes an additional $600 million for the program announced in Budget 2022 (but not funding announced in Budget 2023).
This program will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the replacement of fossil-fuel generated electricity with renewables that can provide essential grid services while supporting Canada’s equitable transition to an electrified economy.
Transforming Canada’s Electrical Grid and Supporting Renewables
SREPs provides up to a maximum of $25M to eligible renewable energy and grid modernization projects during the construction phase. Projects must use market ready technologies and apply workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion components.
Mandatory outcomes of the program are to:
- Decrease greenhouse gas emissions from Canada’s electricity system;
- Increase the number of electricity system assets that can contribute to system reliability;
- Generate economic and social benefits, including job creation and increased equity, diversity and inclusion in the energy sector; and
- Increase renewable energy capacity or increase electrical grid accommodation of renewable energy;
Where applicable, the program will also increase meaningful Indigenous ownership of, and benefits from, smart renewable energy projects.
Projects eligible for funding are large-scale renewable energy projects capable of providing grid services, energy storage or grid modernization projects. For information on eligibility, please refer to the Generation and Storage Applicant Guide or the Grid Modernization Applicant Guide.
Program Results to Date
SREPs has achieved the following as of May 1, 2023:
- The program has signed contribution agreements for 88 deployment and capacity building projects totalling $967M in funding. The remaining Budget 2021 and Budget 2022 funding is fully committed to approved projects and regional priorities.
- The program has approved funding for 73 deployment projects, enabling the deployment of approximately 2,800 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity and displacing 3.3 megatonnes of CO2e per year.
- 38 approved deployment projects have Indigenous ownership, representing over $700 M in program contributions and an estimated 14,000 job-years.
- SREPs has approved funding for 23 energy storage and grid modernization projects, to better prepare the grid for a transition to a net-zero electricity system. These projects will deliver grid services, enabling utilities to develop new operational processes and allow higher levels of renewable energy generation by using intermittent renewables to provide non-energy services historically provided by fossil-fuel generators.
- All approved deployment projects include an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) plan or a public EDI commitment.
What projects are eligible?
Eligible Projects under SREPs include, but are not limited to, the permanent deployment of technologies listed below.
Understanding that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners experience unique barriers to participating in the energy transition, SREPs aims to enable and encourage their participation by providing greater funding percentages, as well as supporting smaller-sized projects. Please refer to the Applicant Guides for more information.
| Program Stream | Examples of Eligible Projects |
Max Eligible % of Total Project Costs |
Maximum Eligible Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
Established Renewables (Refer to Generation and Storage Applicant Guide) |
|
10% | $25 million |
Emerging Technologies (Refer to Generation and Storage Applicant Guide) |
|
30% | $25 million |
Grid Modernization (Refer to Grid Modernization Applicant Guide) |
|
30% for non-utility led 50% for utility-led |
$25 million |
Applicant Guides
How are projects chosen?
All projects that meet SREPs requirements, as defined in the Applicant Guides, are eligible for available funding. The program is not accepting new applications at this time. More information will be provided on this page if and when the program opens to new applications.
Capacity Building
SREPs also offers a Capacity Building Stream to support the equitable transition to a cleaner electrical grid, helping communities and organizations acquire the knowledge and tools needed to develop renewable energy and grid modernization projects.
Indigenous Engagement Grant Funding
Up to $50,000 per fiscal year per project in Grant funding is available through SREPs for Indigenous engagement activities. The program will be holding a request for proposals this summer to allocate this funding. Additional information, once available, will be shared by email with the program's distribution list and on the SREPs webpage.
Have questions?
Email us at sreps-erite@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Keep up to date with future funding opportunities by subscribing to the Clean Growth Hub Newsletter.
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