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 on this page and 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 August 10, 2023:
- All Budget 2021 and 2022 funding is allocated to approved projects. To date, the program has signed contribution agreements for 96 of these approved deployment and capacity building projects, totaling $901 M in funding.
- The program has approved funding for 75 deployment projects, enabling the deployment of approximately 2,600 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity and displacing 3.1 megatonnes of CO2e per year.
- 41 approved deployment projects have Indigenous ownership, representing over $750 M in program contributions and an estimated 16,000 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 |
|---|---|
Established Renewables (Refer to Generation and Storage Applicant Guide) |
|
Emerging Technologies (Refer to Generation and Storage Applicant Guide) |
|
Grid Modernization (Refer to Grid Modernization Applicant Guide) |
|
Applicant Guides
The SREPs Applicant Guides posted below were issued for a prior application intake process that ended January 18th, 2023 and are subject to change for future iterations of the program.
The recapitalization of SREPs announced in Budget 2023 alluded to additional program priorities and Program staff are in the process of assessing how these additional measures will be incorporated into the next iteration of the Program. NRCan is also reviewing the program to identify how the recapitalization outlined in Budget 2023 can best align with applicable investment tax credits and targeted financing available through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Program staff are also determining the extent to which new program elements may impact project eligibility criteria and the application process.
Capacity Building and Indigenous Engagement
SREPs 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.
In addition, up to $50,000 per fiscal year per project in Grant funding is available through SREPs for Indigenous engagement activities.
A new request for capacity building and Indigenous engagement proposals will be issued in the fall of 2023. 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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