Energy Innovation Program (Voted)
General information
| Name of transfer payment program | Energy Innovation Program (Voted) |
| Start date | June 23, 2011 |
| End date | March 31, 2019 |
| Type of transfer payment | Contributions |
| Type of appropriation | Estimates |
| Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2016-17 |
| Strategic Outcome | 2 – Natural Resource Sectors and Consumers are Environmentally Responsible |
| Link to department's Program Alignment Architecture | 2.1 – Energy-Efficient Practices and Low-Carbon Energy Sources > 2.1.2 – Support for Clean Energy Decision-Making 2.2 – Technology Innovation > 2.2.3 – Clean Energy Science and Technology |
| Description | The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative (ecoEII) supports innovation in the clean energy sector by providing funding for research, technology development and demonstration (RD&D) projects. Up to $268 million over five years has been provided to support contributions for research undertaken by proponents such as technology producers, industry, academia, as well as research undertaken by federal laboratories. The objective of the ecoEII is to improve Canada’s environmental performance and the competitiveness of Canada’s clean tech industry through a comprehensive suite of RD&D activities in the areas of clean energy and energy efficiency. Investments have built on Canada’s strengths and competitive advantage, supporting next generation technologies that target the country’s energy profile and needs, while maximizing future Green House Gas reductions. Activities were in five strategic priority areas: energy efficiency in buildings and communities; clean electricity and renewables; bioenergy; electrification of transportation; and unconventional oil and gas. The Demonstrations component is conditionally repayable. |
| Results Achieved | In 2016-17, the $268M ecoENERGY Innovation (ecoEII) Initiative (2011-17) sunsetted. EcoEII successes included work with industry leader Lafarge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in heavy emitting industrial sectors by substituting low carbon fuels for coal in the cement-making processes. EcoEII also supported a major study, in partnership with Canadian and US utilities and systems operators that will provided critical information to utilities as they develop plans to integrate additional renewable energy sources into their electricity grids, over the next decade. |
| Comments on Variances | Although there was no planned funding through the Main Estimates in 2016-17, Energy Innovation Program (CEI, EVID, and OGCT) was funded through Supplementary Estimates that provided the authorities to carry out programming later in the fiscal year. |
| Audits completed or planned | This program was included in the CESD audit of Clean Energy Technologies tabled in fall 2017. |
| Evaluations completed or planned | No evaluations were conducted in 2016-17. An evaluation is planned for 2018-19. |
| Decision following the results of last evaluation | Not Applicable |
| Engagement of applicants and recipients | NRCan undertook a multi-phase engagement process as part of the ecoEII.In the early stages, NRCan engaged key stakeholders through a series of leaders’ fora. Through these engagements, the focus of subsequent calls for proposals under the five strategic priorities was refined. During the review and evaluation of applications, very limited interaction occurred with applicants in order to keep the process fair, open and transparent. Only guidance of a very general nature was provided, where clarifications to an Applicant’s Guide that was provided to all applicants were requested. No specific advice or help was provided under any circumstances. Extensive engagement occurred with proponents during the drafting of contribution agreements to incorporate and address their needs to the extent possible within the framework of ecoEII Terms and Conditions and Treasury Board guidelines. NRCan has regular interaction with project proponents while administering the ecoEII. The ecoEII has implemented regular monitoring meetings to discuss the progress of projects with all recipients on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. In addition, on-site visits of projects are periodically conducted by ecoEII administrators. In addition to these formal interactions, ecoEII administrators hold periodic conference calls with individual project proponents to assess progress and address any issues or concerns as they arise. |
Performance Information (dollars)
| Type of transfer payment | 2014-15 Actual spending | 2015–16 Actual spending | 2016–17 Planned spending | 2016–17 Total authorities available for use |
2016–17 Actual spending (authorities used) |
Variance (2016–17 actual minus 2016–17 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 39,851,251 | 20,749,145 | 0 | 11,026,210 | 10,874,426 | 10,874,426 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 39,851,251 | 20,749,145 | 0 | 11,026,210 | 10,874,426 | 10,874,426 |
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