The announcement, made by Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz on July 23 at NOVA Chemicals’ Calgary innovation center, positions Alberta as a global leader in scaling clean technologies that prioritize emissions reduction, economic growth, and material innovation.
“Manufacturing is a pillar of our economy, employing tens of thousands of Albertans and solving real-world challenges,” said Schulz. “This funding will help manufacturers do more with the resources we already have... while strengthening the province’s global competitiveness, creating more jobs and protecting the environment.”
The Advanced Materials Challenge targets solutions that increase material recovery, repurpose waste, and produce low-emission products. Projects range from saltwater batteries to geothermal drilling tools and municipal waste-to-fiber conversion systems.
Key examples include:
“Support from the provincial government through Emissions Reduction Alberta is instrumental in launching our organics processing pilot facility in Alberta,” said Dane McSpedon, CEO of Hughes Energy Group. “We’re helping avoid methane emissions from landfills and creating low-carbon feedstocks that support decarbonization.”
“This funding accelerates our timeline, creates local jobs and helps launch a new made-in-Alberta carbon-based battery materials industry,” added Mitchell Miller, CEO of Atlas Power Technologies.
All selected projects fall within advanced Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 7–9) and are required to pilot, demonstrate, or deploy within Alberta. The projects were chosen through ERA’s competitive, expert-led review process with oversight from a Fairness Monitor. Each project must report publicly on outcomes, including GHG reductions, economic value, and technology performance.
“By investing in advanced materials and circular economy solutions, we’re helping Alberta’s industries stay competitive, create jobs and reduce emissions,” said Justin Riemer, CEO of ERA.
Notably, the program also supports technologies to advance lithium and vanadium extraction, improve asphalt recycling, and process fly ash into low-carbon cement additives. NOVA Chemicals, a key recipient, will demonstrate advanced polyethylene recycling methods that preserve performance for commercial-grade applications.
Alberta ranks third in Canada for manufactured goods output, and this initiative reinforces its role in the clean tech economy. The TIER system, which uses revenue from industrial carbon pricing, remains a central tool in Alberta’s climate and industrial strategy—one designed to reduce emissions while retaining jurisdictional independence from federal mandates.
Since 2009, ERA has committed nearly $1 billion to more than 300 projects, with expected cumulative reductions of over 100 million tonnes of CO₂e by 2050. This latest round of funding adds to a growing list of initiatives designed to close material loops, drive private investment, and support Alberta-made solutions with global relevance.
“ERA’s support in developing higher-performing recycled materials reflects the Government of Alberta’s confidence in homegrown innovation,” said Rocky Vermani, SVP of innovation at NOVA Chemicals. “We are pleased to receive this funding as we demonstrate how Alberta ingenuity can deliver sustainable solutions with global impact.”
