Clean Growth Innovation Fund

We’ve made a commitment to work towards a lower-carbon energy future for B.C., and we’re taking action: through our Clean Growth Innovation Fund we invest in innovative projects to help decarbonize the gas supply and accelerate climate action, such as Renewable Natural Gas¹ (RNG) development. Between 2020 and 2024, this fund will direct almost $5 million annually to support innovative energy projects, in partnerships with government and industry.

Where the dollars go

We’re investing in multiple innovative energy projects each year, co-funded in partnerships with government and industry. Organizations can apply for project funding, with applications being reviewed based on the:

• estimated emissions that will be reduced in British Columbia
• estimated cost benefit for our customers
• amount of co-funding secured from the applicant and/or third parties
• relevant experience of the project team

We’ll continue to invest in various innovative energy solutions, including:

• renewable and low-carbon gas² production, distribution and end use (including hydrogen)
• carbon capture utilization and storage
• energy efficiency

Projects we’ve funded

Learn about some of the projects the Clean Growth Innovation Fund has supported:

• new SFU-based Clean Hydrogen Hub to fuel clean energy research and innovation 
• NGIF Accelerator announces Point 3 Biotech’s completion of their industry grants project on manure processing innovation for RNG production 
• NGIF Accelerator allocates $150,000 in grant funding to Aurora Hydrogen for turquoise hydrogen production 
• VulcanX and FortisBC sign deal to support new hydrogen technology

Interested in applying for a Clean Growth Innovation Fund grant?

The Clean Growth Innovation Fund has an open intake and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. As the current program is only approved through 2024, we’re requesting that any applications be submitted prior to November 15, 2024, to ensure sufficient time to review them before the end of 2024.

Apply now

Fill out a project proposal form to tell us more about your project, and email the completed form to [email protected].

What’s next for the fund?

We’ve applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to continue the Clean Growth Innovation Fund beyond 2024.

Applications received after November 15, 2024, will be subject to the subsequent BCUC approval of the renewed Clean Growth Innovation Fund.

¹Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane) is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create RNG. When RNG is added to North America’s natural gas system, it mixes with conventional natural gas. This means we’re unable to direct RNG to a specific customer. But the more RNG is added to the gas system, the less conventional natural gas is needed, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

²FortisBC uses the term renewable and low-carbon gas to refer collectively to the low-carbon gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. FortisBC’s renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio currently includes only Renewable Natural Gas. Other gases and fuels may be added to the program over time. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. However, all of these gases are low carbon when compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The current burner tip emission factor of RNG is 0.27 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO₂e/MJ) and the current renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio lifecycle emissions for stationary combustion are -22 gCO₂e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s low carbon threshold for lifecycle carbon intensity of 30.8 gCO₂e/MJ as set out in the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation amendments.