Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) – Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREPs) Program
Description:
The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) provides up to $964 million over four years for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects. 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.
The Program includes four distinct deployment streams:
- Established Renewables,
- Emerging Technologies,
- Grid Modernization (only eligible applicants are Utilities and System Operators).
Comments on Funding:
Funding will take the form of a grant of maximum $25,000,000 and up to:
- 10% of total project costs for Established Renewables;
- 30% of total project costs for Emerging Technologies;
- 30% of total project costs for non-utility led Grid Modernization;
- 50% of total project costs for utility led Grid Modernization;
- up to 50% of total costs for Established Renewables, Emerging Technologies and Grid Modernization if the percentage of Indigenous Ownership is at least:
a) 25%, and the total project costs are less than $100 million;
b) 20%, and the total project costs are between $100 million and $200 million;
c) 15%, and the total project costs are between $200 million and $300 million; - up to 75% of total costs for Established Renewables, Emerging Technologies and Grid Modernization if the percentage of Indigenous Ownership is at least 51%;
Grants for Indigenous Engagement Activities: Funding is up to $50,000 per Applicant per fiscal year, to support Indigenous engagement and consultation activities.
The maximum level of total Canadian government funding authorized under this Program is:
- 75% of Total Project Costs for for-profit organizations;
- 100% of Total Project Costs for provincial, territorial, and municipal governments or their departments and agencies, as well as Indigenous Recipients and non-profit organizations.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be owners of Eligible Projects and may include:
Applications can only be submitted by a single entity. Where an Applicant is a newly formed Limited Partnership, the Program may require the Applicant to secure a Guarantor for the Project. The Guarantor will be required to sign a form of Guarantee, as provided by the Program, of an amount up to the proposed Program funding amount.
Eligible Projects by Stream:
Applications Steps:
Applicants must:
Documentation Needed:
The applicants must submit:
- documentation of the Project component’s technical characteristics (i.e., PV modules, wind turbines, inverters, battery specification sheets, power curves);
- a Canadian Cyber Security Tool (CCST) virtual self assessment;
- a system diagram in the form of either a Single Line Diagram (SLD) for electrically connected projects, or a network diagram for projects where a typical SLD would not be applicable;
- a site-specific resource assessment, energy yield assessment and/or feasibility study which has been completed for the Project by an experienced meteorologist, specialist or engineer;
- a confirmation in the form of a term sheet or letter of intent to finance, if the project will be obtaining financing from a second party;
- 2 years of financial statements (may provide a link if available publicly online);
- financial statements of parent organizations, if the Applicant is a newly formed organization such as a limited partnership;
- a budget application form;
- a description of the environmental surveys and assessments required for the specific project site(s), including the expected timelines for approval;
- the status of the project’s designation under the Impact Assessment Act, if the project is located on federal lands;
- a confirmation that the Applicant has acquired the land access rights required to complete the project;
- a site map, outlining the project boundaries and the land to which access rights have been acquired;
- legal documentation outlining the percentage of Indigenous ownership in the Project (only applicable to partially or fully Indigenous-owned Applicants).
Other Things to Note:
Due to a large number of previously submitted applications, the program is not accepting new applications at this time.
To receive future program updates by email, send an email to sreps-erite@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to be added to the SREPs distribution list.
Program Contact:
When It Ends:
Ongoing
Deadline:
Rolling deadline