Overview
This page provides information about the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system specific to the conventional oil and gas sector.
The Government of Canada applied a federal fuel charge in Alberta on January 1, 2020, under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA). The fuel charge applies to fossil fuels used in the province.
On January 1, 2020, the Government of Alberta introduced the TIER Regulation – the province’s improved approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial facilities.
The GGPPA includes provisions to exempt facilities regulated under provincial policies that meet federal criteria. TIER meets federal requirements and protects regulated facilities from the GGPPA, while achieving emissions reductions using an approach that is cost-efficient and tailored to Alberta’s industries and priorities.
The TIER regulation automatically applies to facilities that emitted 100,000 tonnes CO2e or more per year of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in 2016, or a subsequent year, or import more than 10,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually. The TIER regulation was amended in December 2022.
Regulation
- Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation (Alberta Regulation 251/2022)
- Order in Council 403/2022 – TIER Regulation Amendments – December 2022
- Ministerial Order 03/2024: Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation High Performance Benchmark and Benchmark Unit Order – February 2024
- MO 87/2021: Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Fund Credit Amount – December 2021
- MO 062/2022: Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Fund Credit Amount – December 2022
Application forms
Aggregate facility application
The owner of 2 or more conventional oil and gas facilities may apply to have those facilities regulated under the TIER regulation by applying to form a conventional oil and gas facility aggregate.
An aggregate facility is a combination of conventional oil and gas facilities that are treated as a single facility. The aggregate facility treatment streamlines the reporting and compliance process and simplifies the administrative requirements of the TIER system.
- New Aggregate Facility Application Form – November 15 deadline for same year enrollment
- Guidance for Creating Boundaries
- Aggregate Application TIER Fact Sheet
Federal fuel charge exemption application
As a person responsible for a facility regulated under TIER, you can register as an emitter with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Registering as an emitter with the CRA will allow you to obtain an exemption certificate, which you can provide to your fuel supplier(s). This will allow deliveries of fuel to be made to you without the application of the federal fuel charge at the time of delivery if the fuel is for use at your facility, or any of the individual facilities of your aggregate facility, subject to certain conditions.
Additional information on how to register as an emitter with the CRA:
Updates to existing aggregates
The following form should be used to request additions or removals of conventional oil and gas facilities and/or individual Petrinex facilities from existing aggregates.
Removals take effect for the following calendar year. Additions will be reviewed and approved as received.
- Adding Facilities to Existing Aggregate Application Form – November 15 deadline for same year additions
- Removing Facilities from Existing Aggregate Application Form – December 1 deadline for next year removal or next year aggregate revocation
Application for a facility-specific benchmark
For benchmarking purposes, the person responsible for an aggregate facility may choose two or three reference years within the three consecutive year period beginning with the year prior to the first year of being registered under TIER. For aggregates that entered TIER in 2021, the reference year for 2021 compliance will be 2020 where that data is obtainable.
The following forms may be used by an aggregate facility to submit a facility specific benchmark application or request a benchmark unit. As well, a benchmark unit option 2 support workbook provides additional guidance to those aggregate facilities that are selecting option 2 for their benchmark unit approach.
- Aggregate Facility Specific Benchmark Application Form
- Aggregate Facility Benchmark Unit Request Form
- Aggregate Facility Reference Years Notification Form
- Aggregate Facility Benchmark Unit Option 2 Support Workbook
General information about benchmarks for aggregate facilities can be found in the Standard for Developing Benchmarks.
Compliance reporting documents
All facilities are required to submit verified annual compliance reports yearly by June 30 of the following year. Reference materials will be available on this page.
- Standard for Completing GHG Compliance and Forecasting Reports
- TIER Aggregate Compliance Reporting Form – 2024
Verification documents
Applications for facility specific benchmarks and compliance reports require third party verification.
Verification training requirement
Lead verifiers, peer reviewers, and designated signing authorities completing verifications for compliance reports submitted by June 30 and benchmark applications submitted by September are required to complete the TIER-specific verification training. Note that this is updated verification training provided through an online Learning Management System that requires registration. For more information about this training and to register, contact [email protected].
Quantification methodologies
Quantification methodologies for aggregate facilities are provided in the Alberta Greenhouse Gas Quantification Methodologies (AQM).
Deviation Request form
If a facility is unable to meet any mandatory quantification methodologies, the facility may submit a deviation request to the director for review and approval. If accepted, the director may approve a deviation for a period of up to 12 months. Refer to the AQM and Standard for Completing Greenhouse Gas Compliance and Forecasting Reports for details to deviation requests.
The following form may be completed and submitted to the director at [email protected].
Notification of changes
All facilities are required to submit a notification of certain changes to the facility as set out in section 25 of the regulation. These include changes to the person responsible for an aggregate or a conventional oil and gas facility that is part of an aggregate, if a conventional oil and gas facility has emissions greater than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, imports more than 10,000 tonnes of hydrogen in a year, or if a conventional oil and gas facility is decommissioned.
The following form should be used for this purpose:
The form may also be voluntarily used to notify of a change in the certifying official or reporter for person responsible.
Drafts for comment
There are no drafts for comment at this time.
Stakeholder resources
Contact
Connect with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas about the TIER Regulation:
Email: [email protected]
Submit a query: TIER System contact form
Subscribe to the conventional oil and gas mailing list
This automatic email system distributes information specific to the conventional oil and gas sector with respect to the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction system to subscribers. This list and website are the primary sources of information and updates on greenhouse gas mitigation for Alberta's conventional oil and gas sector.