Technology that reduces emissions

By investing in technology, innovation and research, Alberta has reduced methane emissions by 52% so far – and we’re just getting started.

$129M
invested into methane tech since 2019
17M
tonnes of emissions being prevented

Current funding in action

Alberta is showing Canada, and the world, how to reduce emissions and increase production at the same time.

Alberta Methane Emissions Program

Supported by $17.6 million from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund, this program helps companies investigate and test alternative approaches to detecting and measuring fugitive and vented emissions, including: 

  • Alternative fugitive emissions management programs support new approaches to leak detection and repair that go beyond traditional methods.
  • Technology trials fund and evaluate cutting-edge methane detection technologies to improve accuracy, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
  • Data management and simulation tools develop standardized data protocols and advanced simulation models like the Leak Detection and Repair Simulator to support evidence-based decision-making.

Learn more about the Alberta Methane Emissions Program

The NGIF Emissions Testing Centre Program

With $15 million over 5 years to fast-track new technologies and innovations, the province is helping more Alberta companies test technologies free of charge in both laboratory and live settings, attract investors and get technologies to market faster, including:

  • Embrace, supported by Tourmaline and Avatar Innovations, is using the Emissions Testing Centre to help bring its Calgary-based methane-reduction technology to market, reducing methane leaks and boosting gas output at aging, late-stage wells.
  • Capstone is using the Emissions Testing Centre to develop its artificial intelligence technology that focuses on reducing emissions from older wells, making energy production cleaner and safer. Its system supports every step of well work, from cementing to maintenance, helping keep operations reliable and environmentally friendly.
  • Nevada Nano, with support from the Emissions Testing Centre, as reduced set-up costs by almost 50% and running costs by almost 60% for near-continuous methane monitoring on oil tanks. Their proven, cost-effective system is already being used in Canada and Europe.

Learn more about the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre Program

The NGIF Accelerator’s Methane Reduction Demonstration Program

Supported by $7 million from the TIER fund, the Methane Reduction Demonstration Program helps startups and small businesses test new methane-reduction technologies at energy sites across Alberta to get projects closer to commercialization. It is delivered through the NGIF Accelerator.

Learn more about the Methane Reduction Demonstration Program

Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Methane Reduction Deployment Program 

Supported by approximately $22 million from the TIER fund, this program helps energy companies invest in proven methane solutions currently on the market. It is open to owners and operators of upstream and midstream oil and gas facilities located in Alberta and is delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta. 

Learn more about the Methane Reduction Deployment Program

Emissions Reduction Alberta and Alberta Innovates

Provincially-funded programs support dozens of methane emission detection and reduction projects that are helping Alberta’s energy sector monitor, manage and reduce methane emissions – saving money and keeping them competitive, including:

  • Ambyint Inc. received $4.1 million to upgrade its existing artificial intelligence platform with advanced machine learning and algorithms. Ambyint Inc.’s project could potentially reduce methane venting by up to 90%.
  • ArkeaBio received $2.4 million in provincial funding for a project that targets methane-producing bacteria in cattle to reduce methane generation from the digestion process.
  • SensorUp Inc. received $3 million in provincial funding to develop the world’s first open-standard software platform that uses artificial intelligence to produce faster methane reporting, quicker repairs and more effective methane mitigation.

Learn more about Emissions Reduction Alberta and Alberta Innovates

Past programs

The Baseline and Reduction Opportunity Assessment Program

This program, led by Carbon Connect International, offered financial support to small and medium conventional oil and gas operators to assess and reduce on-site methane emissions. It enabled Alberta’s small and medium sized conventional oil and gas operators to:

  • obtain detailed inventories of their methane emitting devices and equipment
  • identify and quantify methane emissions sources on-site
  • identify actions needed to comply with the provincial regulatory requirements and cost-effective opportunities to go beyond provincial requirements
  • provide data to assess potential projects and to apply for provincial or federal funding programs and/or offset credit systems

The $15-million program, funded by the TIER system, supported provincial efforts to meet Alberta’s 2025 methane reduction target and demonstrate global leadership in low-emissions conventional oil and natural gas production.

Storage tanks, pneumatic instruments, pneumatic pumps and compressors were identified as the largest sources of methane suitable for mitigation. These 4 sources could reduce emissions by more than 3 million tonnes per year across the assessed sites.

The Baseline and Reduction Opportunity Assessment Program helped 141 operators lead 187 projects at 14,911 sites.

Methane Technology Implementation Program

This program, led by Carbon Connect International, reduced methane emissions in Alberta’s energy sector by helping companies deploy commercially available technologies including Vapour Recovery Units, low-bleed or no-bleed pneumatic devices, compressor seals and rod packing. Supported by $25 million from the TIER fund, the program resulted in 16.6 million tonnes of emissions reductions.

Over $100,000 in provincial funding helped replace gas driven pneumatic devices with electric alternatives, reducing annual emissions by more than 90,000 tonnes.

More than $200,000 in provincial funding supported compressor vent gas conservation, reducing annual emissions by more than 1,000 tonnes.

The Methane Technology Implementation Program helped 49 operators lead 103 projects.

Provincially-funded incentives supported the installation of more than 1,200 devices at more than 650 oil and gas sites.

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