Calgary, Alberta – Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) has committed up to $50 million through its new Tailings Technology Challenge. The funding opportunity will support the scale-up, pilot, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and solutions to help reduce and manage oil sands mine water and tailings.
Funded through the Government of Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation, the $50 million Tailings Technology Challenge will advance the development of both new and existing technologies that make tailings and water treatment more effective and lower in cost, ensuring real-world application and deployment.
This Challenge aligns with the release of the Government of Alberta’s Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee recommendations and reflects the province’s commitment to engage with industry, Indigenous communities, and other governments to develop safe, evidence-based approaches to mine site closure and land reclamation. The Committee includes representatives from Indigenous and local communities, the oil sands mining industry, and tailings and academic experts.
“Alberta’s government is taking action by funding technologies that make treating oil sands water faster, effective and affordable. We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions that come out of this funding challenge, and once again demonstrate Alberta’s global reputation for sustainable energy development and environmental stewardship.”
Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
“Tailings and mine water management are key priorities for Alberta’s energy sector and our government. Through this Challenge, we’re demonstrating our commitment to working with industry to fund solutions that make water treatment and tailings remediation more affordable, scalable, and effective.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
“Innovation has always played an instrumental role in the oil sands and continues to be an area of focus. Oil sands companies are collaborating and investing to advance environmental technologies, including many focused on mine water and tailings management. We’re excited to see this initiative, as announced today, seeking to explore technology development in an area that’s important to all Albertans.”
Kendall Dilling, President, Pathways Alliance
Successful applicants can receive up to $15 million per project, with a minimum funding request of $1 million. ERA’s contribution will be no more than 50 per cent of a project’s eligible expenses. The application deadline is Wednesday, September 24 at 5 p.m. MDT (UTC-6h). An hour-long informational webinar will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, from 2 to 3 p.m. (MDT).
Eligible projects include technologies for directly treating and remediating tailings and mine water, innovative methods to reduce waste generation, and solutions that recover value from oil sands mine water. Projects must demonstrate potential to mitigate long-term environmental liabilities, expedite reclamation, and reduce clean-up costs.
These technology examples align with the Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee’s initial recommendations focused largely on improving water use efficiency, developing new measurement standards, and better managing or even reducing water accumulation at mine sites. The Committee’s work continues, and more recommendations will be shared in the near future.
This call is open to oil sands operators and technology providers. Applications from operators must include confirmed senior leadership support to ensure the project moves forward if selected. Technology providers can apply, but they must have a confirmed site host and a commitment from an oil sands operator to provide access to tailings pond sites or samples at the time of submission.
ERA has allocated nearly $70 million in 20 tailings and water-related projects to date. The Tailings Technology Challenge builds on that foundation, aiming to improve and deploy new and existing technologies that reduce emissions, protect wildlife and land, and speed up the process of safely restoring mining sites for future use.
Submissions will be selected for funding through ERA’s competitive review process. A team of experts in science, engineering, business development, commercialization, financing, and GHG quantification will conduct an independent, rigorous, transparent review overseen by a Fairness Monitor. All final funding decisions will be made by ERA’s Board of Directors.
For more information, contact:
Kevin Duncan
Media Relations
Emissions Reduction Alberta
403-431-2859
kduncan@eralberta.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA:
For 16 years, ERA has invested revenues from the carbon price paid by large emitters to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions. Since its establishment in 2009, ERA has committed $970 million toward 306 projects valued at over $7.3 billion, which are helping to reduce emissions, create competitive industries, and lead to new business opportunities in Alberta. These projects are estimated to deliver cumulative reductions of 34 million tonnes of CO₂e by 2030 and 95 million tonnes of CO₂e by 2050.
ABOUT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION (TIER) FUNDING:
The Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation is at the core of emissions management in Alberta. The TIER system implements Alberta’s industrial carbon pricing and emissions trading system. TIER helps industrial facilities find innovative ways to reduce emissions and invest in clean technology to stay competitive and save money.