Elevate energy performance, strengthen expertise, and secure ongoing savings
Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program is designed to provide industrial and manufacturing facilities with knowledge, expertise, and training in energy management. The SEMI program will help you increase profitability by reducing energy costs, growing organizational skills and capacity building, and helping cover the cost of capital retrofits.
This $50 million program, with funding provided by the Government of Alberta and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), will help the province’s industrial and manufacturing sectors increase competitiveness, improve energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions until March 2027.
ERA’s informational webinar on the Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program took place on Thursday, October 31, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. (MST).
Heather Stephens, Chief Operating Officer, and Luca Jungen, Energy Efficiency Program Lead, provided an overview of the SEMI program, including the four program activities, the submission process, eligibility, and timelines for decisions. Participants also had the chance to ask questions to help prepare an application.
Why participate in SEMI?
- Enhance profitability by boosting your bottom line through strategic energy management programming, implementing an energy management information system, or investing in capital retrofits.
- Lower operating costs and equipment longevity by cutting energy costs while extending the lifespan of your equipment.
- Collaborate with industry peers to exchange ideas and best practices in energy management and create a thriving community of energy managers.
Is SEMI the right fit for my business?
- Industrial, commercial, or manufacturing facilities owned or leased by the participant, located in Alberta. You must obtain permission from your landlord for a leased facility.
- Eligible facilities may also include those involved in energy-intensive processes that physically or chemically transform materials or substances into new products.
- Facilities that have been in operation for at least one year with fixed equipment, buildings, or complexes for extraction, production, or manufacturing.
- Eligible industrial sectors defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes.
- 11 – Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- 21 – Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- 22 – Utilities
- 23 – Construction
- 31-32-33 – Manufacturing
- 48 – Transportation
- 56 – Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Incentive funding for your facility
- Conduct an Energy Assessment and Audit and receive up to $50,000 per facility.
- Implement an Energy Management Information System and receive up to $50,000 for facilities consuming under 400,000 GJ annually, or up to $250,000 for those consuming more.
- Participate in Strategic Energy Management training and receive up to $100,000 per facility.
- Invest in energy-efficient Capital Retrofit projects and receive up to $1,000,000 per facility.
How does SEMI work?
Start with a Facility Readiness Assessment (FRA)
All participants are required to first undergo a Facility Readiness Assessment (FRA) to help identify and recommend further eligible SEMI activities. The FRA will provide a detailed energy assessment that includes time series analysis, energy use disaggregation, energy modeling, and benchmarking of energy performance against industry standards.
The general FRA process will start with a kick-off meeting and will include a data collection checklist, an on-site assessment, a draft report for your review, a presentation, and a final report. The FRA requires input and active participation from you.
What is the FRA?
By participating in the FRA, you will receive a report with the following from SEMI:
- Analysis of your facility’s energy use
- Relationship of energy use to relevant variables (e.g., production rates, operating hours)
- Comparison of your facility’s energy performance relative to your expected performance, other facilities in your organization, industry metrics, and where possible your competitors
- Assessment of controllable and uncontrollable energy use and energy variability analysis
- Assessment of your energy management system
- Recommendation on how to leverage SEMI aligned with your needs
The FRA report will be reviewed by a professional engineer and designed to provide you with a roadmap to participate in the other eligible activities without obligation.
You are required to provide certain information and facility access to support the completion of the FRA, this includes:
- Having a facility representative attend necessary meetings and provide a facility tour with access to the relevant energy-consuming equipment
- Ensuring facility management attends a presentation of the FRA report
- Providing the information specified in the data checklist, such as, but not limited to site layout, other process drawings, energy data, independent variable data, sample maintenance records, and operating parameters such as product mix, volumes, and schedules
- Providing prior energy studies or assessments, sustainability reports, or energy-related capital project documentation
- For for-profit organizations, ERA provides up to 50% of the cost to complete the FRA; however, it is anticipated that your contribution can be provided as an “in-kind” contribution. In-kind contributions can include facility staff time necessary to complete any aspect of the SEMI program and prior energy management activities that contribute value to program activities. You are also required to disclose any other government funding you may use for the SEM and other program activities.
- The SEMI program provides up to 100% funding support for Indigenous-led and not-for-profit organizations.
The FRA will provide participants with recommendations to implement further eligible activities.
Choose your SEMI activity
Are you ready to get started?
Register on the SEMI portal.
Questions for support
Email: semi@eralberta.ca | Toll-free: 1-844-407-0025
Supported by
Natural Resources Canada has provided $40 million in funding for the Strategic Energy Management for Industry Program through their Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program, which offers cost-shared financial support for a holistic and comprehensive suite of energy efficiency measures in Canada’s industrial sectors.
