Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Provides a capital grant of 12% on new eligible CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) project costs to accelerate deployment of carbon capture infrastructure across Alberta's heavy-industry sectors. Grants are paid in three installments over three years following one year of verified operations. Projects in oil sands, oil and gas, petrochemicals, power generation, manufacturing, and cement production are all eligible.
Eligibility Requirements
- Project must be physically located in Alberta
- Project must capture, prepare, compress, transport, store, or utilize carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Eligible sectors: oil sands, conventional oil and gas production, enhanced oil recovery, petrochemicals, power generation, manufacturing, and cement production
- Capital costs must be incurred on or after January 1, 2022 (retroactive eligibility)
- No minimum carbon capture rate or volume requirement
- Must not receive duplicate support from the Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program or Alberta royalty regimes for the same costs
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- 12% of eligible CCUS capital costs (program budget $3.2–$5.3B total, 2024–2035)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 12% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing (Advance Notification open; full program finalization pending federal CCUS tax credit legislation)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win ACCIP — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for ACCIP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipSubmit an Advance Notification now even if your full project plan is not finalized — it establishes eligibility for retroactive capital costs back to January 1, 2022. The program has no minimum project size, but the 12% grant is only on capital costs (not engineering studies or pilots), so projects must be past proof-of-concept. ACCIP is designed to stack with the federal CCUS Investment Tax Credit — the two programs were designed in parallel and are expected to be compatible.
Success Profile
Large industrial operator in Alberta (oil sands, petrochemical facility, cement plant, power generator) deploying commercial-scale CCUS. Project has moved past feasibility/pilot phase with committed capital costs. Organization already registered in the Alberta Electronic Transfer System. Project eligible for both ACCIP and the federal CCUS ITC, effectively doubling incentive coverage.
Evaluation Criteria
Not a competitive grant — eligibility is based on meeting the capital cost and sector criteria. Advance Notification reviewed for initial eligibility, followed by Stage 2 qualification with a Class 3 cost estimate. Grant amount is formulaically calculated at 12% of approved eligible capital costs.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 5
- Equipment for capturing, preparing, compressing, transporting, storing, or utilizing CO2
- Monitoring and tracking equipment for CCUS projects
- Buildings and structures directly supporting CCUS operations
- Equipment conversion or refurbishment for CCUS use
- Capital costs incurred on or after January 1, 2022
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Engineering studies and feasibility assessments
- Pilot projects and proof-of-concept projects
- Capital costs already receiving duplicate benefits from Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program
- Capital costs covered under Alberta royalty regimes
- Operating and maintenance costs
Intake Periods
Advance Notification (Stage 1) open on a rolling basis. Full program intake pending federal CCUS ITC legislation.
Deadline Notes
Stage 1 Advance Notification is currently accepting applications via the Electronic Transfer System (ETS). Full program details and Stage 2 qualification will be released after the federal government legislates its CCUS investment tax credit. No hard intake deadline for Advance Notification.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Projects outside Alberta
- Projects limited to engineering studies, pilot projects, or proof-of-concept phase
- Facilities receiving duplicate CCUS support from Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program for the same costs
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskPayments contingent on verified CCUS operations. If the facility does not operate as committed or costs are found to be ineligible, grant installments may be withheld or recovered.
How ACCIP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Prog... | 12% of eligible CCUS | Hard | Milestone-Based | Ongoing (Advance... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
Related Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ACCIP