Comprehensive guide to 15 cleantech funding programs in Quebec Updated April 2026
Businesses in Quebec can access 15 specialized cleantech programs combining federal and provincial funding opportunities.
If you are a Quebec-based founder running a pilot or demonstration project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, your best first stop is Technoclimat, administered by the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP). Technoclimat covers up to 50% of eligible project costs, typically between $100,000 and $5 million, for technologies at the pre-commercial demonstration stage. The program requires a measurable GHG reduction and prefers projects that cannot yet attract full commercial financing. Importantly, Technoclimat's funding is non-repayable for qualifying projects, unlike many federal programs that use contribution-agreement structures with repayment triggers. If your technology involves renewable energy or energy storage and is further along in commercialization, consider pairing it with the federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit — a 30% refundable credit on eligible capital expenditures.
Source: Technoclimat program page, MELCCFP official site; Clean Technology ITC, Budget 2023 and 2024 Fall Economic Statement.If you operate an established manufacturing or industrial facility in Quebec and you are investing in energy efficiency equipment — insulation, heat recovery systems, variable-speed drives, industrial boiler upgrades — ÉcoPerformance is the program designed for you. Delivered through MELCCFP, ÉcoPerformance provides grants covering up to 75% of eligible energy efficiency measure costs. It is one of the most generous cost-share rates available for capital projects in the province. Eligible expenses include equipment purchase, installation, and related engineering studies. The program has processed hundreds of applications from manufacturers in Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Trois-Rivières, and the greater Montréal industrial corridor. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and funding decisions typically arrive within three to four months of a complete submission. Facilities that have already done a formal energy audit often move faster through the review process.
Source: ÉcoPerformance program guide, MELCCFP, 2025 edition.If you manufacture clean technology equipment — solar panels, heat pumps, zero-emission vehicle components, energy storage systems — the federal Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (CTM ITC) is the most valuable program you can access from Quebec. Introduced in Budget 2023 and fully operational in 2026, the CTM ITC offers a 30% refundable credit on eligible capital expenditures for manufacturing facilities producing qualifying clean technology products or processing critical minerals. Unlike provincial grants, this is a tax credit claimed at year-end, meaning it requires no upfront application window and no competitive scoring process — your eligibility is determined by your capital spending and the nature of your manufactured product. Quebec manufacturers can layer this credit on top of Investissement Québec ESSOR financing, creating a capital stack that significantly reduces project risk. If your manufacturing operation is growing rapidly, also explore the Strategic Innovation Fund, which has funded large Quebec cleantech manufacturers in the Montréal and Laval ecosystems.
Source: Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC, Department of Finance Canada, Budget 2023; Investissement Québec ESSOR program guide.If you are deploying electric vehicle fleets or building charging infrastructure in Quebec, you have access to a particularly strong combination of federal and provincial support. At the provincial level, the Programme Roulez vert — administered through the Ministère de l'Environnement — provides rebates for electric vehicle purchases and charging equipment installation. At the federal level, the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) from Natural Resources Canada provides up to $5 million per project for public and workplace charging infrastructure. Both programs can be stacked, though each has its own co-funding rules and eligible applicant definitions. For large-scale fleet electrification projects in Québec City, Laval, Longueuil, or Gatineau, consider engaging Transition énergétique Québec (TEQ) early — TEQ offers advisory services that can significantly improve the quality of a funding application and identify additional programs not well-publicized at the federal level.
Source: Programme Roulez vert, MELCCFP, 2025-2026 edition; ZEVIP, Natural Resources Canada official program page.| Feature | Technoclimat | ÉcoPerformance |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | MELCCFP | MELCCFP |
| Project type | GHG-reducing demonstration projects | Industrial energy efficiency |
| Max cost-share | Up to 50% of eligible costs | Up to 75% of measure cost |
| Typical range | $100K–$5M per project | $50K–$3M typical |
| Technology stage | Pre-commercial / pilot | Proven / commercially available |
| Tax Credit | Rate | Eligible Activity | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Technology ITC | 30% | Capital expenditure: solar, wind, storage, ZEV | Yes (most corps) |
| Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC | 30% | Manufacturing cleantech equipment; critical mineral extraction | Yes |
| Clean Electricity ITC | 15% | Non-emitting generation, storage, transmission | Yes |
| Clean Hydrogen ITC | 15–40% | Hydrogen production based on carbon intensity | Yes |
| Program | Max Amount | Who It Suits | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) | $50M+ | Large transformative projects; industry-research partnerships | Scale-up / commercial |
| Net Zero Accelerator | Up to $50M | High-emitting sector decarbonization | Demonstration / scale |
| NRC IRAP Cleantech | Up to ~$10M | SME cleantech R&D to product | R&D / early commercial |
| Measure | Who | Rate / Benefit | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal SR&ED (R&D expenditure credit) | Canadian-controlled private corps | Enhanced rate on up to $6M in QREs | Max enhanced credit $2.1M/year |
| CRIC (Consolidated R&D Credit, QC) | Quebec corporations | Varies by stream; replaces 8 legacy QC R&D credits | Effective March 25, 2025 |
| Program | Focus | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Biomasse forestière résiduelle (QC) | Residual forest biomass for energy | Project-based, provincial |
| Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) | Bioenergy, biomaterials from forest sector | Up to $10M |
| Clean Fuels Fund (NRCan) | Biofuels, hydrogen, synthetic fuels | Up to $15M/project |
| Factor | ESSOR (Investissement Québec) | Technoclimat (MELCCFP) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of support | Loan / repayable financing | Non-repayable grant |
| Project size | Larger capital projects, $2M+ | Demonstration projects, $100K–$5M |
| Technology stage | Commercially deployable | Pilot / pre-commercial |
| Can stack? | Yes, often stacked with grants | Yes, can stack with federal programs |
| Program | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ZEVIP (NRCan) | Federal contribution | Public / workplace charging networks |
| Programme Roulez vert (QC) | Provincial rebate | EV purchases and fleet electrification |
| Clean Technology ITC (Federal) | Refundable tax credit | Capital cost of zero-emission vehicles + charging |
| Change | Impact on Cleantech Funding |
|---|---|
| $10.1B PEV 2030 commitment updated 2024-2025 implementation plan | Renewed emphasis on energy transition for industry, buildings, transport |
| CRIC consolidation (March 25, 2025) | Simplified R&D tax landscape for Quebec cleantech R&D companies |
| Budget 2026-2027 $1.7B climate allocation | Additional provincial funding flowing through MELCCFP programs |
The best program for an early-stage Quebec cleantech company running a GHG demonstration project is Technoclimat, because it provides up to 50% of project costs as a non-repayable grant and is specifically designed for pre-commercial technologies where commercial financing is not yet available. No federal program matches this combination of stage fit and grant structure for Quebec-based demonstration projects.
The best capital expenditure incentive for a Quebec cleantech manufacturer deploying solar, wind, or energy storage equipment is the federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit at 30% refundable. For manufacturers producing that equipment, the Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC applies at the same rate. These credits do not require competitive applications, do not have intake windows, and are refundable — meaning cash is returned even in low-profit years.
For an established Quebec industrial facility wanting to reduce energy costs through capital investment, ÉcoPerformance is the strongest available grant because it covers up to 75% of eligible energy efficiency measure costs — a higher cost-share than almost any other cleantech program in Canada. Manufacturing operations in Saguenay, Trois-Rivières, and Sherbrooke have used it to fund heat recovery, variable-speed drives, and LED lighting retrofits at minimal net cost.
For a Quebec cleantech company doing active R&D, the most valuable combination in 2026 is NRC IRAP (up to ~$10M for eligible R&D expenditures) combined with federal SR&ED (refundable credit on qualifying R&D expenditures, up to $2.1M/year maximum enhanced credit) and Quebec's CRIC (effective March 25, 2025, consolidating eight legacy provincial R&D credits into one streamlined mechanism). This three-program stack can cover a significant portion of a cleantech R&D budget.
For a large-scale Quebec cleantech project — a clean fuel production facility, a major industrial decarbonization project, or a cleantech manufacturing scale-up — the Strategic Innovation Fund is the highest-value program available, with funding of $50 million or more possible for transformative projects. SIF requires strong industry-research partnerships and a demonstrated economic impact case for Quebec, but for projects of sufficient scale, it is unmatched.
Is your project a demonstration of a new technology to reduce GHG emissions?
→ Apply to Technoclimat (MELCCFP). Up to 50% cost coverage, $100K–$5M range.
→ Also check NRC IRAP if active R&D is involved (up to ~$10M).
→ Apply to ÉcoPerformance (MELCCFP). Up to 75% cost coverage.
→ Apply to Strategic Innovation Fund (federal, $50M+) or Net Zero Accelerator if in a high-emitting sector.
Is most of your cleantech investment going into capital equipment (machinery, vehicles, energy systems)?
→ Claim the federal Clean Technology ITC at 30% refundable on eligible capital cost.
→ If you manufacture this equipment: claim Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC at 30%.
→ File for federal SR&ED (enhanced rate on up to $6M in qualifying R&D expenditures; max enhanced credit $2.1M/year for CCPCs).
→ Also apply to CRIC (Revenu Québec, effective March 25, 2025) for the Quebec R&D credit layer.
→ Add NRC IRAP for additional non-repayable funding on eligible R&D project costs.
Are you electrifying a fleet or deploying charging infrastructure?
→ Check Programme Roulez vert (MELCCFP) for provincial rebates on vehicle purchase.
→ Claim federal Clean Technology ITC at 30% on the capital cost of qualifying zero-emission vehicles.
→ Apply to ZEVIP (Natural Resources Canada, up to $5M) for contribution funding on public or workplace charging networks.
→ Contact Transition énergétique Québec (TEQ) for advisory support and identification of additional provincial stacking opportunities.
Quebec cleantech applicants routinely stack multiple programs on a single project. A common structure for an industrial energy efficiency project is ÉcoPerformance (up to 75% of capital) + Clean Technology ITC (30% federal tax credit) + ESSOR financing for the remaining balance. The total public support can theoretically exceed 100% of eligible costs in some configurations, which is why each program sets explicit co-funding rules. Before stacking, disclose all other funding sources to each program administrator — omitting this is a material misrepresentation that can trigger clawback provisions.
Quebec's CRIC — the Consolidated Research and Innovation Credit — replaced eight legacy provincial R&D tax credits effective March 25, 2025. If you previously claimed the Crédit d'impôt pour la recherche scientifique et le développement expérimental or any of the seven other legacy Quebec R&D measures, your 2025 and subsequent-year filings use CRIC instead. The consolidation was designed to simplify Revenu Québec R&D claims and reduce administrative burden for SMEs doing cleantech R&D. Consult a Quebec tax advisor to confirm how your specific R&D activities map to the CRIC streams.
Quebec's Plan pour une économie verte 2030 represents a $10.1 billion climate investment commitment for the period 2021-2026. The 2024-2025 implementation plan update redirected a portion of these funds to industrial decarbonization, clean transportation, and building energy efficiency. Most of these funds flow through Technoclimat, ÉcoPerformance, Programme Roulez vert, and related MELCCFP-administered programs rather than through a single "PEV grant." Understanding which specific program delivers PEV funds saves you from applying to the wrong intake window.
Provincial Quebec programs — Technoclimat, ÉcoPerformance, Programme Roulez vert, and ESSOR — require applications submitted in French. Technical documentation, project plans, environmental impact assessments, and financial statements must all be in French or accompanied by certified translations. Federal programs can generally be submitted in English or French. Many Quebec cleantech companies work with bilingual grant consultants to manage the language requirements efficiently, particularly when assembling technical documentation for IRAP or SIF applications simultaneously with a Technoclimat submission.
The Clean Technology ITC is a 30% refundable investment tax credit on eligible capital expenditures for qualifying clean technology property — solar energy systems, wind turbines, geothermal systems, energy storage, zero-emission vehicles, and certain heat pumps. For Quebec businesses, refundable means you receive the credit as a cash payment even in years when you owe no corporate tax. The credit is claimed on your T2 federal corporate tax return for the year the property becomes available for use. Eligibility depends on the specific type of property, not just the sector — consult the Canada Revenue Agency guidance or a tax advisor to confirm your equipment qualifies before making capital deployment decisions based on the credit.
Quebec's cleantech funding ecosystem is genuinely province-wide, not concentrated only in Montréal. Here is where program activity is strongest across the province's regions.
Montréal and the Greater Montréal Area (including Laval and Longueuil) is the largest ecosystem, home to hundreds of cleantech SMEs ranging from EV charging companies to advanced materials manufacturers. Technoclimat has funded demonstration projects in Montréal's industrial zones, and IRAP offices in Montréal support dozens of cleantech R&D companies annually. Investissement Québec's ESSOR financing is frequently used by Montréal-area manufacturers expanding clean production capacity.
Québec City and the Chaudière-Appalaches region have seen ÉcoPerformance uptake in manufacturing, particularly in the wood products, metal fabrication, and food processing sectors — industries with strong energy efficiency retrofit potential. The CRIQ (Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec), based in Québec City, supports cleantech R&D through technical services that complement grant funding.
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean has one of Quebec's most energy-intensive industrial bases — aluminum smelting, pulp and paper — making ÉcoPerformance and Technoclimat highly relevant for decarbonization projects. The region has historically benefited from Biomasse forestière résiduelle funding for forest biomass energy projects, and the Saguenay port area is exploring hydrogen applications.
Sherbrooke and the Estrie region have an active cleantech startup scene supported by the Université de Sherbrooke's energy technology research programs and IRAP's Eastern Quebec presence. Several Estrie-based companies have received Technoclimat support for thermal energy storage and agricultural cleantech pilot projects.
Trois-Rivières and Mauricie are strong in forest biomass energy and waste-to-energy projects. The Clean Fuels Fund has supported biofuel projects in this corridor. Mauricie's industrial sector also regularly accesses ÉcoPerformance for paper mill and manufacturing energy upgrades.
Gatineau and the Outaouais region benefit from federal program proximity — federal cleantech program offices are a short drive away in Ottawa, and Outaouais companies frequently attend joint Quebec-Ontario funding information sessions. ZEVIP has supported charging infrastructure projects in Gatineau's urban core.
Abitibi-Témiscamingue has strong mining sector cleantech activity — critical mineral extraction, mine electrification, and tailings management innovations. The federal Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC is particularly relevant for critical mineral processing operations in this region, as is the Strategic Innovation Fund's critical minerals stream. Delivery agencies active in the region include PrairiesCan (limited presence), ISED's regional office, and Investissement Québec's Abitibi office in Rouyn-Noranda.
Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine have wind energy development potential that aligns with the federal Clean Electricity ITC at 15% refundable. The Gaspé peninsula has been identified for offshore wind development discussions. Transition énergétique Québec maintains regional presence to advise on energy efficiency projects in these coastal regions.
Delivery agencies active across all Quebec regions include: MELCCFP (Technoclimat, ÉcoPerformance), Transition énergétique Québec (TEQ, advisory and program referrals), Investissement Québec (ESSOR, regional offices in Montréal, Québec City, Saguenay, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Rouyn-Noranda), CRIQ (technical services, Québec City), and NRC IRAP (regional offices in Montréal, Québec City, and Sherbrooke).
Source: MELCCFP regional program reports; Investissement Québec regional office directory; NRC IRAP Quebec regional contacts, 2025.Budget 2026-2027: $1.7B in climate commitments. Quebec's provincial budget announced a $1.7 billion envelope for climate-related spending in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. A significant portion flows through MELCCFP programs including Technoclimat and ÉcoPerformance. This renewed commitment means both programs are expected to have active intake windows through 2026, with demand from the industrial and commercial sectors likely to be high. Businesses with ready projects should not delay applications, as competitive programs can close intake windows when funding is oversubscribed.
CRIC replaces eight legacy Quebec R&D credits (effective March 25, 2025). The Consolidated Research and Innovation Credit (CRIC) came into force on March 25, 2025. It replaces a set of legacy Quebec income tax credits for R&D, streamlining the provincial R&D incentive structure. For cleantech companies doing qualifying scientific research and experimental development in Quebec, this consolidation changes the form but not the fundamental availability of provincial R&D support. If you previously navigated multiple Revenu Québec R&D credits, your 2025 tax year returns use CRIC as the single consolidated claim vehicle. Important: CRIC is not the same as SR&ED, which remains a separate federal mechanism.
PEV 2030 implementation plan update (2024-2025). The Gouvernement du Québec updated its Plan pour une économie verte 2030 implementation plan in 2024-2025. The updated plan increased emphasis on industrial decarbonization and electrification of transportation fleets, reflecting both federal co-investment opportunities and Quebec's own GHG reduction targets. Technoclimat and ÉcoPerformance are the primary program vehicles for this PEV spending. Businesses in hard-to-abate industries — cement, aluminum, chemicals — should engage MELCCFP early to understand bespoke funding structures being developed under the updated plan.
Federal Investment Tax Credits fully operational in 2026. The Clean Technology ITC, Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC, Clean Electricity ITC, and Clean Hydrogen ITC — all introduced in Budget 2023 — are now fully operational for 2026 tax years. Quebec businesses that deployed qualifying capital during 2024 or 2025 may already be eligible to claim these credits. The credits are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency and claimed on corporate tax returns. Quebec businesses should confirm with their tax advisor whether claimed provincial assistance (such as Technoclimat grants) reduces the base for calculating the federal ITC, which can affect net benefit calculations.
CDAEIA (launched January 2026) and cleantech digitization. The federal Canada Digital Adoption for Emissions-Intensive Activities program (CDAEIA), launched in January 2026, supports adoption of digital technologies in emissions-intensive industries. While not a cleantech program in the traditional sense, it is tangentially relevant for Quebec cleantech companies helping industrial clients digitize energy monitoring, process optimization, or predictive maintenance — technologies that reduce emissions through smarter operations rather than capital replacement. Quebec's industrial manufacturing base in Saguenay, Trois-Rivières, and the Mauricie region could benefit. Note: this program's details were still being finalized at the time of writing; self-flagging some uncertainty here.
ÉcoPerformance rate and eligibility adjustments (2025-2026 update). MELCCFP made administrative adjustments to ÉcoPerformance eligibility criteria for the 2025-2026 program cycle, including refinements to how eligible measure costs are calculated for complex industrial projects. Applicants who previously received ÉcoPerformance funding should review the updated program guide before submitting new applications, as the eligible cost definitions for some measure categories have changed. Businesses planning large heat recovery or compressed air system upgrades should contact MELCCFP's program officers directly to confirm current eligible expense categories before preparing project budgets.
Source: Gouvernement du Québec Budget 2026-2027 fiscal framework; MELCCFP program updates 2025-2026; Revenu Québec CRIC notice March 2025; Department of Finance Canada Clean Economy ITCs implementation update 2026.Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $50 million
Supports large-scale, transformative and collaborative projects between industry, researchers and non-profit organizations that help grow Canada's economy.
Organization: National Research Council Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $1 million
Provides advice, connections and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market.
Organization: Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $10 million
Supports the development and demonstration of clean technology solutions that address climate change, air quality, clean water and clean soil.
Organization: Ocean Supercluster
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $5 million
Accelerates ocean technology development and commercialization to strengthen Canada's ocean economy.
Organization: Business Development Bank of Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $15 million
Provides growth capital (venture financing) to Canadian clean technology companies to scale their operations.
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $50 million
Supports projects that help Canada achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, by funding decarbonization and clean technology scale-up initiatives in high-emitting sectors.
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $5 million
Supports the deployment of electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure across Canada through cost-shared funding.
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $1.5 billion
Supports the development and expansion of domestic clean fuel production capacity through project funding (capital investments in new facilities or upgrades).
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $4.5 billion
Supports clean electricity and grid modernization projects, including renewable energy and energy storage solutions, to enable a low-carbon grid.
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $10 million
Supports research, development and demonstration of clean energy technologies (including renewable, smart grid, energy efficiency, and other clean energy solutions).
Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
A five-year federal-provincial funding framework (2023-2028) supporting innovation, competitiveness and resilience in the agriculture and agri-food sector via various programs (grants, loans, insurance).
Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
A national plan with various funding initiatives to support marine safety, environmental protection, and Indigenous partnerships in ocean protection.
Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $1 million
Supports innovation and market development in the aquaculture sector through contribution funding for projects that increase global competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian aquaculture.
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $10 million
Supports innovative, first-in-kind projects in the forest sector that increase competitiveness and environmental performance (e.g., bioenergy, biomaterials).
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $5 million
Supports training and skills development for jobs in the green economy and clean technology sectors, often through wage subsidies for youth in environmental roles (delivered via various partner organizations).
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