Canada has opened a new funding opportunity aimed at accelerating carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects from late-stage development toward final investment decisions.
Building on earlier CCUS funding rounds, the Office of Energy Research and Development has launched a dedicated Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) call for proposals.
The program is designed to support advanced CCUS projects that have already demonstrated technical feasibility, helping proponents complete the complex and capital-intensive engineering work required to reach investment readiness.
By targeting FEED studies, the call seeks to bridge a critical gap between demonstration and commercial deployment, often cited as a bottleneck for large-scale CCUS projects.
In addition to advancing individual projects, the call places a strong emphasis on knowledge sharing.
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Funded proponents will be expected to contribute insights on cost-effective project development, with the aim of accelerating CCUS deployment across Canada’s industrial sectors.
The initiative aligns with federal ambitions to position Canada as a global leader in CCUS technologies, particularly in hard-to-abate industries such as oil and gas, cement, chemicals, power generation, and hydrogen.
Rolling intake to support near-term momentum
Applications are being accepted on a continuous, rolling basis, with no fixed closing date. Proposals will be reviewed until all available programme funding has been allocated, meaning submission timing may influence review priority.
The selection process follows a two-stage structure, beginning with an Expression of Interest, followed by a Full Project Proposal for shortlisted applicants.
The program is administered through Natural Resources Canada, which may request additional information during the review process. Any such requests effectively reset the application’s submission date for evaluation purposes.
By focusing on FEED-stage support, the new call reflects a growing policy focus on moving CCUS from ambition to execution. As capital discipline tightens and regulatory frameworks evolve, detailed engineering and cost certainty are increasingly viewed as prerequisites for scaling CCUS infrastructure across Canada.
