Clean Growth Innovation Fund

We're taking steps to help work towards a lower carbon energy future for B.C. Through our Clean Growth Innovation Fund, we invest in innovative projects to help reduce carbon emissions in the gas supply and advance climate action in B.C.

Supporting innovative energy projects

Since launching in 2020, we’ve approved more than 65 innovative projects, valued at approximately $20 million in funding. With approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission, we’re continuing the Clean Growth Innovation Fund from 2025 through 2027, investing approximately $5.5 million annually to support innovative energy projects, in collaboration with academia and industry.

Where the dollars go

We’re investing in multiple innovative energy projects each year, co-funded in collaboration with academia and industry. Organizations can apply for project funding, with applications being reviewed based on the:

• estimated emissions that will be reduced in British Columbia
• estimated cost benefit for our customers
• amount of co-funding
• relevant experience of the project team

We’ll continue to invest in various innovative energy solutions, including:

• renewable and lower carbon gas¹ production, distribution and end use (including hydrogen)
• carbon capture utilization and storage
• energy efficiency

Projects we’ve funded

Learn about some of the projects the Clean Growth Innovation Fund has supported:

• University of British Columbia Okanagan and FortisBC collaborating on made-in-B.C. hydrogen research
• new Simon Fraser University-based Clean Hydrogen Hub to fuel clean energy research and innovation
• VulcanX and FortisBC sign deal to support new hydrogen technology

Interested in applying for a Clean Growth Innovation Fund grant?

The Clean Growth Innovation Fund has an open intake, and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. The 2025-2027 fund is now in effect, so applications submitted after November 15, 2024, will be considered under this round of funding.

Apply now 

Fill out a project proposal form to tell us more about your project, and email the completed form to [email protected].

¹FortisBC uses the term renewable and lower carbon gas to refer collectively to the lower carbon gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. FortisBC’s renewable and lower carbon gas portfolio currently includes only Renewable Natural Gas. Other gases and fuels may be added to the program over time. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. However, all of these gases are lower carbon when compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The current burner tip emission factor of RNG is 0.27 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO₂e/MJ) and the current renewable and lower carbon gas portfolio lifecycle emissions for stationary combustion are -22 gCO₂e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s lifecycle carbon intensity threshold of 30.8 gCO₂e/MJ as set out in the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation amendments.