Commercial energy projects are often supported by multiple funding streams at the same time — combining federal tax incentives, utility rebate programs, and sector-specific funding opportunities to improve overall project economics.
Since the beginning of 2025, GI has secured ≈ $8.5M in approved rebates (excluding tax incentives) across Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Funding varies by province, project type, and program availability.
Start your assessmentFederal programs support different stages of commercial energy projects — from upfront tax incentives and accelerated depreciation to industrial assessment and retrofit funding opportunities.
Refundable federal tax credit equal to 30% of eligible capital costs for solar PV, battery storage, and related electrical infrastructure. Refundable means it is payable even where corporate tax liability is limited in the claim year — the eligible amount is returned as a cash payment rather than carried forward.
Full capital cost deduction for eligible clean energy assets in year one of operation. Significantly reduces taxable income in the year of investment. Stackable with the Clean Technology ITC — together, the most tax-efficient capital treatment available to Canadian C&I businesses.
Federal funding supporting industrial energy efficiency, process improvements, electrification, and emissions reduction projects within Canadian manufacturing facilities. GIFMP funding can support feasibility work, capital upgrades, and broader industrial decarbonization initiatives.
Ontario offers one of the strongest commercial energy incentive environments in Canada — where federal tax credits, accelerated depreciation, utility incentives, and energy market programs can collectively offset up to 75% of eligible project costs when strategically stacked.
Up to $860 per installed AC kilowatt for qualifying behind-the-meter commercial and industrial solar installations. Eligibility is assessed against the facility’s grid-connected load profile. Maximum $860,000 per qualifying project.
Apply a refundable federal tax credit equal to 30% of eligible capital costs for solar PV, battery storage, and related electrical infrastructure. The 30% ITC is applied after deducting any applicable rebates provided for the project. Refundable means it is payable even where corporate tax liability is limited in the claim year — the eligible amount is returned as a cash payment rather than carried forward. Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit for eligible solar, battery storage, and electrical infrastructure.
Full capital cost deduction for eligible clean energy assets in year one of operation. The amount deducted is the net asset cost after accounting for any applicable rebates and ITCs received for the project. Significantly reduces taxable income in the year of investment. Stackable with the Clean Technology ITC — together, the most tax-efficient capital treatment available to Canadian C&I businesses.
BC Hydro · Demand Response Framework
British Columbia operates one of the deepest behind-the-meter incentive frameworks in Canada — pairing direct cost recovery for grid-displacement projects with capital support for battery storage that participates in BC Hydro's demand response. Both programs stack with federal capital incentives.
Funding for behind-the-meter commercial solar and energy reduction projects that lower electricity consumption from the BC Hydro grid. Eligible facilities can receive incentives covering up to 75% of total project cost, to a maximum of $1 million per site.
Projects are evaluated based on verified load displacement, annual energy reduction, and operational impact across the facility.
Funding for commercial battery energy storage systems designed to reduce peak electricity demand and support grid flexibility in British Columbia. Incentives can cover up to 80% of eligible project costs for qualified facilities participating in BC Hydro's demand response framework.
Projects are evaluated based on facility load profile, battery dispatch capability, and operational demand reduction potential.
Both BC Hydro incentives apply on top of point-of-investment federal capital treatments — recovering additional project cost in year one.
Refundable credit on eligible solar, BESS, and electrical capital costs.
Full first-year write-off of eligible clean energy assets against taxable income.
Program details confirmed current at publication. Eligibility, incentive ceilings, and intake windows change — always verified before project scoping.
Incentive programs apply to a wide range of commercial and industrial projects. The examples below show where businesses most commonly combine federal tax credits, utility incentives, and sector-specific funding.
Most projects qualify under more than one program — the right stack depends on facility type, load profile, and capital plan.
Eligibility thresholds, incentive amounts, and application windows are updated on a rolling basis. This page is reviewed and updated every quarter. We confirm current availability at every scoping conversation — as part of the financial model built before any recommendation is made.
Six common questions from C&I energy buyers. Built from real scoping conversations.
Yes. Federal tax credits apply to capital costs; provincial programs apply to demonstrated energy savings. These streams target different components and are not mutually exclusive. Most Ontario C&I projects qualify for both the Clean Technology ITC and saveONenergy simultaneously.
Yes. Battery energy storage systems are eligible assets under the Clean Tech ITC alongside solar PV and related electrical infrastructure. The same 30% refundable credit applies regardless of whether the asset is generation or storage.
Up to $860 per installed AC kilowatt, with a maximum of $860,000 per qualifying project. The specific amount depends on system size, load profile, and current program schedules confirmed at project scoping.
Some do. The saveONenergy Retrofit Program requires a qualifying energy study as part of the application. That same documentation also supports BEPS compliance reporting, making it useful well beyond the incentive application itself.
Yes — the AAFC Agricultural Clean Technology Program provides grants covering a significant share of on-farm solar costs. It is stackable with the federal Clean Tech ITC and Enhanced CCA. The program operates in competitive funding rounds; availability must be confirmed before scoping.
Federal programs follow annual budget cycles. Provincial programs are updated by their administrators on a rolling basis. This guide is reviewed every quarter. Confirm current eligibility and funding amounts before project decisions.
