Natural Resources Canada

Clean Energy for Rural & Remote Communities (CERRC)

Federal funding for renewable energy and capacity building in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, including demonstration of innovative microgrid systems.

Who is eligible
Rural, remote, and Indigenous communities
What it funds
Renewable energy, microgrids, and capacity building
Streams
Demonstration and deployment
Intake
Closed. CERRC is fully committed and no longer accepting applications. The program closes March 31, 2027.
About the Program

The flagship federal program for community energy

CERRC has funded more than 230 community energy projects nationally. The program is now fully committed. We position projects for the remaining Wah-ila-toos streams and the successor programming NRCan has signalled.

Where CERRC fits

  • Hybrid microgrid engineering design and demonstration
  • Solar, storage, and renewable heating systems
  • Capacity building so communities operate their own assets
  • Front-end engineering that de-risks implementation funding

On our files. We structured a successful clean energy hybrid microgrid demonstration application, with federal funding active for engineering and detailed design.

How We Help

Engineering-led applications

Technical readiness

We scope the front-end engineering that makes a microgrid application credible.

Demonstration or deployment

We match the project to the right CERRC stream and its requirements.

Time the window

Applications kept ready so you enter the queue the day intake or recapitalization reopens.

Common Questions

CERRC questions we hear most

What happens when CERRC is between funding cycles?

CERRC is fully committed and closed to new applications, and the program officially closes March 31, 2027. NRCan is retaining inquiries to inform future federal programming. Northern projects can still apply through CIRNAC's Northern REACHE via the Wah-ila-toos window, and we keep projects application-ready for the successor programming NRCan has signalled.

Does CERRC require an engineering partner?

Credible engineering is central to a strong application. We scope and coordinate the engineering partners so the technical file matches what reviewers expect.

What projects does CERRC fund?

Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities funds renewable electricity, renewable heat, capacity building, and projects that reduce reliance on diesel in off-grid and remote communities. We match your project to the eligible stream and the open funding cycle.

Related Programs

Is your community ready for its own energy system?

Tell us what you want to build and we will map the funding path, CERRC included or not.

Ask About Funding