The Industrial Energy Challenge opens for submissions June 22, 2026. Deadline for application intake has been extended until July 17, 2026 with the winning proposal being announced at the end of July.

Supporting Natural Gas Reduction in Whitby's Industrial Sector

The Town of Whitby is launching the Industrial Energy Challenge to support the industrial sector in adopting projects to reduce the usage of natural gas.

This time‑limited program will offer a one-time, non-repayable grant of $25,000 towards the purchase of technology or equipment/equipment retrofits that reduce natural gas in production processes.

Program Overview

The Town of Whitby, working with Enbridge Gas, is planning a pilot program to help local industrial businesses reduce their energy use.

The program will support one project that can clearly lower natural gas use and still work well in day-to-day operations. This opportunity is meant to help bring forward projects that might not move ahead otherwise due to cost, timing, or budget limits, while helping businesses save energy and reduce emissions.

Incentive Delivery

The one-time, non-repayable grant will be issued in two installments:

50% upon approval of proposal to kick-start the project
50% upon final reporting submitted in full

Program Timelines

The Industrial Energy Challenge launches on June 22, 2026. The application form and supporting materials are available in the Application Form section below.

The program deadline has been extended to July 17, 2026. Applications are reviewed and scored on Natural Gas reduction and overall impact, and the program is designed to support projects that can advance and be completed quickly.

The program does not apply retroactively to projects that already have:

Already implemented retrofits or upgrades
Already purchased equipment
Do not prioritize Natural Gas reduction in production process

Projects should be completed by mid-2027, although some flexibility in completion timelines may be considered, please include timeline information in application.

How to Apply

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the following resources before applying:

Application Form

The Industrial Energy Challenge Application Form is open June 22, 2026.

Applications will be accepted for eligible natural gas reduction projects. The program is limited to one approved project that will receive up to 100% of eligible project costs at a maximum of $25,000.

Application intake has been extended until July 17, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Proposals submitted in full will be reviewed and the winner of the Industrial Energy Challenge will be announce at the end of July.

By submitting an application to the Industrial Energy Challenge you are consenting to share your natural gas usage rates with the Town of Whitby.

Apply to the program

Eligibility

Proposals must be submitted in full to be considered. Each project proposal will be scored based on total estimated reduction of Natural Gas and impact of project. The program will be limited to one eligible project that aligns with the following:

Project Type	Eligible Costs
Process Efficiency & Optimization	Upgrade of existing equipment Purchase and installation of new equipment Optimization of existing equipment or system Increase process efficiency through automation, AI, and digital optimization
Fuel Switching & Alternative Energy	Switching to biogas for thermal processes Installation of hybrid fuel systems (gas + electric or hydrogen blend) Thermal storage systems (capturing excess heat for later use) Heat recovery ventilation systems (HRVs) in industrial facilities
Waste Heat Recovery & Reuse	Flue gas heat recovery systems (e.g., economizers on boilers or furnaces) Heat exchangers for process integration (capturing heat from one process to supply another) Heat recovery from air compressors (using waste heat for space or water heating) Kiln or oven exhaust heat recovery systems
Building & Facility Upgrades	Building envelope improvements (insulation, air sealing, high-performance doors) Installation of high-efficiency HVAC systems Conversion to radiant or infrared heating systems in industrial spaces Implementation of smart building controls and occupancy sensors
Operations & Maintenance Improvements	Reduction of equipment/process idle time Installation of advanced process controls

Evaluation

How Projects Are Evaluated

Applications are scored out of 100 points based on the following criteria:

Project Impact (35 points)
Feasibility & Readiness (25 points)
Co-Benefits & Strategic Value (20 points)
Innovation & Replicability (10 points)
Project Quality (10 points)

Additional Information

The $25,000 incentive is stackable with Enbridge Gas’s current 2026 incentives available to industrial customers, enabling eligible participants to layer available supports and improve project affordability. Information on incentives available to Industrial businesses available here: Enbridge Manufacturing Incentives

Contact

For questions about the program or application process, please contact:

Economic Development (Invest Whitby) – Town of Whitby
invest@whitby.ca

OR

sustainability@whitby.ca

This program is delivered by the Town of Whitby with support from