Energy leaders gather in Toronto to advance wind, solar and energy storage development, investment and Indigenous partnerships in electricity buildout
Toronto, October 22, 2026—More than 3,400 attendees and 225 exhibitors gathered at Electricity Transformation Canada 2026 (ETC) in Toronto, Ontario this week. The event connected the leaders, businesses, Indigenous partners, regulators and investors shaping Canada’s clean energy sector at a time when national investment in generation, transmission and storage is set to grow significantly. With this year marking the largest event yet, the surge in attendance underscored the urgency to address a national commitment to double grid capacity by 2050.
“Canadians want affordable electricity, and that’s what wind, solar and energy storage can help deliver,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). “This week’s conference showed an industry ready to build the affordable, reliable, clean power Canada needs, creating jobs, supporting Canadian businesses and strengthening our energy security.”
The conference followed the release of CanREA’s Clean Power Nation report, which found that affordability is Canadians’ top priority when it comes to new electricity supply. With electricity demand growing, wind, solar and energy storage offer affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable solutions that can help keep costs down for Canadian families and businesses. Speakers at ETC emphasized that stable policies, effective regulations and timely procurement must be the foundation of Canada’s big electricity buildout.
ETC kicked off with a keynote conversation on the state of the global wind industry with Bellissimo and José Luis Blanco, CEO of the Nordex Group and Chair of WindEurope from 2023 to 2025. The program also featured Perry Bellegarde, former chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Jigar Shah in conversation with Lindsay Patrick, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at RBC Capital Markets, who discussed the technological, policy and regulatory innovations critical to accelerating the energy transition.
Other featured speakers included Annette Verschuren, founder and chair of NRStor; Carolyn Calwell, CEO of the Ontario Energy Board; and Jennifer Williams, president and CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.
The show floor featured new exhibitors and innovations from companies in solar, wind and energy storage. The Indigenous Pavilion once again showcased the Indigenous-led projects and partnerships shaping the country’s clean energy transition. The Brazilian and Italian Pavilions, new to this year’s event, spotlighted companies from each country bringing their technology and expertise to Canada’s clean energy market.
The week opened with the second annual CanREA Awards, which recognize the projects, companies and people moving Canada’s clean power sector forward. This year’s winners span four provinces, from Saskatchewan to PEI.
“The growth at ETC this year tells a clear story, that the people and companies expanding Canada’s clean energy industry want to be in the same room, solving problems together,” said Stephen Miner, President & CEO of RE+ Events. “We’re grateful to our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and partners, and we can’t wait to be back in 2027.”
Beyond the main stage, delegates chose from five conference streams covering everything from capital, procurement and Indigenous economic partnership to social licence, grid modernization and the supply chain behind Canada’s big build. In CanREA’s cross-country checkup, the association’s regional policy directors compared notes on procurement, policy and public opinion from coast to coast.
ETC is a partnership between the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), RE+ Events, and the Italian German Exhibition Company Canada. The event will return to the Enercare Centre in Toronto, October 25–27, 2027. For more information, visit the event’s website.
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Media can contact CanREA for high-resolution photos.
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Quotes
“Canadians want affordable electricity, and that’s what wind, solar and energy storage can help deliver. This week’s conference showed an industry ready to build the affordable, reliable, clean power Canada needs, creating jobs, supporting Canadian businesses and strengthening our energy security.”
—Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)
“The growth at ETC this year tells a clear story, that the people and companies expanding Canada’s clean energy industry want to be in the same room, solving problems together. We’re grateful to our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and partners, and we can’t wait to be back in 2027.”
—Stephen Miner, President and CEO, RE+ Events
For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact:
Sami Ayres-Kobren, RE+ Events: sayreskobren@re-plus.com
Communications, Canadian Renewable Energy Association: communications@renewablesassociation.ca
About Electricity Transformation Canada
Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) is developed by the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), which represents the voice of wind energy, solar energy and energy storage in Canada, in partnership with Deutsche Messe, one of the leading trade fair companies worldwide; the Italian Exhibition Group, one of the world’s largest and most active event organizers; and RE+ Events, a global event management organization focused on the clean energy industry. Together, these organizations support a shared vision of innovation and collaboration in Canada’s renewable energy industry, which is key to future success and prosperity.
About CanREA
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how wind energy, solar energy and energy storage can decarbonize and modernize Canada’s electricity systems quickly and affordably, follow us on LinkedIn and visit renewablesassociation.ca.
About RE+ Events
RE+ Events is the global event and association management organization specializing in the clean energy industry. Our flagship event, RE+ (formerly SPI), is the largest renewable energy event in North America. The RE+ Events portfolio also includes events within the U.S. focusing on trends and policies in specific states/regions, and international events that bring together clean energy leaders in up-and-coming markets across the world.
About IGECO Canada
Italian German Exhibition Company Canada (IGECO Canada) is an alliance between Italian Exhibition Group and Deutsche Messe. Building on its international experience in developing and managing B2B exhibitions, conferences and business platforms, IGECO Canada is focused on supporting the growth of strategic industries and fostering international business connections in the Canadian market. IGECO Canada participates in the organization of Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC), in collaboration with RE+ and the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). Through this platform, IGECO Canada brings together key industry stakeholders, facilitates knowledge exchange and creates new business opportunities across Canada’s rapidly evolving energy transition ecosystem. By leveraging the global expertise and networks of its parent organizations, IGECO Canada aims to connect Canadian and international companies, strengthen industry collaboration and contribute to the development of high-value business opportunities in the energy transition sector.