A record-breaking year for clean energy collaboration
October 6-8, 2025
Toronto, Ontario
Thank you to all CanREA members, partners and supporters who helped make Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) 2025 a record-breaking success in Toronto.
This year’s edition was the largest ETC to date, bringing together 2,900 clean energy professionals from across Canada and around the world. The event featured more than 120 expert speakers and 180 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in renewable energy, energy storage and electrification technologies.
From the moment the doors opened, the excitement was palpable. Across the show floor, exhibitors demonstrated how solar, wind, storage, hydrogen and microgrid solutions—enhanced by AI, digital tools and new manufacturing breakthroughs—are accelerating the clean energy transition and reshaping Canada’s electricity future.
Attendees experienced a dynamic, three-day event built for collaboration and learning: educational sessions led by industry leaders and policymakers, workshops, forward-looking plenaries and countless opportunities to connect—from the welcome reception to lively meetups across the exhibition hall.
Opening night: Celebrating Canada’s clean energy leadership
The evening began with a powerful address from Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO of CanREA, who spoke about Canada’s leadership in renewable energy and the importance of collaboration to achieve a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity system.
She was joined by Chief Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, who delivered an Indigenous welcome, emphasizing the values of partnership, respect and stewardship at the heart of Canada’s clean energy transition.
Additional remarks came from CanREA Board Chair Colleen Giroux-Schmidt (Innergex) and Chinyere Eni (RBC Origins), who both highlighted the critical roles of private sector innovation and reconciliation in advancing a clean energy future that benefits all Canadians.
Keynote address
Ontario’s Minister of Energy, Stephen Lecce, delivered the evening keynote, outlining the province’s vision for affordable, reliable and innovative electricity. He highlighted the role of renewable energy, energy storage and infrastructure modernization in supporting Ontario’s economy and climate goals while strengthening collaboration across provinces and Indigenous communities.
Opening plenary
Harnessing Canada’s Clean Energy: A Strategic Advantage for Global Competitiveness
Canada is standing at the crossroads of geopolitics, energy security and economic development. The opening plenary examined how the country can leverage its clean energy advantage to strengthen global competitiveness and long-term prosperity. Moderated by Emma Graney (The Globe and Mail), the panel discussed ways that Canada can capitalize on its renewable energy resources to create robust, affordable and reliable electricity systems that attract investment and accelerate sustainable economic growth.
Recognizing leadership and excellence: WiRE and CanREA Awards
Following the plenary, ETC 2025 celebrated outstanding contributions to Canada’s clean energy sector with the 2025 Women of Distinction Awards, presented to Michelle Chislett (middle) and Tanna M. Pirie-Wilson (right).
Chislett, former Executive Vice President of Onshore Renewables at Northland Power Inc., was honoured for her leadership in wind, solar and storage development—most notably, Canada’s first grid-scale battery energy storage project, Oneida Energy Storage.
Pirie-Wilson is a Wolastoqiyik from the Nekutkuk Maliseet Nation (Tobique First Nation) in New Brunswick. She was the first woman to serve as both Senior Band Administrator and CEO of band-owned enterprises for Tobique First Nation. In this role, she led the development of wind energy projects in her community. Pirie-Wilson also served on the Board of Directors for Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE), and she continues to work with the organization as a youth mentor.
The evening continued with the first-ever CanREA Awards, introduced by Vittoria Bellissimo, recognizing innovation, leadership and excellence in renewable energy and energy storage. Twenty projects were nominated this year, and CanREA looks forward to an even bigger crop of entries in 2026!
Winners included:
- Hagersville Battery Energy Storage Park – Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation and Boralex (Innovative Canadian Clean Power Project of the Year)
- Glooscap Energy (Indigenous Clean Energy Company of the Year)
- Jayman BUILT – “Solar is Not an Option” (Canadian On-Site Project of the Year)
These inaugural awards highlighted the collaboration and ingenuity driving Canada’s renewable energy future. Congratulations to all nominees and winners!
Welcome reception
The evening concluded with a lively welcome reception, where attendees networked and celebrated the start of ETC 2025.
Spotlight on innovation, policy and market transformation
The ETC 2025 conference program featured four education streams:
- Policy and Market Insights
- Getting Projects Built
- Unlocking Energy Storage
- Utilities and Grid Modernization
Across these streams, sessions explored the most pressing issues in Canada’s clean energy landscape—from Distribution System Operator (DSO) models and supply chain resilience to energy storage deployment and labour market competitiveness.
A highlight was the standing-room-only session “Cross-Canada Check-Up on Policy, Markets and Procurements,” featuring CanREA’s regional policy directors sharing timely updates on procurement opportunities and policy developments across all regions.
Delegates also gained exclusive insights from the Canada’s Renewable Energy Market Outlook 2025 report, which forecasts that over the next decade, the Canadian energy sector will deploy:
- 30–51 GW of new wind power
- 17–26 GW of new solar power
- 12–16 GW of new energy storage
Together, these additions could increase renewables from 10% of supply today to as much as 33% of Canada’s electricity mix by 2050.
Exhibit Hall: The hub of innovation
The ETC 2025 Exhibit Hall was the heart of the event, featuring 180 exhibitors presenting cutting-edge technologies—from next-generation turbines and inverters to AI-driven grid management and advanced storage systems.
A key feature this year was the expanded Indigenous Clean Energy Pavilion, spotlighting projects and partnerships led by Indigenous communities and businesses across Canada.
Three show floor theatres hosted continuous technical talks, product demonstrations and educational sessions throughout the event, creating an interactive hub of knowledge and innovation.
Looking ahead to 2026
As Canada continues to accelerate its clean energy ambitions, Electricity Transformation Canada remains the country’s most important platform for collaboration, innovation and market growth.
Join us next year, from October 19 to 21, 2026, at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
Learn more at electricity-transformation.ca