Events
Following the Renewable Energy Quebec Summit, the CanREA Connects—Quebec networking reception in Montréal provided key players the opportunity to connect on Quebec’s renewable energy scene. Those passionate about wind, solar or energy storage, engaged with industry leaders to share ideas and enjoy a lively atmosphere alongside fellow professionals.
The third edition of Renewable Energy Quebec, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s flagship Quebec summit, was a major success in Montréal today, drawing more than 300 attendees.
“Quebec is entering a decisive new chapter in its energy history, one defined by growing demand, unprecedented procurement ambitions and the need to build quickly and inclusively,” said Jean Habel, Senior Director of Policy for Quebec and Atlantic Canada at CanREA. “Renewable Energy Quebec gave our industry, policymakers and Indigenous partners the space to have the frank, strategic conversations that will move us from ambition to action.”
The day’s discussions unfolded against a significant backdrop: the upcoming publication of the provincial government’s Plan de gestion intégrée des ressources énergétiques (integrated energy resource management plan) and Hydro-Québec’s recent Action Plan 2035, which together will chart an ambitious course for large-scale wind and solar deployment across Quebec. Renewable Energy Quebec offered a forum for the candid examination of what it will actually take to deliver on those commitments—from capital formation and procurement design to labour markets, supply chains and social acceptance.
The event opened with a keynote address by Jimmy Jean, Chief Economist and Strategist at Desjardins Group, who offered an incisive look at Quebec’s macroeconomic outlook, investment climate and the signals shaping strategic decision making in Canada’s renewable energy sector.
The morning’s opening panel, “Wind: A new era for energy in Quebec,” brought together developers and Indigenous and municipal partners to examine Hydro-Québec’s plans to open new wind development zones and the collaboration models that will determine whether those zones become projects.
Two concurrent afternoon sessions deepened the conversation. The financing panel, “Financing the energy transition: How to mobilize investments in the coming decades,” focused on the capital structures, contract frameworks and incentive tools that will underpin Quebec’s renewable build-out. Meanwhile, the supply chain and labour panel, “Stimulating the local economy through successful strategic investments,” examined how the industry is adapting to skilled labour constraints and supply chain pressures while maximizing regional economic benefits.
Political participation underscored the summit’s relevance within Quebec’s and Canada’s political landscape. Talks on accelerating the deployment of clean energy in Quebec were delivered by Pascale Déry, Quebec’s Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks; Carlos Leitão, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Industry; Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; and Gregory Kelley of the Quebec Liberal Party, who serves as the Official Opposition critic for energy and natural resources.
The day closed with two concurrent sessions examining the practical realities of project deployment. “Rolling out renewable projects in Quebec: A challenge worthy of our shared goals” featured a lively discussion of the environmental, social and regulatory requirements shaping project timelines. “Energy demand: The common denominator across different sectors of our economy” examined how electrification across industry, transportation and buildings is reshaping Quebec’s energy needs and the renewable capacity required to meet them.
The formal program was followed by a networking reception that provided attendees with an opportunity to deepen relationships and advance the project conversations that are central to Quebec’s clean electricity future.
“The scale of what Quebec is undertaking—more than 150 additional terawatt-hours of clean electricity in 25 years—demands exactly this kind of broad, honest, action-oriented dialogue,” said Habel. “The conversations held at Renewable Energy Quebec will help shape the decisions that determine whether Quebec’s ambitions become a reality.”
CanREA also officially launched the second edition of its annual CanREA Awards at Renewable Energy Quebec. The Awards honour achievements and innovation in the Canadian renewable energy industry. This year, a new award named after CanREA’s first CEO, Robert Hornung, recognizes an individual who has made a sustained and meaningful contribution to advancing Canada’s clean energy sector. The nomination period ends on June 30, and the winners will be announced at CanREA’s Electricity Transformation Canada conference in Toronto on October 19.
CanREA would like to thank all the speakers, panellists and moderators who contributed their expertise to this year’s Renewable Energy Quebec program. It extends special thanks to presenting sponsor Desjardins Group; Platinum sponsor EDF power solutions; and Gold sponsors Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, Nordex and Vestas.
To stay informed of upcoming CanREA events, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter.
More than 270 investors, developers and policymakers met today at the Clean Power Finance Canada summit to make deals and strengthen partnerships needed to build the next generation of Canada’s clean energy projects.
Hosted by the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) and presenting sponsor CIBC, the summit brought together leaders from across the clean energy and finance sectors for targeted panel discussions and networking.
Throughout the day, speakers examined the financial landscape for renewable energy, including project financing, market design and investment conditions. Discussions also explored financing pathways for emerging technologies, regional electricity market growth, and the policy and regulatory factors shaping project viability.
Sessions also focused on the practical realities of delivery, including system expansion in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, new procurement and construction activity in Ontario and British Columbia, and the central role of Indigenous partnerships in clean power development across Canada.
“Canada is a top-tier investment destination when it comes to renewable energy and energy storage, but we need to address the barriers that are slowing projects down,” said CanREA President and CEO Vittoria Bellissimo. “The conversations at Clean Power Finance Canada made it clear that capital is ready to move when the right conditions are in place.”
The summit also featured curated meetings between investors and developers to help move projects toward financial close, establishing Clean Power Finance Canada as a key forum for connecting capital with opportunity.
Ahead of the summit, CanREA released its new report, Watts at Stake, which finds that Canada is well positioned to capture up to $200 billion in clean power investment. The report highlights that while the fundamentals are in place, including high-quality resources, stable institutions, federal investment tax credits and a strong slate of projects in procurement, improvements are needed in the systems that move projects from approval to construction.
Canada is in an energy investment supercycle, and the international spotlight is on us right now,” said CanREA Vice President of Policy Imran Noorani. “The link between that moment and capturing it is simple: we have to become a build machine. What we need now is to fine-tune policy, unlock enablement and turn projects into execution.”
Clean Power Finance Canada concluded with CanREA Connects—Ontario, a networking reception that strengthened relationships across Canada’s clean energy and finance communities. CanREA was pleased to welcome Mr. Mahaveer Singhvi, Consul General of India in Toronto, to the reception, and celebrate the commitment between Prime Minister Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene an India–Canada Renewable Energy and Storage Summit later this year.
CanREA wishes to thank all attendees and sponsors for helping to make this year’s Clean Power Finance Canada summit a success. A special thanks to presenting sponsor CIBC and event partner the Canada Infrastructure Bank; Platinum sponsors Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB), Northland Power and TD Securities; and Gold sponsors LCAB, Compass Energy Consulting, Marathon Capital, DNV, Pattern Canada and Potentia.
To stay informed of upcoming CanREA events, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter.
Held immediately following Clean Power Finance Canada, CanREA Connects—Ontario was a focused regional networking reception for professionals active in Ontario’s electricity and clean power market.
This reception extended the day’s finance and investment conversations into a more informal, deal-oriented setting. Developers, investors, utilities, Indigenous partners, policymakers and service providers continued the discussions around Ontario’s advancing new procurement processes and system expansion plans.
Designed for relationship-building and business development, CanREA Connects—Ontario convened decision-makers shaping the next phase of wind, solar and energy storage deployment in the province.
CanREA Connects—British Columbia is a dedicated regional networking reception designed to convene developers, utilities, Indigenous partners, investors, policymakers, suppliers, non-profits and students at a pivotal moment for the province.
With new procurement processes underway and momentum building through initiatives like Wind & Solar BC, this was an opportunity to connect around what comes next for B.C.’s wind, solar and energy storage industry. This reception was designed to support alignment between policy direction and project delivery, strengthen private-public partnerships and help move viable projects forward.
Whether you are advancing development opportunities, structuring investments, shaping policy or building your career in renewables, CanREA Connects—British Columbia is where professionals come together to strengthen partnerships and grow the province’s renewable energy ecosystem.
Alberta needs stable regulations and long-term revenue certainty to unlock the potential of energy storage to deliver affordable power and drive economic growth, industry, government and investors agreed Thursday at the Energy Storage Alberta Summit in Calgary.
More than 220 participants from across the sector gathered at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s the third annual Energy Storage Alberta Summit to examine how Alberta can scale energy storage while adapting to market and regulatory changes. The day-long event featured speeches and panel discussions with industry leaders, policymakers and energy experts all aligned on one clear priority: accelerating energy storage to keep pace with rising electricity demand and a rapidly evolving grid.
The Summit opened with a keynote address from Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Referencing experiences in South Australia, he pointed to the dramatic reduction in energy storage costs in the past decade and outlined how the federal government is acting to align policy with system realities, supporting reliability and creating conditions where investment can move with confidence.
A fireside chat, “Powering Canada’s economy,” featured Gitane De Silva, founder and principal of GDStrategic Inc. and former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator, who spoke about the policy stability and regulatory modernization needed to attract investment in Alberta, and the risks geopolitical uncertainty poses to Canada’s competitiveness.
A panel discussion with representatives from the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) examined how evolving market and transmission frameworks will operate, shaping energy storage development over the next five years. Panellists outlined the AESO’s plans for Fast Frequency Response Plus, or FFR+, which is targeting 500 megawatts of new storage capacity and represents a significant procurement opportunity for energy storage developers.
Discussions also covered market design, planning signals, supply chains, tariffs, community engagement, technology advancements, innovation and regulatory considerations shaping project timelines.
“No jurisdiction is immune to the grid pressures reshaping the electricity sector today, from accelerating demand to the rapid transformation of how power is generated and delivered,” said CanREA President and CEO Vittoria Bellissimo. “Alberta must be proactive in building the energy storage capacity that makes a modern, reliable grid possible. What’s needed now is stable, supportive regulation and long-term policy certainty to attract the investment to get there.”
The event brought together utilities, system operators, government representatives, investors and innovators, reflecting the collaboration required to deliver on these opportunities. It was followed by a CanREA Connects—Alberta reception, which offered additional opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As Alberta’s electricity system continues to evolve, discussions at Energy Storage Alberta 2026 reinforced a shared message: energy storage will play a central role in maintaining reliability, enabling economic growth and ensuring the province remains competitive in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
CanREA wishes to thank all attendees and sponsors for helping to make this year’s Energy Storage Alberta Summit a success. A special thanks to Gold sponsor Sungrow; Iron sponsors Alberta Innovates; Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP; Emissions Reduction Alberta; GDStrategic; LlUNA; and Valard Construction; as well as event partner the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
To stay informed of upcoming CanREA events, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter.
Held immediately following Energy Storage Alberta 2026, CanREA Connects—Alberta focused on networking for professionals working at the centre of Alberta’s evolving electricity market.
As market rules change and reliability requirements grow, this reception provided space for meaningful, in-person conversations about the role of energy storage in Alberta’s power system. Attendees connected with senior leaders, developers, operators, investors, policymakers and service providers shaping the next phase of storage deployment and grid planning in the province.
Designed for relationship-building and business development, CanREA Connects networking receptions bring together decision makers who need a clear understanding of what’s coming, what it means for the market and how the sector can respond.
You can find more upcoming events like this on our events page, or subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter to stay informed of upcoming CanREA events.
CanREA is thrilled to announce our 2026-2028 calendar of national and regional events, ranging from specialized conferences to popular networking receptions, a golf tournament and more. We hope you will join us to connect with many of the country’s top innovators, business leaders and industry influencers with an interest in growing the wind energy, solar and energy storage sectors across Canada. Mark your calendar today!
Registration for each event will launch periodically through the year. Subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s monthly events newsletter, to stay informed.
2027
2028
Stand out from the crowd! Sponsorship opportunities are available for various CanREA events. Please contact Julie Mair, CanREA’s Director of Membership and Business Development, to discuss your options.
More than 350 people gathered in Toronto this week for the sixth annual and largest-ever CanREA Operators Summit, Canada’s premier conference and exhibition devoted to the operation and maintenance of renewable energy and energy storage sites. The event brought together operators, asset managers, technicians and service providers who manage the country’s growing fleet of wind, solar and energy storage facilities.
“As Canada’s renewable energy sector comes of age, we need highly skilled operators to maintain existing assets at peak efficiency while preparing for the build-out ahead,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO. “With the total installed capacity of wind, solar and energy storage in Canada now at roughly 25 gigawatts—a 56% increase since 2020—our operators have evolved from newcomers to trusted professionals with deep expertise operating assets in Canada’s diverse environments. They can be counted on to deliver the electricity Canada needs to power the economy of the future.”
This year’s theme, “Coming of Age,” reflects a pivotal shift in the industry. Approximately 15% of Canada’s large wind and solar energy assets were built in 2009 or earlier and are nearing the end of their original contracts. Operators must now manage this established infrastructure while integrating new regulations and technologies—including AI, agrivoltaics, drones and real-time monitoring—and maintaining a steadfast commitment to safety, workforce readiness, reliability and community engagement. These experienced professionals are also front and centre in decisions about whether to decommission, repower or extend the lifetime of this first wave of Canadian renewable energy facilities.
“We designed this year’s program to address the practical challenges operators face today, equip them for the decisions they must help make and prepare them for robust growth ahead,” said Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Director of Member Programs. “Energy demand is expected to rise significantly across Canada over the next 25 years, so every megawatt of existing capacity counts. With an expanded technical program and more targeted networking opportunities, this Summit gave O&M professionals the best forum in Canada to connect and learn from each other as companies get ready to scale up.”
View the full photo album here.
The two-day program featured sessions addressing current operational priorities. The opening panel, “Coming of Age: The Renewables Industry Today,” explored how wind, solar and storage have become essential tools in the grid operator’s toolbox. Technical sessions covered topics including troubleshooting complex electrical systems, assessing turbine component wear, solar operations in adverse weather conditions, AI applications in renewable operations, and new agrivoltaics regulations in Alberta.
New features this year included hands-on demonstrations on the exhibition floor, replacing traditional elevator pitches with interactive equipment showcases. A lessons learned track provided fast-paced fireside sessions where presenters shared practical examples and best practices. An educational poster session allowed operators, technicians and engineers to present operations-focused case studies and engage in one-on-one conversations.
This enriched program aimed to meet the evolving needs of operators on the cusp of a future increasingly powered by renewable energy.
“Canada’s wind, solar and energy storage manufacturers, operators and service providers are stepping into a new chapter of sophistication and opportunity,” explained McKay. “Attendees of the Operators Summit are part of the core workforce that will inform how new sites are built and existing sites are enhanced to form an increasingly critical part of Canada’s economy.”
CanREA wishes to thank all attendees, exhibitors and sponsors for helping to make this year’s Operators Summit a success.
Sponsors:
Exhibitors:
Don’t miss Operators Summit 2027! To stay informed, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter or visit our upcoming events page.
As Canada’s renewable energy sector expands, so too does the complexity of managing risk. From construction to operations, wind, solar and battery energy storage projects face exposures that can lead to significant insurance claims.
CanREA hosted an important insurance webinar for our members, presented by HUB International where Shawn Burnett (Executive General Adjuster, McLarens), Lisa Asbreuk (Business and Energy Law Partner, Cunningham Swan LLP) and Eric Howie (Vice President, HUB International) discussed the evolving claims of landscape in renewable energy.
Drawing on real-world case studies, the panel explored common causes of loss, the role of policy wording and contract language, and how claims are resolved—both successfully and unsuccessfully. Participants gained insights into what went wrong, how disputes were shaped and what could have been done differently.
Eric Howie
Vice President, Complex Risk
HUB International
Eric Howie is Vice President of HUB International’s Complex Risk Division in Vancouver, BC. With 15 years of experience in insurance, engineering and risk mitigation, he helps clients in the renewable energy and mining sectors optimize insurance programs and manage risk. Previously, he was a Risk Consultant Engineer at FM Global and a Structural Engineer at Klohn Crippen Berger, specializing in hydroelectric infrastructure, dams and bridges. His expertise includes insurance program development, risk assessment and risk mitigation.
Shawn Burnett
Executive General Adjuster
McLarens
Shawn Burnett is an Executive General Adjuster at McLarens with more than 25 years of experience in commercial and industrial risk. He began his career with Adjusters Canada (later Crawford & Company) and co-owned an emergency services and construction company, gaining knowledge of construction law and building codes. In 2010, he co-founded MGB Claims Consultants, a specialized adjusting firm. Shawn’s expertise includes property, energy, construction, liability and power generation risk management.
Lisa Asbreuk
Business & Energy Law Partner
Cunningham Swan LLP
Lisa is a business and energy law Partner at Cunningham Swan LLP and a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). Lisa provides advice to clients on corporate commercial transactions and Ontario and Alberta energy sector matters. Lisa studied at the University of Ottawa before pursuing her L.L.B and Certificate in Energy and Environmental Law from Dalhousie University.
