Calgary, April 17, 2026—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.
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Quotes
“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. 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.”
—Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)
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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.