Recap: Highlights from Electricity Transformation Canada 2022

Renewable energy leaders flocked to Electricity Transformation Canada 2022 to learn, exhibit, network, check industry progress and discuss challenges on the pathway to net-zero.

More than 1,600 renewable energy industry leaders from across the country assembled in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from October 26 to 28 for Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) conference and exhibition 2022, hosted by the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), RE+ Events and Hannover Fairs. Here are a few highlights!

CanREA’s 2050 Vision: Signs of progress

This year, ETC kicked off with a progress report on “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision,” which had been introduced one year ago at ETC 2021.

“We are starting to see the first, tentative signs that the future envisioned in these models is actually playing out in the real world,” said CanREA President and CEO Robert Hornung, pointing to the nearly 1 GW of new wind and solar capacity installed in 2021, a figure that is projected to exceed 2 GW in 2022.
“This positive trend is expected to continue going forward,” said Hornung.

Speakers Mathieu Johnson of Hydro-Quebec, Binnu Jeyakumar of the Pembina Institute, Soren Halverson of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Andre Bernier of Natural Resources Canada, and CanREA Board Chair Jason Chee-Aloy addressed the positive progress Canada’s wind, solar and energy storage industries have made since our 2050 Vision was first launched – and what comes next on the path to net-zero.

CanREA CEO Robert Hornung passes torch to Vittoria Bellissimo

Photo: From left to right: Incoming CanREA President and CEO Vittoria Bellissimo, outgoing CanREA President and CEO Robert Hornung, and CanREA Board Chair Jason Chee-Aloy.

Following the opening plenary session, CanREA’s Board Chair, Jason Chee-Aloy, introduced and welcomed CanREA’s incoming President and CEO, Vittoria Bellissimo, who would take the reins on October 31.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this organization at a time when the reality of climate change means our work could not be more important,” said Bellissimo, “We have an important job to do, and I cannot wait to get started.”

After a few words reflecting on his retirement from CanREA, outgoing CanREA President and CEO, Robert Hornung, received a standing ovation from the crowd, thanking him for his decades of dedication to developing Canada’s wind, solar and energy storage industries.

More than 1,600 visit the Show Floor

Electricity Transformation Canada 2022 featured a popular exhibition hall, where CanREA member companies, and exhibitors from around the world, interacted with more than 1,600 attendees over three days. In addition to nearly 100 company booths, there were also more than a dozen informative sessions on the Show Floor, and plenty of networking opportunities for all.

The CanREA booth

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the CanREA booth to learn more from our regional policy experts and dedicated membership team.

Strengthening Ontario’s Clean Electricity Advantage

Photo, from left to right: Brandy Giannetta, CanREA Vice-President of Policy, Regulatory and Government Affairs; Katherine Sparkes, IESO Director of Innovation, Research & Development; Allison Miller, Enel North America Manager, Energy Markets; and John Avdoulos, Essex Power Corporation CEO & President.

On day two, CanREA’s Vice-President of Policy, Regulatory and Government Affairs, Brandy Giannetta, led an important discussion about strengthening Ontario’s clean electricity advantage. The IESO presented its outlook for the Ontario electricity system, and CanREA members Enel and Essex Power Corporation encouraged CanREA to continue its advocacy work, acting as a united regulatory voice for Canada’s wind, solar and energy storage industries.

CanREA’s Markets and Policy Update

From left to right: Brandy Giannetta, Vice-President of Policy, Regulatory and Government Affairs; Evan Wilson, Senior Director for Western Canada; Nicholas Gall, Director for Ontario and Distributed Energy Resources; Jean Habel, Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada; and Mathieu Côté, Director for the Operations Program.

During the final morning plenary session of the conference, CanREA’s policy team took to the stage to discuss their advocacy priorities, while offering regional market updates and valuable intelligence on future opportunities across Canada.

Natural Resources Canada funding announcement

From left to right: Robert Hornung, outgoing CanREA President and CEO, Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Member of Parliament for Toronto—Danforth, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources; and Phil McKay, Senior Director of the CanREA Electricity Transition Hub.

The last day of ETC 2022 featured an important funding announcement from Natural Resources Canada, investing nearly $1.6 million to launch CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub, a new entity that will help Canadian electricity utilities and system operators transition to a net-zero economy by 2050. Read the press release here.

See you in Calgary for ETC 2023!

Next year’s ETC conference will take place in Calgary on Oct 24 and 25, 2023. We hope to see you there! To stay informed, subscribe to our Watt’s On events enewsletter and visit our Upcoming Events webpage. https://renewablesassociation.ca/upcoming-events/