News

By combining powers, small Alberta towns can draw in renewable power projects

Press Coverage
April 11, 2023

By pooling their markets and resources, a new report says small municipalities can punch above their weight in attracting wind or solar energy developments.

The Weather Network

Canmore free transit one of many municipal clean energy initiatives across the province: Business Renewables Centre-Canada helps organizations through the challenges

Press Coverage
February 20, 2023

Fournier is currently developing a renewable energy feasibility assessment, which looks at various strategies for greenhouse gas reduction, the cost per tonne and what climate change policies make the most sense for a municipality of Canmore’s size. Fournier said the Business Renewables Centre-Canada, has been a valuable source of information in this process. “I would definitely recommend to other municipalities to join the BRC,” Fournier said. “We got a lot of value from their work and I would recommend them as the go to if anyone is interested in this area and needs to understand it.”

Calgary Journal

Alberta renewable energy surge could power 4,500 jobs

Press Coverage
January 16, 2023

Alberta has seen a massive increase in corporate investment in renewable energy since 2019, and capacity from those deals is set to increase output by two gigawatts — enough to power roughly 1.5 million homes. “Our analysis shows $3.7 billion worth of renewables construction by 2023 and 4,500 jobs,” said Nagwan Al-Guneid, the director of Business Renewables Centre Canada. The centre is an initiative of the environmental think tank Pembina Institute and provides education and guidance for companies looking to invest in renewable energy or energy offsets across Canada. Its membership is made up of renewable energy companies.

The Weather Network

Green energy in 2023: Clean grids, Alberta, batteries areas to watch

Press Coverage
December 28, 2022

Unlike most provinces, Alberta enables companies to go directly to solar and wind developers to strike deals, rather than through utilities. It incentivizes private investment, lowers costs and helps meet increasing demand, which Nagwan Al-Guneid, the director of the Business Renewables Centre - Canada at the Pembina Institute, said is “is the No. 1 reason we see this boom in renewables in Alberta.”

SustainableBIZ

Renewable Energy Target Raised to Match Corporate Purchasing Enthusiasm

Public News
November 23, 2022

The Business Renewables Centre-Canada raised its target for corporate procurement of renewable energy after the earlier target was eclipsed years ahead of schedule.

10 GW by 2030

BRCC is hiring!

Public News
August 26, 2022

BRC-Canada is hiring for two positions: a senior communications lead in Calgary or Edmonton and a program manager in Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto.


Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders: TELUS

Public News
August 3, 2022

In BRC-Canada’s fifth feature of our Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders series, Geoff Pegg, Head of Sustainability and Environment at TELUS, talks about how the organization has advocated for power purchase agreements and learned from the BRC-Canada community.

Headshot of Geoff Pegg, Head of Sustainability and Environment, with TELUS logo

The Globe and Mail (Editorial): The capital of wind and solar power in Canada? It’s Alberta

Press Coverage
July 8, 2022

The Business Renewables Centre, which tracks such deals, tallied investments of almost $4-billion, supporting 4,500 jobs and producing two gigawatts of energy – enough to power every home in Calgary and three smaller Alberta cities. Hitting the 2 GW mark came three years earlier than expected. One of the latest deals was in June between the City of Edmonton and a wind farm. “Alberta is now the wind and solar capital of Canada,” the BRC says.

globe and mail logo

Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders: Cassels

Public News
July 7, 2022

We sat down with BRC-Canada advisory board member Jeremy Barretto, a partner in the Business Law Group at Cassels, Brock, and Blackwell, to discuss the growing opportunities in Canada’s renewable energy industry, including Indigenous ownership of renewable energy projects and Cassels’ role as a thought-leader within the space.

Community Spotlight: Cassels; headshot of Jeremy Barretto, Partner, Business Law Group at Cassels, Brock and Blackwell

Globe and Mail: Edmonton signs wind-power deal in growing renewables trend

Press Coverage
July 2, 2022

At the end of June, BRC-Canada participant City of Edmonton signed two renewable energy power purchase agreements - meaning the city will use 100% renewable electricity for the next 20 years. In this story, Emma Graney speaks with Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi, BRC-Canada director Nagwan Al-Guneid, and Capstone Infrastructure (another BRC-Canada participant, and seller of wind power to Edmonton) chief executive David Eva on the exciting implications of this step forward for renewable energy in municipalities.

The Globe And Mail logo

St. Albert Today: Renewable power market booming in Alberta: experts

Press Coverage
July 1, 2022

Alberta has become a destination for renewable energy projects due to the unique electricity market and prime weather in the province, experts say. The province will see $3.75 billion in investment in the renewable sector by 2023, said Nagwan Al-Guneid, the director of Business Renewables Centre (BRC) Canada, which is now producing two gigawatts of clean energy, more than enough electricity to power all the homes in Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer combined. “It's very exciting times to see this boom,” Al-Guneid said.

St Albert Today.ca: Powered by St. Albert Gazette

Green Energy Futures: $3.7 Billion Investment in Renewables – All in Alberta

Press Coverage
June 28, 2022

On this episode of the Green Energy Futures podcast hosted on CKUA Radio, David Dodge interviews BRC-Canada director Nagwan Al-Guneid about the rapid boom of corporate investment in Alberta's renewables sector. "These are companies coming from all across Canada," says Al-Guneid. "We see companies like RBC in Toronto or TELUS in Vancouver - and all of them are purchasing renewables here in Alberta through what we call a power purchase agreement."

Nagwan Al-Guneid on Green Energy Futures

Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders: BluEarth Renewables

Public News
June 22, 2022

Roslyn McMann is the Director, Market Development with BluEarth Renewables and an advisory board member of BRC-Canada. In this third feature of our Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders series, Roslyn highlights BluEarth's role in helping to develop Canada’s clean energy industry.

BluEarth logo and headshot of Roslyn McMann, Director, Market Development; background photo: mountains with a wind turbine in foreground

Edison Energy: Renewable energy developers eye Canada’s high-emitting and hydro-heavy provinces

Public News
June 20, 2022

“Alberta’s market was originally designed to accommodate innovation and new generation sources,” Thibault said. “Because of that, Alberta has such a big head start on other provinces. I think other provinces, particularly emitting provinces, are recognizing this opportunity and turning their attention to it for a variety of reasons. But they’re held into the system that they currently have, which is centrally operated, so they have to wait for that centrally operated procurement and for their decision-making processes to decide they want solar or wind."

Benjamin Thibault headshot

BNN Bloomberg: Companies are flocking to Alberta to bolster their ESG goals with renewable energy buys

Press Coverage
June 14, 2022

Nagwan Al-Guneid, director of BRC-Canada, joins BNN Bloomberg and discusses the uptick in renewable energy investments and demand in Alberta, nearly quadrupling the amount of clean energy on its grid in 2021.

BNN Bloomberg logo

The Narwhal: Alberta renewable energy surge could power 4,500 jobs

Press Coverage
June 14, 2022

Drew Anderson of the Narwhal takes a deep dive on the boom in Alberta's renewables market in this piece, featuring interviews with BRC-Canada director Nagwan Al-Guneid and Dan Balaban from Greengate Power, a founding company of BRC-Canada.

The Narwhal logo

Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders: Power Advisory

Public News
June 9, 2022

BRC-Canada advisory board member, Jason Chee-Aloy, Managing Director of Power Advisory, took the time to talk about how the BRC-Canada community has come together to advance Canada’s renewable energy industry. This is BRC-Canada’s second feature of our Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders series.

Jason Chee-Aloy headshot with Power Advisory logo on a background photo of solar panels

Public Newsletter (Spring 2022)

Public News
June 9, 2022

Since last fall, the BRC-Canada has hit many exciting targets and milestones: We published our first-ever annual report, summarizing the incredible growth of Alberta’s renewable energy market in 2021; We hired our new director, Nagwan Al-Guneid; And most recently, we hit our target to support contracting of 2 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025 – three years early! 2 gigawatts is enough energy to power over 640,000 homes, and could cover all the homes in Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer combined. Read on for details, market insights, and what's next for BRC-Canada!


Unprecedented growth in Alberta’s renewables market smashes business community targets

Public News
June 8, 2022

The private renewables market in Alberta grew at an unprecedented rate in 2021. Renewable energy purchasing deals signed to-date are supporting the development and construction of over $3.75 billion worth of new wind and solar energy investment in Alberta, creating nearly 4,500 jobs. At the Business Renewables Centre-Canada, we help organizations learn how to purchase energy from renewable sources; even so, we didn’t predict this degree of growth.

Workers installing solar panels

Edison Energy: With Canada’s net zero target, significant “accommodation of change” will be needed to spur renewable energy investments

Public News
June 6, 2022

“Accommodation of change is necessary in any system and that includes Alberta, where we have a system that accommodates new renewable energy investment well,” says Benjamin Thibault, advisor for BRC-Canada. “But the scale of this transition could mean some more, deeper changes that will need to be contemplated.”

Benjamin Thibault headshot

Spotlighting Canada’s Renewable Energy Leaders: Bullfrog Power

Public News
May 18, 2022

BRC-Canada sat down with one of our advisory board members, Suha Jethalal, President of Bullfrog Power, to discuss the organization’s role in Canada’s energy transition, the exciting world of power purchase agreements, and how other organizations can get involved with renewable energy purchasing.

Suha Jethalal headshot photo and Bullfrog Power logo

Edison Energy: Investments from new corporate sectors and First Nations are catalyzing Canada’s renewables market

Press Coverage
May 11, 2022

“[In 2019] there had been two small renewable PPA transactions–there was not an active market in Alberta,” said Sara Hastings-Simon, an Expert Advisor at BRC-Canada. ... “I just think there was a lack of awareness. People aren’t totally aware that Alberta and Saskatchewan are places with excellent renewable energy resources – some of the best wind and solar resources in Canada.”

Sara Hastings-Simon headshot photo

Edison Energy: With growing corporate demand and progressive policies, Canada could be the next big thing for renewables

Press Coverage
March 9, 2022

“I have heard about corporate renewable energy markets exploding and blossoming in the States and I was thinking, why aren’t we part of this story?” said Jeremy Barretto, a partner at Canadian law firm Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and a member of BRC-Canada’s Advisory Board. “And it’s happening, but I think it’s a very below-the-radar story. We have a market in Canada as big or bigger than New York or California that just doesn’t get any attention but it’s ripe for participation.”

Jeremy Barretto headshot

Energi Media: Alberta leading the wind and solar revolution

Press Coverage
February 21, 2022

Markham Hislop of Energi Media speaks with our director Nagwan Al-Guneid about the renewables revolution happening in Alberta today - why now? why Alberta? - in this video interview.

Video thumbnail: Nagwan Al-Guneid headshot photo on a background of wind turbines

ICI Alberta: L’investissement privé dans l’énergie renouvelable s’envole en Alberta

Press Coverage
January 25, 2022

"Il y a deux ans, ce marché existait à peine. On a vu une croissance exceptionnelle. C’est grisant et c’est une très bonne nouvelle pour l’Alberta," souligne la directrice du Centre, Nagwan Al-Guneid.

CBC Radio-Canada logo

Get to know BRC-Canada's new director, Nagwan Al-Guneid

Public News
January 20, 2022

BRC-Canada sat down with our new director, Nagwan Al-Guneid, to learn more about her transition into the role and her thoughts on BRC-Canada’s future in the renewable energy space. With over a decade of industry experience and a Masters in Sustainable Development from the University of Calgary, we are thrilled to have her on board as BRC-Canada continues to play a leading role in Canada’s net-zero emissions future.

Headshot photo of Nagwan Al-Guneid

BRC-Canada's 2021 Annual Report: State of the market, upcoming events, and more

Public News
January 19, 2022

2021 was a banner year for the growth of Canada's corporate renewables market. Our report documents this incredible growth, includes the exciting announcement of our new director, Nagwan Al-Guneid, and provides our team’s expert insights on potential market trends for 2022.

Front cover of 2021 annual report featuring messages from outgoing director Rebecca Nadel, and incoming director Nagwan Al-Guneid

We're Hiring: Administrative Coordinator

Public News
January 18, 2022

The Pembina Institute’s Calgary office is seeking an Administrative Coordinator to support the head office. This is a full-time role and open immediately. This role supports three functions in the organization: Strategic Partnerships, the Business Renewables Centre (BRC) Canada (an initiative with the Pembina Institute), and Finance & Operations. This role has an interface with key partners, sponsors, and members as well as different internal teams with multiple priorities. Therefore, superior interpersonal skills and customer service are essential for this role. This role is responsible for providing coordination and clerical services.


Deal Tracker Update - 2021 Q4

Public News
January 12, 2022

The BRC-Canada Deal Tracker is a one-stop shop to visualize publicly disclosed corporate and institutional deals for Canadian renewable energy projects. Here are the highlights this past quarter (Q4 2021) and a reflection on this record-setting year.

Deal Tracker Q4

Public Newsletter (Fall 2021)

Public News
November 3, 2021

Read our Fall 2021 public newsletter to find out what's been happening in the BRC-Canada community and in the corporate renewables space! Hightlights: Check out our most recent deal tracker update, watch videos of fall public webinars and learn more about new BRC-Canada members.


Deal Tracker Update - 2021 Q3

Public News
October 1, 2021

The BRC-Canada Deal Tracker is a one-stop shop to visualize publicly disclosed corporate and institutional deals for Canadian renewable energy projects. Here are the highlights this quarter (Q3 2021).

Deal tracker Q3 2021

Journal of Commerce: $700-million Travers Solar Project largest farm ever built in Canada

Press Coverage
September 20, 2021

The Business Renewables Centre of Canada says 2021 is already breaking records for corporate renewable energy deals and Alberta is leading the way. Every one of the deals to date this year means shovels in the ground for Alberta.

Journal of Commerce logo

Deal Tracker Update - 2021 Q2

Public News
July 11, 2021

The BRC-Canada Deal Tracker 2021 Q2 Update is now available! 

In April, BRC-Canada launched its inaugural Deal Tracker, Canada’s first public curation capturing corporate procurement of renewable energy. At the time, deals announced in 2021 alone had already surpassed any previous year. Now, as a newly updated Deal Tracker is published at this year’s halfway mark, that record has been smashed again.

Here are the highlights for this quarter:

Deal tracker 2021 Q2

New BRC analyst!

Public News
June 30, 2021

A big welcome to our new analyst Calvin Ng. Calvin holds a bachelor of commerce with a concentration in energy management from the University of Calgary. He previously worked at a solar installation company and then as a sustainability analyst with a procurement services provider, where he developed supply chain procurement road-maps combined with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to create a comprehensive database for industry-wide use.

Calvin Ng

Financial Post: Amazon's solar farm offtake deal to accelerate Alberta's renewable energy transformation

Press Coverage
June 21, 2021

“What we’re certainly seeing is strong, strong growth of solar in Alberta and corporate deals being behind that boom,” Rebecca Nadel, director of the Business Renewables Centre at the Pembina Institute told the Financial Post. “Almost 90 per cent of the operating solar that we have has a corporate deal behind it.”

FP logo

Calgary Herald: Varcoe: 'The tip of the iceberg' as Amazon and Labatt sign renewable power deals in Alberta

Press Coverage
April 21, 2021

“This is the tip of the iceberg,” said Rebecca Nadel, director of Business Renewables Centre Canada, which helps bring together corporate buyers and sellers of renewable energy. “Amazon brings that scale to the game. And it’s just further affirmation that this trend we are seeing is significant and not going to let up.”

Calgary herald logo

CBC News: Amazon unveils plan for major solar power project in southern Alberta

Press Coverage
April 19, 2021

Project to produce more than 195,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy

"Amazon's announcement … is the largest known solar virtual power purchase agreement in Canada. This transaction expands Amazon's leadership as a corporate buyer of renewable energy into Canada and is further evidence of the growth and viability of the Canadian renewables market," said Rebecca Nadel, director of the Business Renewables Centre, which is part of the Pembina Institute. 

CBC news Logo

CBC News: Could selling renewable energy be Alberta's next big thing?

Press Coverage
October 17, 2019

Sara Hastings-Simon, director of the Pembina's Business Renewables Centre, says this is part of a trend. 

"We're talking about the practice of corporate institutions purchasing renewables to meet their own electricity demand. And this is a really well-established driver for renewable energy development in the U.S.," she said. "You may be hearing headlines like Google, Apple and others that are buying renewables and we're helping to bring this practice to Canada."

CBC news Logo

Calgary Herald: Renewables marketplace looking to take off in Alberta

Press Coverage
October 17, 2019

At a first-of-its-kind event in Calgary on Thursday, the members of 

Calgary herald logo

Financial Post: How Calgary became an unlikely location for a creative solar solution

Press Coverage
July 30, 2019

“One of the question that always comes up is, ‘If solar and wind has gotten so cost competitive, then why don’t we see a ton of it being developed all over,’ and the challenge there is no longer a technological one but it’s a financing model one,” said Sara Hastings-Simon, director of Business Renewables Centre Canada. 

FP logo