Canadian Renewable Energy Association

What Canadian Renewable Energy Association does

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the national trade association for wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage solutions in Canada, serving as the recognized industry voice before federal and provincial governments, regulators, utilities, and capital markets. CanREA's membership spans the full project lifecycle — from developers (EDF Power Solutions, Innergex, Boralex, RES Canada, Neoen, Atura Power, Pattern, Potentia), equipment OEMs (Enercon, Nordex, Siemens Energy), financial institutions (CIBC), and Indigenous-owned enterprises (Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, Glooscap Energy) — and its offerings are organized around policy advocacy, market intelligence, industry events, and consumer education rather than proprietary technology products.

CanREA's core platform comprises four pillars: (1) the Electricity Transition Hub, a $1.6 million federally funded knowledge-sharing initiative with 13 utility and system operator participants supporting Canada's transition to a net-zero grid by 2035; (2) the annual Canada's Renewable Energy Market Outlook, produced in partnership with Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, which provides the only Canada-specific, province-by-province cost, LCOE, and PPA forecast for wind, solar, and storage through 2050; (3) a year-round events program spanning Electricity Transformation Canada (flagship national conference), the Operators Summit (350+ attendees), Renewable Energy Quebec (record 300+ attendees), Energy Storage Alberta, Clean Power Finance Canada, the CanREA Connects regional receptions across six provinces, and golf tournaments; and (4) the Go Solar Guide consumer education program with savings calculators and an installer directory. The CanREA Awards (launched October 2025) and the Robert Hornung Award (launched 2026) formalize sector recognition.

CanREA generates revenue primarily through tiered membership dues (Industry Leader, Terawatt, Gigawatt, Megawatt, plus standard tiers), event sponsorships and exhibitions (sponsorship packages ranging from $3,000 Iron Sponsor to $25,000 Presenting Sponsor for the Operators Summit), paid registrations, and paid market intelligence reports, supplemented by government grants. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, with bilingual (English/French) operations and a distributed policy team across Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, and British Columbia, the association employs 11–50 staff and is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors under President and CEO Vittoria Bellissimo.

Name

Canadian Renewable Energy Association

Legal name

Canadian Renewable Energy Association

Website

https://renewablesassociation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CanREA is the national Canadian trade association for wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage, serving developers, operators, OEMs, financial institutions, Indigenous enterprises, and policymakers through policy advocacy, market intelligence, industry events, and consumer education across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CanREA generates revenue through tiered membership fees. Membership levels include Industry Leader, Terawatt, Gigawatt, Megawatt, and other tiers. Members receive access to the member portal, member directory, networks and committees, and benefits including advocacy representation, market intelligence, and professional development. The association also maintains a Member Code of Conduct.
2. Event Revenue (Sponsorships, Exhibitions, Registrations): CanREA organizes a diverse national and regional events program including Electricity Transformation Canada (annual flagship conference), the Operators Summit, Renewable Energy Quebec, Energy Storage Alberta, Clean Power Finance Canada, regional CanREA Connects networking receptions, and golf tournaments. Events generate revenue through sponsorship packages (tiered from Bronze to Presenting sponsors), exhibition booth fees, and attendee registrations. Sponsorship packages include benefits such as discounted or complimentary exhibition booths, speaking slots, logo placement, and networking exposure.
3. Market Intelligence Reports and Publications: CanREA sells market intelligence reports, including the annual Canada's Renewable Energy Market Outlook developed in partnership with Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors. The report provides Canada-specific cost projections, capital cost analysis, O&M, LCOE, and PPA pricing for British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada through 2050. The report is available for purchase on the CanREA website. Additional revenue may come from e-newsletter subscriptions, blog content, and media room access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the national trade association for wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage in Canada. It delivers policy advocacy, industry events, market intelligence reports, networking, and member services to advance the deployment of renewable energy. The association organizes national and regional conferences (Electricity Transformation Canada, Operators Summit, Renewable Energy Quebec, Energy Storage Alberta, Clean Power Finance Canada), publishes Canada's Renewable Energy Market Outlook in partnership with Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, maintains the Go Solar Guide for consumers, and runs tiered membership programs (Industry Leader, Terawatt, Gigawatt, Megawatt) for industry participants.

Product overview

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is a national industry association, not a product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy services, industry events, research publications, and member resources that support wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage industries in Canada. Key offerings include: the Electricity Transition Hub (a knowledge-sharing platform); the annual Operators Summit and regional summits (Renewable Energy Quebec, Energy Storage Alberta, Clean Power Finance Canada, Electricity Transformation Canada); the Go Solar consumer guide; Canada's Renewable Energy Market Outlook research report; the CanREA Awards program; and CanREA Connects networking events. The association also offers membership services with various tiers (Industry Leader, Terawatt, Gigawatt, Megawatt) providing advocacy, market intelligence, and networking benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Tiered association membership (Industry Leader, Terawatt, Gigawatt, Megawatt) for wind, solar, and energy storage businesses, providing advocacy representation, market intelligence, networking, committees, professional development, and access to the member directory.
• Electricity Transformation Canada CanREA's flagship national clean energy conference, hosting the CanREA Awards ceremony and bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss Canada's energy transition.
• CanREA Operators Summit Canada's premier conference for operation and maintenance of wind, solar, and energy storage facilities, drawing more than 350 professionals to discuss O&M best practices and workforce development.
• Renewable Energy Quebec Quebec-focused summit bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and Indigenous and municipal partners for targeted panels on wind deployment, financing, supply chains, and project deployment in Quebec.
• Energy Storage Alberta Summit Annual Alberta summit examining how the province can scale energy storage while adapting to market and regulatory changes, organized in collaboration with the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).
• Clean Power Finance Canada Summit Summit connecting investors, developers, and policymakers to advance renewable energy project financing, featuring curated investor-developer meetings to help move projects toward financial close.
• Go Solar Guide

Quantifiable outcome

• Canada's total installed capacity of wind, solar and storage reached approximately 25 GW as of early 2026, a 56% increase since 2020
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dunsky Energy + Climate AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanREA partnered with Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors to produce the 2025 Renewable Energy Market Outlook — the first comprehensive Canada-specific market outlook for wind, solar, and battery storage. The report provides Canada-specific cost projections rather than adjusted international benchmarks, analyzing capital costs, O&M, LCOE, and PPA pricing for British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada through 2050. Dunsky is also a Gold sponsor of Renewable Energy Quebec.
• Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanREA works closely with Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) on procurement design and implementation. CanREA members participated in IESO-administered procurement programs including the Long-Term 2 (LT2) Capacity Window 1 (640 MW battery storage) and LT2 Energy Window 1 (1,315 MW wind and solar across 14 projects). CanREA has called for transmission within provinces to be included in Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits to enable Canada's electricity build-out.
• BC HydrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanREA worked closely with BC Hydro throughout the design of its 2025 Call for Power procurement. The procurement brought approximately 3,500 GWh of new renewable electricity generation to British Columbia's grid, with all projects including 51% First Nations equity ownership. CanREA congratulated Industry Leader member EDF power solutions, Terawatt members Innergex and RES Canada, and Gigawatt member Elemental Energy Renewables for their successful bids.
• Hydro-QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHydro-Québec's Action Plan 2035 targets 11 GW of new clean energy by 2035, including 3 GW of solar and significant new wind capacity. CanREA's flagship Quebec summit (Renewable Energy Quebec) serves as a key forum for industry engagement with Hydro-Québec's procurement plans. The utility's 300 MW solar tender was oversubscribed with 60 bids totaling 481 MW. CanREA publishes a Quebec-specific Clean Energy Procurement Calendar.
• Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanREA organizes the annual Energy Storage Alberta summit in collaboration with the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO). The 2026 summit examined how Alberta can scale energy storage while adapting to market and regulatory changes. AESO presented plans for Fast Frequency Response Plus (FFR+), targeting 500 MW of new storage capacity as a significant procurement opportunity for energy storage developers.
• One Canadian Clean Economy Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe One Canadian Clean Economy Task Force officially launched in October 2025 as a coalition of Canadian clean economy industry associations. CanREA represents the clean electricity sector within the task force, which also includes associations from critical minerals, batteries, clean transportation, buildings, forest products, and clean technology. The task force aims to position Canada as a clean energy superpower and plans to release an action plan for governments.
• Equal By 30minorOthersCanREA participates in the Equal By 30 initiative, a campaign supporting gender equality in the clean energy sector. The association is also signatory to the Electricity HR Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Accord, demonstrating commitment to workplace diversity and inclusion within the industry.
• Desjardins GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDesjardins Group served as Presenting Sponsor of Renewable Energy Quebec 2026 (CanREA's flagship Quebec summit), which drew a record 300+ attendees. Desjardins' Chief Economist Jimmy Jean delivered the keynote address. Desjardins also sponsored the 2025 edition of the summit. The partnership underscores the financial sector's strategic interest in supporting Canada's renewable energy transition.
• EDP Renewables CanadaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEDP Renewables (EDP) is listed as a Terawatt member of CanREA. EDP has developed and/or built renewable energy projects globally and is an active participant in Canada's renewable energy market. The membership supports CanREA's representation of the wind energy developer community.
• Six Nations of the Grand River Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (Six Nations Group) is a Megawatt member of CanREA and a co-developer of Canada's largest battery storage project (Hagersville, 300 MW, developed with Boralex). All three Ontario LT2 battery storage projects (640 MW total) include 50% Indigenous equity ownership with Six Nations and other Indigenous partners. CanREA's 2025 Awards recognized both Six Nations and Glooscap Energy for Indigenous clean energy leadership.
• BoralexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoralex is a Terawatt member of CanREA and co-developer with Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation of the Hagersville Battery Energy Storage Park (300 MW), Canada's largest battery storage project. Boralex received recognition at CanREA's 2025 Awards and participates in CanREA's Quebec operations.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renewablesassoc
• Xx.com/RenewablesAssoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Renewable Energy Association