Energy Storage Canada (ESC) is a national not-for-profit trade association representing the country’s energy storage sector, connecting developers, technology providers, and stakeholders. It supports deployment through policy advocacy, market development, and industry coordination, helping strengthen grid reliability and advance net-zero objectives.
In 2023, you described energy storage as needing to move from a “science project” into mainstream adoption, and Canada has since passed one gigawatt of installed capacity. What has materially shifted, and where does that momentum lead next?
What’s really shifted is that, in jurisdictions like Ontario and Alberta, you’re now seeing what we always intended: energy storage becoming a mainstream resource for governments, regulators, and system operators. More projects are being developed and integrated into system planning. A few years ago, the focus was on convincing these actors it was ready—now it’s there.
In Canada, provinces operate almost like different countries regarding energy, so some are ahead—Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, with British Columbia coming up—while others, like Saskatchewan and Manitoba, are just getting started. We’ve reached just over one gigawatt installed, with procurements pointing to two, three gigawatts and beyond—towards roughly eight to 12 gigawatts by 2050. Compared with three years ago, it’s light years ahead—no need to convince people what storage is; it’s now about scalability.
Canada’s provinces are moving at different speeds on energy storage adoption, creating a fragmented landscape. Does this variation act as a strength or a barrier?
You have to engage each jurisdiction differently, but the increased adoption speaks to the strengths of energy storage—we’ve called it the Swiss army knife of the energy system. Depending on the needs or priorities of the jurisdiction, you can use it to solve different problems—reliability, affordability, or achieving climate and net-zero goals.
Six years ago, there wasn’t much storage on the grid—some behind the meter and projects being proposed, but little actually happening. It has accelerated quickly, helped by market dynamics like the drop in lithium prices and other jurisdictions proving value. Depending on the needs of their electricity systems, some provinces move faster than others to adopt new technologies, but overall, I wouldn’t say the separation of provincial electricity markets is a barrier, because storage is diverse enough to provide benefits to most electricity systems if you use it well.
As electricity demand rises across Canada’s energy system, where is energy storage delivering the clearest value today, and how does that intersect with meeting growing demand?
The best example is Ontario. There is a massive demand need over the next several years—between 50 to 70 percent by the 2030s and 2040s—and the value of energy storage is that you have a stable capacity product you can count on. They’re seeing storage as that stability and are considering beyond batteries, with long-duration procurement launching later this year.
In Alberta, it’s also about reliability, but increasingly affordability—concerns about the cost of electricity and keeping the lights on. Demand is being driven by electrification, AI and data centres, and general growth. Storage plays a role in storing electrons, but the bigger issue is where and how you build enough generation, and whether it can match the demand that storage is ready to support.
As energy storage scales globally, do you see Canada as an outlier, and how are you positioning it internationally?
Globally, every jurisdiction is ramping up storage—the US, China, India, European and Asian markets. The technology is ready and increasingly affordable, offering an alternative to building costly generation or expanding poles and wires. What Canada provides is geopolitical stability, which gives investors confidence in the market.
We’ve engaged with US and European associations, and because Canada has moved quickly, it’s getting noticed. I’ll be going to Beijing to speak at the Chinese Energy Storage Expo—they’re asking what’s happening in Canada. The goal is to show Canada is a safe place for investment, and if you’re looking to build, manufacture, or expand supply chains, Canada is open for business.
With growing momentum across projects, pipelines, and investment, where are the most immediate constraints or pressure points emerging?
You could see supply chain constraints, although it’s becoming more diversified. It’s no longer just China—there’s offshoring to other regions, and in Canada, you’re starting to see components made locally. In Windsor, Ontario, the first Canadian battery cell manufacturing facility opened at NextStar with LG.
You’re also seeing expansion in the US and Europe, alongside established capacity in China and Korea, so the supply chain is broadening. The risk is geopolitical—disruption, protectionism, or tariffs that could push costs up. Storage would be affected like everything else, but so far, it has stayed somewhat under the radar.
Indigenous partnerships are becoming central to energy and infrastructure development in Canada. What role will they play going forward?
It’s extremely important. Going forward, you likely can’t build energy projects without Indigenous participation—that reflects Canadian values. In Ontario’s first two major capacity procurements, almost every awarded project included a significant Indigenous equity partnership.
That sets the direction: if you want to build energy infrastructure, you’ll need an Indigenous component, expected in BC, Alberta, and elsewhere. Having Indigenous equity and partnership helps secure community and municipal buy-in, and the federal government sees this as a priority. Bringing communities in as equal partners shows real commitment.
As momentum builds in 2026, what needs to happen next to ensure Canada fully captures the opportunity in energy storage?
We’ve done a good job advancing utility-scale, transmission-connected storage—Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia have set a strong precedent. Where we now need to unlock progress is on the distribution side, with smaller but still significant projects, particularly distribution-connected energy storage or DERs.
There’s big potential there—for more projects, and more utilities either owning them or partnering to provide another option on the distribution side, as we’ve seen at utility scale. That’s the key opportunity this year. If you’re looking to invest in a safe market, Canada is where you want to go.
