Leading North America in Clean Energy

Alberta stands as the North American future-forward partner for companies prioritizing sustainability goals amidst the changing energy landscape.

Already the Canadian energy capital with 800 oil and gas operations, Alberta is creating pathways for companies to tap into renewable energy, clean tech and petrochemicals. The province was the first in Canada to establish an ESG Secretariat to provide strategic oversight and government coordination for Alberta’s clean energy future.

Alberta’s workforce and institutions are advancing energy and clean tech operations. Alberta outperforms all Canadian provinces when it comes to youngest median age, highest net interprovincial migration, highest workforce participation rate and most engineers per capita – both those certified and in training. On the institutional side, the University of Calgary, the top startup creator among Canadian research institutions, is among the academic partners guiding Alberta’s leadership in the energy transition with a business incubator centre and investment in clean energy advancements.

Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area near Pincher Creek, AB


Photo Credit: © Travel Alberta by Neil Zeller

What is Alberta doing to drive low carbon transformation?

Alberta Stories

TransAlta

Low-carbon energy transition

Alberta is a leader in energy decarbonization, having made strides in reducing the carbon intensity of its electricity grid as well as its oil and gas sector. This is being achieved through a series of targeted reductions, a transition away from coal, the development of world-scale renewable energy projects, and investment in a growing carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) industry.

By 2023, power generation in Alberta will be coal free and the electricity grid will produce roughly 20 megatons of GHG emissions a year — less than half the 2015 level.

The province’s deregulated market ensures that Alberta remains a low-cost electricity jurisdiction throughout this transition.

Alberta’s market-based grid and unique geography make it an attractive setting for utility-scale wind and solar projects and allows companies to purchase renewable electricity at a competitive rate.

ABUNDANT, RESILIENT, LOW-COST NATURAL RESOURCES

Alberta is home to the third largest oil reserves in the world, 70% of the marketable natural gas in Canada and critical minerals including lithium and magnetite.

Alberta’s supply of natural resources is vast and reflects a low-cost basin tested through multiple commodity cycles. The strong commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) throughout the established energy sector provides investment opportunities, including clean technology and environmental services related to decarbonization.   

Alberta provides some of the lowest cost renewable power in North America

Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area near Pincher Creek, AB


Photo Credit: © Travel Alberta by Neil Zeller

REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS

Alberta was the first regional government in North America to commit to a methane emissions reduction target for the oil and gas sector. Through regulatory changes and investments in technology and innovation, Alberta’s oil sands producers reduced GHG emissions intensity by 22% since 2011.

Alberta’s decarbonization efforts are bolstered by a large pool of talented researchers, technical professionals and entrepreneurs who understand the oil and gas industry and its needs.

Innovation and cleantech

A pioneer in CCUS, Alberta is leveraging its expertise and existing facilities and infrastructure to expand into low-carbon petrochemical products, such as blue methanol and blue hydrogen.

Alberta is home to two of the world’s 18 large-scale projects. The newest, the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line, can sequester 14.6 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The captured carbon is used to produce blue hydrogen and for enhanced oil recovery.

Alberta’s extensive oil and gas infrastructure also allows the province to produce blue hydrogen at a lower cost than any other jurisdiction in the world.

An abundant supply of low-emission blue hydrogen and a number of support programs makes Alberta a competitive choice for hydrogen projects, like the $1.3-billion plant announced by Air Products and Chemicals Inc.

Alberta Stories

Edmonton Region Hydrogen Futures

Low-carbon hydrogen is a $100-billion opportunity for Alberta

Grande Prairie, Alberta

Photo Credit: Travel Alberta by Jeff Bartlett

areas of focus

Clean Tech

  • Carbon capture, use and storage
  • Low-carbon hydrogen production
  • Solvent extraction technology
  • Methane reduction

Alberta is a global leader in methane reduction. It also boasts an abundance of affordable, low-emission blue hydrogen and is home to two of the world’s large-scale CCUS projects.

Renewable Power

  • Modern, deregulated power markets
  • Commercial wind
  • Commercial solar
  • Emerging geothermal and hydro

Alberta provides some of the lowest cost renewable power in the world. The province’s unique geography and deregulated electricity grid make it ideal for utility-scale wind and solar projects.

Oil

  • Large reserves of low-decline, low-cost oil
  • Innovative oil and gas services sector
  • Stable and clear fiscal and regulatory systems

Abundant supplies of low-decline and low-cost oil, coupled with an innovative and well-established oilfield services sector will help to maintain Alberta’s oil production for years to come.

Natural Gas

  • Large reserves of low-cost natural gas
  • Large liquids plays and markets
  • World-class value-added processing

Alberta has rich supplies of low-cost natural gas and is home to the largest hydrocarbon processing zone in Canada. The province counts two propylene derivatives plants and the country’s largest ethane cracking complexes.

Access to Markets

  • LNG: growing access to west coast and growing Asian markets
  • Crude oil: Access to key US, Asian and Canadian export markets

Alberta is growing its market access through the construction and expansion of several pipeline projects, including the Coastal GasLink and the Trans Mountain Pipeline.

Business Friendly

Stable regulatory environment and business-friendly policies make Alberta the perfect place to invest

Stable Fiscal and Regulatory Environment

Canada scores in the top 30 of the World Bank’s Political Stability Index.

Low Corporate Tax Burden

Alberta’s corporate tax rate has dropped to 8% — the lowest in the country.

Pro-Business Climate

Alberta has the highest economic freedom in Canada as ranked by the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom Index.

Government support for innovation

Both provincial and federal governments offer financial programs to stimulate innovation in the energy and cleantech sector

Infrastructure

Alberta’s energy sector is supported by a vast network of pipelines and a market-based electricity grid

Robust Petrochemical Processing Capacity

Home to the largest hydrocarbon processing zone in Canada — Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.

Increased Access to West Coast

Coastal GasLink and Trans Mountain Pipeline will allow exports crude oil to Asian markets.

Low Carbon Power Purchase Opportunities

The most deregulated electricity market in Canada.

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Berkshire Hathaway Energy acquires AltaLink, expands across country

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Petronas Canada to become leader in low-carbon natural gas exports

In 2012, Petronas purchased Canadian natural gas producer Progress Energy to create one of the largest natural gas companies in North America. Today the company is poised to lead the country in LNG production and exports.

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Air Products Canada announces $1.3B hydrogen plant

In June 2021, Air Products Canada announced the construction of a $1.3-billion hydrogen plant in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. The plant would produce hydrogen-fuelled electricity and liquid hydrogen for transportation, as soon as 2024.

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