Key Sectors / Energy & Clean Tech

Investing in a low carbon future

Alberta is a global leader in energy production and one of the world’s leading investment destinations for renewable, carbon capture and hydrogen investments.

A leading jurisdiction for renewable, cleantech and geothermal energy and home to the third largest oil reserves in the world; Alberta is harnessing its history of innovation to build a cleaner, more sustainable world. The province has been recognized by the World Bank for flaring standards. Alberta has reduced vented methane emissions by over 50% in just three years, demonstrating a commitment to cut carbon emissions. The province’s diverse resources portfolio also includes natural gas, minerals, wind, solar, geothermal and an abundance of affordable, low emission hydrogen.

Cattle grazing in a field with windmills at sunset in Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area near Pincher Creek.

Alberta Stories

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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.

Low-carbon energy transition

Alberta is a leader in energy decarbonization, having made large 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 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 allow companies to purchase renewable electricity at a competitive rate.

ABUNDANT, RESILIENT, LOW-COST NATURAL RESOURCES

Alberta’s supply of natural resources is vast and reflects a low-cost basin tested through multiple commodity cycles. The strong commitment to ESG throughout the well-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

Windmills at sunset in Oldman Dam Provincial Recreation Area near Pincher Creek.

Alberta is also a global leader in methane emission reductions. It 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 have reduced GHG emissions intensity by 22% from 2011 to 2019.

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

Alberta is at the forefront of innovation in areas like carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and blue hydrogen production.

A pioneer of CCUS, Alberta is home to two of the world’s 18 large-scale projects. The newest, the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line, can sequestering 14.6 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The captured carbon is used for enhanced oil recovery — boosting the amount of oil extracted from Alberta’s oil fields.

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 government support programs makes Alberta a competitive choice for hydrogen projects,. like the $1.3-billion plant announced by Air Products and Chemicals Inc. in June 2021.

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

Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Travel Alberta photo 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, 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, low-cost oil, coupled with an innovative and well-established oilfield service 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 U.S. and Canadian markets, growing access  to U.S. and Asian 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 (2019)

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 (2020)

Government support for innovation

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

Emissions Reduction Alberta
Clean Resources Innovation Network
Alberta Petrochemical Incentive Program
Federal government
Federal Investment Tax Credit for CCUS
Strategic Innovation Fund
Clean Growth Program
Energy Innovation Program

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 (see Petrochemicals)

Increased market access to west coast

Coastal GasLink and Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion will allow exports of LNG and crude oil to Asian markets

Low carbon power purchase opportunities

The only deregulated electricity market in Canada

Alberta Stories

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Amazon’s first Canadian renewable energy project coming to Alberta

Alberta will be home to Amazon’s first renewable energy project in Canada. The 80-megawatt solar farm will contribute over 195,000 megawatt-hours to the grid.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy acquires AltaLink, expands across country

Berkshire Hathaway Energy made its foray into the Canadian market in 2015, with the purchase of AltaLink, Alberta’s largest independent transmission provider. Today, BHE Canada is focused on business opportunities within all aspects of the energy infrastructure market across Canada, including renewables.

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.

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.

Alberta is home to some incredible energy companies.

From renewable energy to carbon capture, Alberta’s companies are leading the way to a more sustainable future. Our energy producers are resilient, innovative, and constantly improving.

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