2024 Cleantech Report: Opportunities in Western Canada’s Cleantech Sector

Dive into the 2024 Cleantech Report to uncover job opportunities and innovations driving Western Canada’s green economy. Learn how British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are leading the way.

Uvaro

Aug 28, 2024

Imagine a role where your work shapes a sustainable future. In Western Canada, the growing Cleantech sector is turning this vision into reality. British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are leading the green revolution, offering not just jobs, but a mission.

Since 2017, the Canadian government has invested billions in climate and sustainability initiatives, which has fueled the growth and commercialization of the Cleantech sector, positioning Canada as an up-and-coming world leader in the space. With over 2,400 Cleantech companies thriving nationwide, more than one-third call Western Canada home, with specialties ranging from biofuel and energy storage to mining and forestry.

With this explosive growth comes an exciting opportunity to contribute to a greener world and find Career Success in Western Canada. That’s where the Grow with Cleantech program, led by Boundless Accelerator and Uvaro, shines with 77% of cleantech employers saying they value training that helps people like you elevate your existing skills in the sector. To make the news even better, we're partnering with regional service agencies in British Columbia and Alberta, like PICS. Reach out to your PICS representative to learn more and enroll today.

So let’s look at the landscape – everything from Western Canada's Cleantech success stories, growth stats, and opportunities for career transformation and personal fulfillment.

Cleantech in Western Canada: Overview + Future Growth

Let’s start with a province-by-province breakdown of what’s on the Cleantech horizon in Western Canada: the biggest opportunities, the most exciting developments, and the must-know data that make the sector a booming one.

British Columbia

Integrating sustainable technologies such as fuel cell solutions, power electronics, and wastewater treatment has positioned British Columbia as a global leader in environmental innovation. Vancouver, for example, launched the world’s first carbon tax, the Greenest City Action Plan, and boasts supportive government policies that set the city apart as a Cleantech hub.

The future looks bright, too. Independent experts from Clean Energy Canada project that British Columbia will add 317,010 clean energy jobs between 2025 and 2050, fueling economic growth and opening up new opportunities as the province transitions to a net-zero economy. In short, BC is an ideal place to launch and advance your career in a well-supported, evolving industry.

Alberta

Alberta has a long history in the energy sector, and that legacy is shifting toward Cleantech. In 2023, nearly 20% of Foresight Canada’s most innovative and investible cleantech companies came from Calgary alone. Additionally, clean energy jobs in Alberta are projected to grow by 10% annually through 2050, making it the fastest-growing province or territory in Canada for clean energy employment.

This growth is driven by strategic initiatives like Alberta's Clean Technology program, which focuses on decarbonizing the energy sector and providing technologies to achieve net-zero goals. Alberta’s commitment also extends to Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) & Hydrogen initiatives, which are crucial for decarbonizing sectors like oil and gas, petrochemicals, and heavy industry.

Initiatives like these position Alberta as a leader in grid modernization, renewable energy initiatives, critical minerals, and emerging technologies.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan combines some of Canada’s sunniest skies with abundant natural resources. No wonder it’s leading Canada's clean electricity revolution in solar and wind power to reduce reliance on natural gas-fired electricity while embracing emerging technologies like small modular reactors, carbon capture and storage, and geothermal energy.

Anticipating substantial job growth, Saskatchewan is poised to add 131,000 clean energy jobs by 2050, contributing to economic opportunities and a transition to a net-zero economy. Noteworthy projects like DEEP Earth Energy's geothermal initiative, community-owned solar farms, and carbon capture initiatives exemplify the province's action toward cleaner, more sustainable energy.

DID YOU KNOW: Uvaro’s Grow with Cleantech program, led by Boundless Accelerator, is available for job-seekers, career-shifters, and learners all across Canada. Whether you live in Western Canada or are eager to advance your career, our courses provide everything you need for a smooth transition. Residents of British Columbia and Alberta can access subsidized enrollment while spots last—act now to learn more!

5 Main Sub-Industries in Western Canada

What industries are we talking about when we talk about “Cleantech”? It’s actually a broad term that encompasses several sub-industries – everything from clean energy to ag-tech. With Canada’s geography and the wide variation in natural resources tied to it, sub-industries can cluster around the most abundant resources:

Clean electricity: Harnessing renewable and sustainable sources to generate and store electricity. This includes renewable energy technologies, battery innovations, and energy efficiency solutions. For example, BC’s Moment Energy turns retired electric vehicle batteries into rechargeable power within Canadian communities, and Alberta’s Eavor Technologies brings next-gen geothermal power generation to a global scale.
Carbon capture, use, and storage: Capturing carbon emissions and using them to reduce environmental impact. Several companies in Western Canada focus on carbon capture technologies, including BC-based Svante, which safely removes CO2 in hard-to-decarbonize industries, and Alberta-based Carbon Upcycling, which puts waste CO2 to work creating powerful new materials.
Clean transportation: Advancements in transportation technologies that reduce or eliminate emissions on the ground, in our air, and at sea. In Saskatchewan, Teal designs EV chargers for tough climates, while BC-based Corvus Energy is building a zero-emission future in the maritime industry.
Water and Wastewater Technologies: BC has a significant presence in water-related cleantech, with companies like Pani Energy using data to improve the treatment process, and Verdi harnessing automation tools to more efficiently use water in agriculture.
Resource Recovery and Waste Management: This category represents 15% of cleantech companies in BC, and includes innovators like Terraforma Systems, which uses real-time insights to help companies reduce waste, and Tersa Earth, which addresses mining waste with carbon-neutral solutions.

Those may be the top 5, but there are many booming sub-industries under the Cleantech umbrella in Western Canada, including agricultural tech, bioproducts, industrial materials, and process technologies.

WHAT TO EXPECT: With job support and career guidance geared toward these in-demand jobs of the future, Uvaro’s Grow with Cleantech program led in partnership with Boundless Accelerator is an excellent choice no matter which element of Cleantech sparks your interest. Participants living in British Columbia and Alberta are eligible for subsidized enrollment while seats are available. Learn more today!

10 Notable Cleantech Companies in Western Canada

What kind of companies could you join after a career change into Cleantech in Western Canada? There are thousands to choose from, whether it’s a startup, a scaleup, or beyond – and to give you just a taste, we’ve compiled a quick province-by-province list.