Renewable energy co-operatives (RECs) have the potential to play an important role in Canada’s energy transition, enabling communities to participate in and benefit from renewable energy development. However, despite this potential, the growth of the sector has been uneven, with co-operatives facing regulatory, financial, and operational challenges that can limit their ability to develop and expand.
Drawing on recently published research in Energy, Sustainability and Society, Raisa Rahman examines what is holding back the development of renewable energy co-operatives in Canada, drawing on firsthand perspectives from 15 co-operative leaders across five provinces.
Join CECC for a webinar exploring Renewable Energy Co-operatives: Understanding the Barriers to Growth.
The presentation will examine the challenges facing renewable energy co-operatives across Canada, including regulatory uncertainty, financing constraints, limited market access, and operational barriers. Drawing on experiences from different provincial policy and regulatory environments, the discussion will explore how these conditions have shaped co-operative development and what could help unlock the sector’s potential.
Participants will explore:
- The Canadian REC landscape and the role and potential of renewable energy co-operatives in Canada’s energy transition
- Key regulatory, financial, and operational barriers identified by co-operative leaders
- How provincial policy and regulatory environments influence co-operative development
- Opportunities to improve access to financing and renewable energy markets
- Potential solutions, including virtual net metering and more supportive long-term policy frameworks
- Practical considerations for strengthening community-owned renewable energy development across Canada
The session will bring together research findings and firsthand experiences from across the sector to identify opportunities for removing barriers and supporting the growth of renewable energy co-operatives.
Who should attend: Renewable energy co-operatives, community energy organizations, municipalities, policymakers, researchers, project developers, and anyone interested in community-owned renewable energy and the future of Canada’s clean energy transition.
The presentation draws on Raisa Rahman’s recently published research, What is stopping Canada from unlocking the potential of renewable energy cooperatives? Critical insights from co-op leaders, published in Energy, Sustainability and Society.
The webinar draws on Re.Climate’s Getting to Yes research and accompanying practical guidebook, which provide role-specific approaches for building social acceptance of renewable energy and transmission projects.
About the Presenter
Raisa Rahman is a Project Associate with Alberta Municipalities, where she supports the delivery of the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP). She holds an MSc in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Alberta, where her research focused on the development of renewable energy co-operatives in Canada.
Her recently published research draws on interviews with 15 co-operative leaders across five provinces to examine the regulatory, financial, and operational barriers facing renewable energy co-operatives and identify potential solutions to support their growth.
December 2 – 11 am Pacific / 12 pm Alberta / 1 pm Central & Eastern / 2 pm Atlantic
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund Implementation Readiness stream
Ce projet est financé en partie par le volet Préparation à la mise en œuvre du Fonds pour une économie à faibles émissions de carbone du gouvernement du Canada.
