CanREA Operators Summit 2026February 11-12, 2026 | Toronto, Ontario

Canada's renewable energy sector is no longer the "new kid on the block." Having completed a full development cycle, renewables operations have reached a new level of maturity. This panel will examine how far the industry has come, reflect on today's great operation efficiencies, and highlight how wind, solar and storage have become indispensable tools in the grid operator's toolbox.

Step onto the showroom floor and discover cutting-edge solutions through interactive, hands-on demos from our exhibitors.

New this year: CanREA's Operators Summit will feature a "lessons learned" track dedicated to real-world insights. Through root cause analyses, case studiers and research presentations, this stream will spotlight health and safety, operational efficiency, technological innovation, workforce development and leadership. Speakers will share practical applications, proven strategies and key lessons learned to help operators drive continuous improvement.

Regulatory changes in Alberta now require solar operators to demonstrate compatibility with agricultural zones. This panel will unpack the new regulations and explore practical strategies for meeting these requirements-not only in Alberta, but across Canada's farming landscape.

As blades account for an ever-growing share of wind farm operating costs, effective management has never been more critical. This panel will highlight the latest in blade monitoring technologies, damage prevention strategies, maintenance scheduling practices and advanced repair techniques-helping operators extend asset life while controlling costs.

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New this year: CanREA’s Operators Summit will feature a “lessons learned” track dedicated to real-world insights. Through root cause analyses, case studies and research presentations, this stream will spotlight health and safety, operational efficiency, technological innovation, workforce development and leadership. Speakers will share practical applications, proven strategies and key lessons learned to help operators drive continuous improvement.

Step onto the showroom floor and discover cutting-edge solutions through interactive, hands-on demos from our exhibitors.

As industrial facilities increasingly adopt renewable energy and storage solutions, valuable lessons emerge from operational experience. This presentation explores two years of insights gained from managing the kisiwa pīsim solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project.

This session will share both successes and challenges, offering actionable insights for integrating renewable energy and storage solutions in industrial applications.

Understanding turbine wear and tear is critical for health and safety, repowering decisions and determining when to repair or replace components. This technical panel will dive into methods for assessing remaining turbine life, structural and foundation integrity, and the condition of auxiliary equipment such as lifts, ladders and winches-equipping operators with the data they need to make informed, cost-effective decisions.

To subcontract or not to subcontract? That is the question!

Should solar farm maintenance be managed in-house or outsourced to a third party? This panel will weigh the benefits and challenges of each approach, featuring a case study of a full transition between models. Discussion will cover factors such as monitoring software (Maximo 7 vs. MAS 9), operational scale, risk tolerance and more.

Could low-wind periods be the most profitable time for operators? Research from the University of Alberta suggests just that. This session will present a master’s thesis that challenges conventional thinking and offers innovative strategies that could transform how—and when—operators plan their work.

Take a walk around and connect with Canadian researchers conducting renewable energy projects across Canada. Ask questions, make connections and learn something new!

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New this year: CanREA’s Operators Summit will feature a “lessons learned” track dedicated to real-world insights. Through root cause analyses, case studies and research presentations, this stream will spotlight health and safety, operational efficiency, technological innovation, workforce development and leadership. Speakers will share practical applications, proven strategies and key lessons learned to help operators drive continuous improvement.

Step onto the showroom floor and discover cutting-edge solutions through interactive, hands-on demos from our exhibitors.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday life-but what role can tools like Claude or ChatGPT play in a wind operator's toolkit? This panel will examine how AI is reshaping renewable operations, from potentially predicting failures to uncovering inefficiencies, while also mapping the practical steps needed to move toward an AI-enable future.

Canada's landscape presents unique challenges for solar operators-from wildfire smoke and snow loading to frost heave and wind-induced vibration. This panel will explore tools for calculating losses from wildfire smoke, common tracker failure modes over time, and best practices to ensure long-term equipment reliability with bifacial modules and larger-format panels.

Paragraph to use as placeholder until speaker confirms:

New this year: CanREA’s Operators Summit will feature a “lessons learned” track dedicated to real-world insights. Through root cause analyses, case studies and research presentations, this stream will spotlight health and safety, operational efficiency, technological innovation, workforce development and leadership. Speakers will share practical applications, proven strategies and key lessons learned to help operators drive continuous improvement.

Paragraph to use as placeholder until speaker confirms:

New this year: CanREA’s Operators Summit will feature a “lessons learned” track dedicated to real-world insights. Through root cause analyses, case studies and research presentations, this stream will spotlight health and safety, operational efficiency, technological innovation, workforce development and leadership. Speakers will share practical applications, proven strategies and key lessons learned to help operators drive continuous improvement.

Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with other operators from a wide cross-section of Canada’s renewable energy and energy storage industries in a fun and casual setting.