Calgary: Opening Doors To Energy Technology

Part 1: A New Energy Economy

A new energy economy is taking shape and Calgary is ideally positioned to become the leading centre for innovation in the energy sector. This article is part one of a four-part series that will explore the existing ecosystem, technologies, and the extensive opportunities available in Calgary as it takes a leading role in this new energy economy.

Looking Towards The Future

Technology has been at the root of energy creation and resource extraction since the beginn  ing – and it is technology that will help lead the way to the next evolutions in the energy sector.

The existing energy economy, being traditional exploration and production of oil and natural gas, is simply not sustainable without changes to the way we consume, the way we utilize (and protect) our natural resources, and the way we think about energy in the long term. The solution lies with creative technologies that allow the existing energy economy to minimize environmental impact, realize efficiencies, and become more economic.

Pride Of Ownership

Calgary has a long-held culture of entrepreneurship and innovation stemming from the development of its oil and natural gas industry. Calgary is the young entrepreneurial capital of Canada, and the province leads the country in job creation and growth. The thriving economy, world-class universities and technical colleges and natural advantages enable the development of new technologies not only for extraction of oil and gas, but also for data and enterprise software solutions to monitor and control extraction, production, and transportation processes.

Calgary has a lot to be proud of as it is one of the most attractive destinations in the world to live, work, and play. The young and ambitious workforce takes full advantage of the Rocky Mountains; North America’s most extensive urban pathway and bikeway system; and a thriving (and growing!) local arts, music, and festival scene. With over 330 days of sunshine per year, Calgary is the place to work hard and play hard for ambitious people and top talent from all over the world beginning to call Calgary “home.”

Calgary Leads The Way

While Calgary is an attractive place to call home, more importantly, the city has an established and growing ecosystem to drive the development of future growth and innovation in the energy sector. Organizations including Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance “COSIA,” the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation “CCEMC,” and Innovate Calgary provide access to mentorship, advisory, and financial services; and leading industry events such as the upcoming Canada 3.0, the Global Petroleum Show, and the recent inaugural Propel Energy Tech Forum bring together people and ideas from around the world to communicate, collaborate, and solve the problems of tomorrow’s energy demands.

With all the developments in Calgary’s energy technology ecosystem, it is no wonder that industry players in North America, and internationally, are increasingly looking to Calgary as the centre for innovation in the energy sector.

Stay tuned as the remainder of this series will explore Calgary’s underlying ecosystem, existing technologies, and the additional resources that are necessary to drive the development of Calgary’s new energy economy.