Renewable energy jobs in Canada

Canada’s large landmass and diversified geography means that it has a substantial amount of renewable resources such as wind, moving water, biomass, geothermal, and solar energy that can be used to produce energy. Hydroelectricity is the most widely used form of renewable energy in Canada, though uses of other sources such as wind, solar, and biomass are on the rise.

Renewable energy sources in Canada

There are many rivers in Canada that flow from mountainous areas towards the three bordering oceans of the country; The North Pacific Ocean, The Arctic Ocean, and The North Atlantic Ocean. This abundance of flowing water in Canada is what keeps the hydroelectric industry continuously producing. Canada is a net exporter of electricity to the United States and the majority of this electricity comes from hydropower.

Canada has an extensive amount of solar energy resources, with the largest amounts found in southern Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies. Over 350 solar companies operate in Canada, including 40 manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) components, with leading companies including Innergex, Solart, and Lumin Solar.

Canada’s vast coastlines and land mass provide the country with some of the world’s largest wind resources, with major producers including Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. Some of the leading wind power companies in the country include; TransAlta Wind, Siemens, and Boralex Wind.

A large majority of Canada’s biomass energy comes from the burning of forest products such as bark, woodchips and sawdust to produce steam and electricity. There are a few biomass-based district heating systems used in communities throughout Canada including Grand Prairie, and Alberta which have systems fuelled by wood waste from nearby sawmills.

Geothermal energy comes from the natural heat within the Earth. Canada has both low-temperature and high-temperature geothermal resources, for example in Toronto subsurface temperatures average 10° C and in British Columbia temperatures can exceed 80° C. At present there are no geothermal electric projects operating in Canada, though heat pumps are utilised throughout the country to extract near-surface thermal energy from buried pipes or coils and distribute it through buildings.

Careers in the Canadian renewable energy industry

We are able to provide engineering employers with qualified professionals in the renewable energy industry, whilst also helping engineers to find the best opportunities in the green energy industry.

Talascend offer job opportunities in a range of engineering and construction disciplines including:

• Civil/ Structural engineering
• Marine engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Wind development
• Project management
• Operations & Maintenance
• Health, Safety & Environmental
• Structural engineer jobs

Learn more about our engineering and technical recruiting capabilities and our industry focus. Search through our current jobs vacancies, register with us, or contact us for more information.