Agenda

Canada's energy storage sector stands at a critical inflection point. Federal net-zero commitments, provincial grid modernization programs, and surging demand for grid reliability are converging to reshape how battery energy storage systems (BESS) are permitted, procured, and compensated- yet the regulatory architecture governing these assets remains fragmented, inconsistent, and in many jurisdictions, still catching up to the technology itself.

Where does the regulatory and political environment actually stands for battery storage developers and asset owners operating in Canada today, and where it is headed?

• How are federal and provincial political priorities directly influencing BESS procurement, revenue frameworks, and long-term asset viability?
• The regulatory gaps and market structure inconsistencies that create risk for asset owners and operators
• Which policy levers are most likely to shift in the near term, and how should asset owners position assets ahead of those changes?
• Translating political momentum into operational and financial outcomes across the asset lifecycle

• How can batteries deliver grid reliability and contingency services effectively?
• Methods to measure and prove battery performance to counterparties
• The role of batteries in enhancing system resilience and providing backup during critical events
• How can grid-forming capabilities contribute to system stability and reliability?

Not every clean energy project fits the mold that traditional lenders are looking for. Large-scale wind and solar have well-worn financing pathways, but the electrification projects, community infrastructure deals, and smaller-scale decarbonization initiatives that make up a significant share of Canada's real transition work often don't. That's precisely the gap that Vancity Community Investment Bank was built to fill.

Eric Visser will offer a candid look at what impact-first lending actually looks like in practice, from underwriting projects that bigger institutions won't touch, to managing a cost of capital that demands intentionality at every stage of deployment.

• What makes an impact mandate operationally different from ESG commitments at a conventional bank
• The types of projects and borrowers that purpose-built lenders are uniquely positioned to serve, and why
• How cost of capital shapes deal selection, project structure, and the boundaries of what's financeable
• The real barriers to scaling community-focused and non-traditional clean energy finance in Canada

• Insights from local fire departments - battery fire response and training programs with first responders
• Strategies for public perception and community opposition- improving acceptance criteria
• How can harmonization of standards reduce insurance costs and improve coverage?

• Cash flow discrepancies post-COD Challenges and alignment of operational realities with forecasted budgets
• Practical lessons learned in the first 12-24 months of BESS operations
• What trade-offs exist between contractual obligations and asset preservation?
• Effective implementation of warranty-compliant optimisation strategies
• What are the long-term financial implications of operational decisions?

• Common cyber vulnerabilities across BESS control systems, EMS platforms, and grid interfaces
• Collaboration tactics to mitigate cyber risks
• Cybersecurity standards and frameworks for battery operators
• How do data centre off-takers assess cyber risk when contracting battery-backed power and resilience solutions?
• Where does responsibility sit between asset owners, OEMs, software providers, and third-party operators?

• How will climate and market changes impact operational strategies and battery usage over the next 20 years?
• Common and most unexpected themes from the bulletin
• Immediate and practical actions for the industry
• Examples of successful implementation across Canadian and global portfolios

• The operational priorities operators should focus on in the next 3, 6, and 12 months
• Common risks and blind spots highlighted by asset owners, insurers, and grid stakeholders
• Where Canadian operators are aligned, and where approaches are diverging?