Despite the opposite winds, clean technologies keep the course

Despite the opposite winds, clean technologies keep the course


Possible customs tariffs, non-climate declarations by Donald Trump and as many uncertainties about the future of Canada’s climate policy. These kinds of challenges are multiplying for clean technology companies, but strategies are looming to get out of this great politico-economic vagueness.

“We are in a real petrin. The Director General of the Cleantech Alliance of Canada, Lynn Côté, does not veil her face on the current climate that her members face.

Former President Joe Biden had launched the sector with the sector with theInflation Reduction Actbillions of subsidies and tax credits to decarbonation. Many countries, including Canada, had launched their own programs to compete with the United States and helped the development of dozens of own technology companies.

However, on both sides of the border, climate commitment has weakened and Donald Trump has in his sight‘Inflation Reduction Act.

The year 2024 was not a happy new year for the companies clean tech [et] 2025 does not necessarily prove betterunderlines Lynn on the side.

However, these gloomy statements do not summarize the words of the director. Behind this observation on the extent of the task to be accomplished, a plan is emerging to survive, or even prosper in the next four years.

Donald Trump and business decisions

Not all of the own technologies have to be housed in the same brand, explains first Kevin crazedthe CEO D’Avatar Innovations, a company that helps develop young shoots in clean technologies.

Would I like to be an emerging company of electric charging stations? No. But if you are in the reduction of methane or carbon capture, there could be a positive advantagehe said.

Kevin Krausert is hopeful that technologies intended to reduce emissions from the petroleum and gas industry will be able to thrive under the Trump era.

Photo: John Rain

He notes that the President of the United States wants to promote oil and gas companies, which could make them more profitable and ready to invest.

This scenario is all the more likely, according to him, since the non-climate declarations of Donald Trump do not necessarily find echo on the boards of directors of large companies.

The reality is that the petroleum industry in the United States has not changed its feeling about emission discounts because it has to export to an international market that has not really changedhe underlines.

The CEO of the energy storage company Triple Point ResourcesJulie Lemieux, also argues that the policy of the American president will confront an undeniable reality, the enormous appetite in energy of her country. There are still a lot of projects that are online or close to being online in the United States to include green energy in the electricity system.

Talk about economics rather than preventing

How not to stagnate? A strategy to get around political obstacles could be a simple marketing pivot, believes Lynn Côté, the director general of the Cleantech Alliance you Canada.

She claims that reducing greenhouse gas emissions often equals a reduction in energy consumption, that it is therefore an economy.

It is not only the impact at the level of the environment that becomes an important issue, it can also be a question of cost.

A quote from Lynn Côté, Director General of the Cleantech Alliance

This type of discourse could have a carrier in Canada in particular, according to Lynn Côté. Faced with customs tariffs, many companies will want to reduce their expenses.

It is a strategy that Kathairos, based in Calgary, thinks of being able to use its advantage.

Its system reduces methane emissions from petroleum and gas sites. Our solution is the large -scale deployment of a small system. It is not an investment of $ 15 million, we are agile and fluidexplains the climate manager in Kathairos, Jacqueline Peterson.

Almost 90 % of its revenues come from the United States and for the moment, the company has received no customer withdrawals.

We do not worry about the viability of the company. Change is likely to be at our growth speed.

A quote from Jacqueline Peterson, climate manager in Kathairos

Jacqueline Peterson is however optimistic about growth.

She recalls that the American states have power and not all of them follow the environmental direction that Donald Trump seems to take: Colorado and New Mexico have set up robust regulatory frameworks for methane reduction. It becomes two markets on which we focus.

Look turned to Europe

To turn to better markets and diversify them is the other solution advocated by the Cleantech Alliance you Canada. In particular the European Union, where the regulations are rather solid and much less fluid than the United States at the momentNote Lynn Côté.

Faced with the growing uncertainty about the future of the oil and gas industry, QUBE has diversified its markets and its customers.

Photo : Radio-Canada / Kyle Bakx/CBC

Business Qube which makes continuous monitoring of methane emissions is increasingly interested in Europe. Another 70 % of its growth is in the United States, but according to its co-founder, Eric Wrennew policies adopted in Europe could create a new market for your business.

One of our goal was to develop internationally and find other issuing industries than oil and gashe says.

The CEO of Triple Point ResourcesJulie Lemieux, also has the look resolutely turned to Europe. It develops a dome of salt in Newfoundland to store energy.

According to the CEOEurope has sent enough signals in recent years to signify its interest in Canadian energy, including its hydrogen. It’s time to take this opportunity, she said.

From leader to leader

We can take leadership that may be a little neglected by the United States in the coming years and move much faster if we wantshe thinks.

She adds that the uncertainty of Donald Trump’s policies may not please investors who could find a more committed partner in Canada.

I think that we must continue to accelerate especially that the Americans do not know where they go.

A quote from Julie Lemieux, CEO of Triple Point Resources

This was what happened during Trump’s first term, recalls Kevin Krauser. Lots of technologies clean tech moved to Canada.

However, he doubts that it happens again because Canada lacks political clarity in this areas in recent years.

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