Canada’s clean energy sector is entering a pivotal moment.
As 2026 approaches, a new wave of startups is moving beyond pilots and demonstrations toward commercial-scale deployment across some of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries. From cement, steel, and oil and gas to hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon dioxide removal, the emphasis is shifting from experimentation to execution.
The companies on this list share a common thread: practical climate impact. Many are accelerating decarbonization by integrating with existing industrial infrastructure or natural systems, while others are building critical capabilities—such as long-duration storage, methane abatement, and high-integrity carbon removal—that will be essential to reaching net-zero targets.
Spanning British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, these startups reflect Canada’s growing role as a builder of scalable, export-ready clean energy solutions. As demand for proven technologies accelerates, the following ten companies stand out as ones to watch closely in 2026.
Ayrton Energy
Ayrton Energy is a Calgary-based, women-led cleantech startup developing liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology that enables safe, scalable storage and transport of hydrogen using existing fuel infrastructure.
Founded in 2021, the company has raised significant funding and strategic interest as it advances practical hydrogen solutions to accelerate decarbonization. Ayrton’s innovation was recognized as Startup Venture of the Year at Foresight’s 2025 Alberta Cleantech Awards, highlighting its impact in advancing clean energy and positioning Alberta as a hydrogen innovation hub.
CarbonRun
CarbonRun is a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia–based cleantech scaling a novel approach to carbon dioxide removal using rivers. Founded in 2022 by Shannon Sterling, CarbonRun restores acidified rivers by safely increasing alkalinity, improving aquatic ecosystems while drawing down CO₂ and transporting it to the ocean for long-term storage.
CarbonRun has emerged as a standout in Canada’s carbon removal sector, earning Scaleup Venture of the Year at Foresight’s inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards and signing the first-ever river alkalinity enhancement carbon removal deal. As demand for verifiable, nature-based carbon removal accelerates, CarbonRun is positioning itself to expand deployments and play a meaningful role in global decarbonization efforts heading into 2026.
CO280
CO280 is a Vancouver-based climate tech company developing large-scale engineered carbon dioxide removal by retrofitting pulp and paper mills to capture and permanently store biogenic CO₂. Co-founded by Jonathan Rhone and Marty Reed, CO280 has secured high-profile offtake agreements with buyers including Microsoft and JPMorganChase and is advancing projects across Canada and the United States.
By pairing proven industrial infrastructure with durable carbon storage, the company aims to deliver high-quality, scalable CDR credits. Looking ahead to 2026, CO280 is positioned to bring its first major projects online and play a growing role in global carbon removal markets.
CURA
CURA is a climatetech startup tackling one of the world’s hardest-to-abate industries: cement. Based in Vancouver and Calgary, the company has developed an electrochemical process that can cut cement-related CO₂ emissions by up to 85% while reducing energy use by pre-processing limestone before it enters the kiln.
CURA was co-founded by Erin Bobicki, Phil De Luna, Sabrina Scott, and Curtis Berlinguette, bringing together expertise in materials science, electrochemistry, and industrial decarbonization. As demand for low-carbon construction accelerates, CURA is positioning itself as a key enabler of cleaner cement production heading into 2026.
Green Manganese
Co-founded by Maria Poltorak and Alexey Demykin in 2024, Green Manganese is a Vancouver-based cleantech startup that’s commercializing a low-carbon process to recover high-value manganese from low-grade ores and industrial waste, strengthening domestic critical mineral supply chains for steel and batteries.
In 2025 it earned BC CleanTech Startup of the Year recognition from Foresight and inked a letter of intent with Scandinavian Steel AB to supply up to 50,000 t/year of metallized manganese to European steelmakers, advancing its international expansion. The company’s proprietary hydrometallurgical tech aims to displace imports and lower environmental impact in manganese production.
Kathairos Solutions
Kathairos Solutions is a Calgary-based clean energy company focused on eliminating methane emissions from remote oil and gas operations. Founded in 2020 by Dick Brown and Jason Clarke—both accomplished leaders in North America’s energy sector—the company has developed proprietary technology that replaces methane-powered pneumatic devices with inert nitrogen, offering a scalable and cost-effective path to emissions reduction.
In 2025, Kathairos was named a Rising Star Company finalist at the Platts Global Energy Awards and was also recognized as a competitor for the Methane Impact Innovation Award at Global Energy Show Canada 2025.
Moment Energy
Moment Energy is a Vancouver cleantech startup repurposing retired electric-vehicle batteries into certified, scalable battery energy storage systems (BESS), helping businesses and communities cut costs, reduce emissions, and strengthen grid resilience. The company recently raised $5 million to expand production of its UL 1974-certified Luna BESS and is building North America’s first gigafactory dedicated to second-life EV batteries.
CEO Edward Chiang was named Climate Tech Founder of the Year 2025, reflecting Moment’s growing leadership in circular energy solutions. Heading into 2026, Moment Energy is positioned to scale manufacturing, deepen partnerships, and accelerate deployment as demand for affordable energy storage surges.
pHathom Technologies
pHathom Technologies is a Halifax-based cleantech startup, founded in 2024 by Dr. Kimberly Gilbert, that develops scalable carbon dioxide removal by capturing CO₂ from coastal biomass energy and converting it into stable bicarbonates stored in seawater, helping reduce ocean acidification while locking away carbon long-term.
The company’s limestone-and-seawater approach won Startup Venture of the Year at the 2025 Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards and aims for commercial deployment by the late 2020s, offering high-integrity carbon removal and emerging revenue through carbon credits.
Planetary
Planetary is a Halifax-born cleantech company advancing ocean alkalinity enhancement to increase the ocean’s natural ability to absorb and permanently store atmospheric CO₂, while helping counter ocean acidification. In 2025, Planetary secured a major validation of its model by selling more than US$31 million in ocean-powered carbon removal to Frontier, committing to deliver over 115,000 tonnes of CO₂ removal between 2026 and 2030.
With growing commercial demand, expanded pilots, and deeper integration with coastal infrastructure, Planetary is positioning 2026 as a pivotal year for scaling durable, science-backed ocean carbon removal.
Skyrenu Technologies
Founded in 2021 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Skyrenu Technologies is developing modular, reactor-less direct air capture (DAC) systems designed to remove CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. Co-founded by Martin Brouillette and Gabriel Vézina, the company’s approach emphasizes low energy use and scalable deployment across varied climates.
Skyrenu’s technology is designed to convert captured carbon into durable, low-carbon materials, including applications such as carbon-negative concrete. In 2025, the company gained national attention after being selected as one of four Canadian carbon removal ventures backed by NorthX Climate Tech, positioning Skyrenu as a promising player in Canada’s engineered carbon removal ecosystem heading into 2026.