Event Recap: Innovation & the Alberta Energy Regulator – Navigating the Regulatory Landscape

More than 100 participants joined a CRIN and Alberta Energy Regulator online event on February 12 to hear about the scope of the innovation team’s work and how innovators can bring their questions to the regulator.  

Jason Brunet, Director of Technical Science & External Innovation at the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), said the innovation team was created in response to a need from stakeholders to approach the regulator with questions outside of an application process.  

“It provides that outlet to innovators who may or may not have industry partners presently in their development process, depending on their technical readiness level,” Brunet said. “We’re here to provide regulatory certainty or to try to sort through the regulatory path for the product or service that you’re going to offer.” 

What the innovation team at the AER can do is help clarify relevant rules and regulations that might pertain to an innovation, facilitate information exchange and knowledge sharing, and provide regulatory support for field trials and pilots. 

The team does not approve projects or make regulatory decisions, issue any endorsements or certifications, act as a substitute for technical, legal, or other due diligence, or help innovators find customers.