Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy Podcast

Farming the Sun: Kristina Sweet on Unlocking Private Capital for Alberta’s Renewable Energy Future

Wes Ashworth Season 1 Episode 42

In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Kristina Sweet, Investment Director and Country Manager at Korkia, a global investment firm focused on accelerating the clean energy transition. With deep roots in Alberta’s energy industry, Kristina shares her journey from oil and gas to spearheading renewable investments, offering invaluable insights into navigating Alberta’s evolving energy market, unlocking private capital, and overcoming regulatory uncertainty.

Kristina dives into the challenges and opportunities of large-scale renewable development in Alberta, the critical role of private investment, and how Korkia has grown into one of the province’s leading renewable energy developers in just four years. She also shares the “Farming the Sun” mindset, an eye-opening perspective on land use, sustainability, and the future of energy in North America.

Key Topics Discussed:
From Oil & Gas to Renewables – Kristina’s unique career path and why she transitioned into clean energy investment.
Private Capital in Renewable Energy – Why Alberta’s renewables boom is not driven by government subsidies.
Regulatory Uncertainty & Risk Management – The biggest challenges in Alberta’s energy sector and how investors can mitigate risk.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) & Project Financing – Why securing contracts is harder than ever and what that means for development.
Balancing Land Use & Clean Energy – How farmers and landowners can benefit from renewable projects while preserving agricultural heritage.
Future Investment Trends – Why energy storage is the next big opportunity in Alberta and beyond.

Why Listen?
If you're an investor, developer, policymaker, or renewable energy enthusiast, this episode provides deep insights into the real-world challenges of financing and scaling renewable energy projects. Kristina’s hands-on approach to investment and development makes this a must-listen for anyone navigating the clean energy landscape.

Links:
Kristina Sweet on LinkedIn
Korkia's website

Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/


People on this episode