Susan Courty
WiRE Alberta, Edmonton Chapter Leader
WiRE Skilled Trades Committee
BSc (EM), RSE, Construction Contractor Service
scourty@womeninrenewableenergy.ca
Born and raised in Edmonton, Susan began her journey in the field of science at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, where she studied Chemical Technology in 2006. She then worked in the chemical lab services sector, focusing on reliability for several years. Her career took a turn towards Environmental lab services, which she pursued until 2013.
In 2014, Susan graduated from Royal Roads University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management. This education further inspired her to work in renewable energy. She took a pre-apprentice training course from Wirtanen in 2015 and pivoted to working in the Electrical Trade.
Susan’s dedication took her to the Yukon Territory in Northern Canada, where she spent two years doing solar and electrical trade-work with two powerline contractors. She then returned to Edmonton for the final period of technical training required for Electricians in Alberta.
Continuing her journey as an Electrical Apprentice, Susan earned her certification as a Red Seal Electrician. Since then, she has been working on utility-scale solar projects in Alberta. In 2022, she also fulfilled the requirements for a nationally recognized accreditation for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure installation.
Today, Susan continues to gain hands-on experience in the field with green technologies such as battery storage systems (BESS). She is a strong proponent of R&D projects utilizing new technologies such as building-integrated photovoltaic materials (BIPV) to advance practical knowledge of building in cold climates. Her journey reflects her commitment to renewable energy and her passion for learning and growth in her field.
