Calgary companies CURA and TerraFerno Geothermal Solutions have been named to Cleantech Group’s 2026 Cleantech 50 to Watch, earning international recognition for technologies targeting cleaner cement production and more efficient geothermal energy.
Announced today, the annual list highlights early-stage companies positioned to shape the next wave of cleantech innovation. Selected through nominations and votes from an expert panel, this year’s 50 honourees span 12 countries.
Canada secured 11 spots, placing it second behind the United States with 18.
For Calgary, the recognition highlights two applications of the city’s engineering and industrial expertise: reducing emissions from essential building materials and improving access to underground heat.
CURA is developing technology that separates carbon dioxide from limestone before it enters the cement kiln, helping producers reduce process emissions while retaining existing plant infrastructure. The company says its retrofit-ready approach can reduce cement manufacturing emissions by up to 85 per cent.
Originally developed at the University of British Columbia, CURA moved its leadership team to Calgary in December 2025. It has since established research and development labs at the University of Calgary’s Life Sciences Innovation Hub, drawing on the city’s technical talent and commercialization support.
Calgary-based TerraFerno Geothermal Solutions is tackling a different industrial challenge: improving the performance and economics of geothermal wells.
Its technologies include flow-control devices, downhole monitoring systems, and well-integrity tools designed for high-temperature geothermal environments. The company aims to help operators recover more energy, validate well performance, and reduce costs across conventional, enhanced, and advanced geothermal systems.
Their inclusion comes as Cleantech Group identifies a shift in the market toward technologies that strengthen energy security and supply-chain resilience.
“With certainty, we’ve exited the days of the green premium,” said Anthony DeOrsey, Research Manager at Cleantech Group. “We’re now firmly entering the age of the sovereignty premium that is likely to define the late 2020s.”
Energy and power is the largest category on this year’s list, accounting for 17 companies, followed by materials and chemicals with 15.
CURA and TerraFerno reflect both priorities, developing technologies that could help established industries lower emissions while expanding access to reliable energy.
The full 2026 Cleantech 50 to Watch list is available through Cleantech Group.
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