Quick Facts

• The Agricultural sector in Canada consumes almost 300 PJ of energy annually, and contributes over $100 Billion worth of revenues to the Canadian economy.
• Substantial operational differences for various types of agricultural operations required a refined focus on characteristics of archetypes which showed the most promise for further adoption of heat pump technology.
• Consequently, the study was largely focused on opportunities relating to Greenhouses, Grain/oilseed farming, Dairy, Poultry and Hog farming operations.

Project Description

Natural Resources Canada engaged Bronson Consulting to assess how heat pumps could support on-farm electrification and energy efficiency in Canada’s agricultural sector.

With agriculture consuming close to 300 petajoules of energy annually, the project set out to examine where heat pump technology could drive both environmental and economic impact, particularly across farm operations such as greenhouses, grain and oilseed farms, dairy, poultry, and hog facilities.

Through in-depth research and direct engagement with farmers and agricultural stakeholders, Bronson’s study evaluated real-world use cases, identified barriers to adoption, and outlined solutions to accelerate uptake. The resulting insights aim to support a more sustainable and energy-efficient future for Canadian agriculture.

Business Challenge

Canada’s farms are as diverse as its climate zones, and each agricultural operation comes with its own unique energy needs. While heat pump technology presents a promising opportunity for electrification, applying it at scale in the agricultural sector is complex.

Natural Resources Canada needed a clearer picture of where heat pumps could be deployed most effectively and what was preventing widespread adoption. This meant navigating a range of operational, financial, and behavioural challenges across different farming archetypes, while also accounting for regional climates, infrastructure limitations, and varying levels of technical readiness.

To achieve this, the study needed to bring together a range of perspectives and use cases. The goal was to inform strategies that could:

• Engage agricultural producers — including those in greenhouse, grain/oilseed, dairy, poultry, and hog operations — who would directly benefit from more energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.
• Include input from researchers, equipment suppliers, and farm associations to identify systemic barriers and viable technical solutions.
• Provide actionable insights to federal policy makers and program designers tasked with driving clean energy adoption in agriculture.
• Ultimately, pave the way for broader adoption of heat pump technology, supporting a more sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient agricultural sector across Canada.

Our Solution and Outcome

Bronson designed a national study to gather both qualitative and quantitative insights. The team conducted a detailed analysis of financial, operational, and energy data across farm types and engaged directly with industry voices to understand what was working, and what wasn’t.

The engagement included:

• Surveys with 13 agricultural operators
• Interviews with 10 stakeholders, including researchers, technology suppliers, and members of farm associations
• Two focused case studies developed to highlight real-world experiences with heat pump implementation
• A review of relevant published research to support broader trend analysis

These survey responses, interviews and case studies were combined with analysis of relevant published research articles applicable for each archetype to identify key opportunities and barriers. The study concluded with quantification of potential impacts of further heat pump adoption, as well as recommended next steps to further promote this technology within the Agricultural sector.

The final report provided Natural Resources Canada with a comprehensive overview of the current landscape for heat pump adoption in agriculture. It outlined key opportunities for reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, especially in farm types where seasonal temperature control is critical.

The study also quantified the potential environmental and economic impacts of wider adoption and delivered practical recommendations to overcome adoption barriers — including awareness gaps, capital cost concerns, and integration challenges. These insights now support policy development, funding programs, and outreach strategies aimed at accelerating clean technology in Canada’s agricultural sector.