Canada and wind power
Wind Energy Statistics 2024
According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), the wind, solar, and energy storage sectors grew by 46% during the past 5 years (2019-2024). New total installed capacity reached 24 GW by the end of 2024 - 18 GW of wind, 4 GW of solar, and 330 MW of energy storage. Wind energy capacity increased by 35% in those 5 years. Canada is estimated to install at least 10 GW of new wind, solar, and storage capacity by 2030.[1]
Global Energy Monitor's Global Wind Power Tracker (GWPT) researches, updates, and publishes project level information for utility-scale wind projects throughout the world. According to the most recent 2025 update, GEM reports Canada's utility-scale operating capacity is 17 GW with an additional 17 GW of prospective capacity, 12 GW of which is set to come online by the end 2030.[2]
Operating Wind Capacity by Province[3]
| Province | Capacity (MW) | % of Operating Total |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5715 | 31% |
| Ontario | 5532 | 30% |
| Quebec | 4072 | 22% |
| Saskatchewan | 818 | 4.5% |
| British Columbia | 747 | 4% |
| Other Provinces | 1551 | 8.5% |
Largest Operating Wind Projects[4]
| Project Name | Capacity (MW) | Start Year | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Plains wind farm | 494 MW | 2024 | Alberta |
| Seigneurie De Beaupré wind farm - Phases 1-3 | 364 MW | 2013-2015 | Quebec |
| Henvey Inlet wind farm | 300 MW | 2019 | Ontario |
| Blackspring Ridge wind farm | 299 MW | 2014 | Alberta |
| Sharp Hills wind farm | 297 MW | 2024 | Alberta |
Largest Prospective Wind Projects[4]
| Project Name | Capacity (MW) | Planned Start Year | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Nujio’qonik[5][6][7][8] - Phases 1-4 | 4000 MW | unknown | Quebec |
| Des Neiges wind farm - Phases 1-3 | 1200 MW | unknown | Quebec |
| Pohénégamook–Picard–Saint-Antonin–Wolastokuk wind farm - Phases 1-2 | 641 MW | 2026-2029 | Quebec |
| Hecate Strait Offshore wind farm | 400 MW | 2026 | British Columbia |
| Nova East Wind | 350 | 2030 | Nova Scotia |
Trends in Renewable Energy Development
Ontario and Natural Gas Expansion
As of 2023, Ontario's energy mix consists of 8.7% wind power and 2.3% solar.[9] In August 2024, the Government of Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced a plan to procure 5 GW of new wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, biomass, and natural gas power. In December 2024, the capacity target was increased by 50% to 7.5 GW.[10][11] To meet this projected increase in demand, the Ontario government plants to expand nuclear energy and natural gas fired energy while cutting support from more traditional forms of renewable energy like wind and solar. The IESO will consider bids from all energy sources, not just from wind, solar, hydro, and biomass as previously directed.[12] Energy from gas fired turbines has tripled from 4% in 2017 to 12.8% in 2023 and is projected to grow 25% by 2030.[12] Ontario accounts for approximately 22% of Canada's emissions. Emissions from this non-renewable energy buildout are expected to rise 400% compared to 2017 by 2030 and 800% by 2050. Wind and solar have traditionally been the cheapest form of energy production since 2020, and according to Clean Energy Canada, wind power is set to be 40% cheaper than gas fired power in Ontario by 2030.[13] A similar shift in focus of natural gas power over renewables was examined for the Western Balkan region in the report A Race to the Top Western Balkans 2024, where it was concluded that if the region were to focus on the prospective pipeline of renewable energy projects and grid expansion, the natural gas infrastructure buildout would not be necessary to ensure energy security.
Alberta and Agriculture First
The Renewable Electricity Act of 2020 provided for the development, implementation, and funding for the generation of renewable electricity in Alberta requiring the Minister to ensure that at least 30% of electricity produced in the province would come from renewable sources by 2030.[14] In 2022, 10% of electricity was produced from renewables and 2023 was estimated to reach 26% of electricity from renewable sources.[15] In spite of this momentum in renewable energy growth, in August 2023 the province of Alberta decided to enact a 7 month Moratorium in renewable energy projects over 1 MW, launching the 118 projects in development, and at least CA$33 billion worth of investments, into uncertainty. Including approximately 5.3 GW of potential wind power generation.[16] The Moratorium was lifted in February 2024 and the government announced an "agriculture first" approach to future renewable projects. This new plan would ban renewable projects on agricultural land deemed to have excellent or good irrigation potential and setting up 35 km buffer zones around areas classified as having pristine views.[17] The new restrictions are estimated to prohibit utility-scale renewable energy projects on up to 40% of Alberta's land and the viewscape limitation alone would cover about 23% of land.[18] Multiple utility-scale wind projects have been canceled or postponed, citing the Moratorium and Agriculture First restriction, including the 99 MW Tempest wind farm.[19] Investments have yet to return as companies choose to invest in other provinces. In 2023 there were about 1 GW of new wind farm projects announced in Alberta compared to 50 MW in 2024.[20]
British Columbia and First Nations Partnership
In February 2024 British Columbia (BC) announced updates to the energy objectives in the Clean Energy Act, including a new target of 100% electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. In April 2024 BC Hydro's Call for Power will see new sources of clean renewable power generation including projects that have a First Nations partnership component.[21] 35 First Nations are to receive CA$9.8 million in federal and provincial funding to develop clean energy projects. The projects will receive the funding through the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative.[22] Included in BC Hydro's Call for Power is a rule for a minimum percent of 25% equity ownership by one or more First Nations. The Call will also incentivize proposals that exceed the equity requirement. The BC Green Party proposes investments in wind, solar, and geothermal with no investments in nuclear projects. There are also proposals to invest CA$20 million annually in small scale distributed solar projects with solar accounting for 15% of electricity generations by 2035, and a mandate for a minimum of 50% equity ownership[ for First Nations in large scale renewable energy projects.[22] BC wants to make it easier and quicker for companies to receive permits for renewable energy projects by putting project approvals under the authority of the BC Energy Regulator. Companies previously had to work with multiple stakeholders to secure permits with jurisdictions often overlapping, leading to delays.[23]
Wind Energy Statistics 2022
According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), 677 MW of new wind energy was commissioned in 2021. Renewable energy in Alberta accounted for more than 60% of added capacity in 2021, followed by Saskatchewan with 20%.[24] At the end of 2021 Canada had approximately 14,300 MW of installed wind energy capacity.[25]
Canada's first offshore wind projects were planned to be built in lakes in Ontario. However, the plans fell through after the Ontario government imposed a moratorium on offshore wind in 2011. By the end of 2015 the moratorium was extended citing the need for further research in the environmental effects of offshore wind in lake waters. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the Ocean Renewable Energy Action Coalition (OREAC), and the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), Canada has an offshore wind potential of over 9,300 GW. 7,200 GW of this is estimated to be accessible through floating wind technology.[26]
Targets, Goals, and Barriers
Canada has a goal of utilizing larger turbines of up to 5.2 MW of capacity and newer technologies which will reduce the site footprint and potential impacts.[24] Nova Scotia has announced the auctioning of 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, starting in 2025, with the intent to support green hydrogen production. This announcement was made following the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to establish the Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance, an agreement to enable Canada to export green hydrogen to Germany by 2025.[26]
Provinces of Focus
Alberta
Rystad Energy tracks utility scale wind and solar assets with a minimum capacity of 1 MW. This company anticipates that 83% of the combined utility-scale wind and solar capacity to be installed in Canada in the next 5 years will be in Alberta. Alberta's current renewable capacity includes 0.1 GW of solar and 1.8 GW of wind power. By 2025, this capacity is expected to grow to 1.8 GW of solar and 6.5 GW of wind.[27]
Nova Scotia
Some view Nova Scotia as the most favorable location for wind projects with wind speeds of 10-11 meters per second, a continental shelf suited for both floating and fixed platforms, a connection to international shipping trade routes, a ready to diversify marine service and supply chain.[28] The cost of electricity from offshore wind has also decreased dramatically in recent years as developers have installed larger and more efficient turbines making offshore wind a major focus for Canadian wind energy development. Nova Scotia is a sought-after location for being one of the top potential wind markets, it has a uniquely large continental shelf, ideal for floating and fixed wind platforms.[29] The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Board - whose name was changed from Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) - will expand its mandate to include offshore renewable energy development.[26]
References
- ↑ McDougall, Melissa (2025-01-30). "NEWS RELEASE: CanREA marks fifth anniversary with special industry data report". Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ↑ "Summary Tables". Global Energy Monitor. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ↑ "By the Numbers". Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Global Wind Power Tracker". Global Energy Monitor. 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ↑ "Port au Port wind farm". Global Energy Monitor. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ↑ "Codroy wind farm". Global Energy Monitor. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ↑ "Long Range wind farm". Global Energy Monitor Wiki.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Burgeo Highway wind farm". Global Energy Monitor Wiki.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Overview of energy sector | Ontario Energy Board". www.oeb.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ "Canadian farm lobby presents renewable energy proposal". pv magazine International. 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ Collins, Georgia (2024-12-13). "Ontario Boosts Energy Procurement by 50% to Meet Demands". sustainabilitymag.com. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Park, Norman W. (2025-02-10). "Prioritizing nuclear power and natural gas over renewable energy is a risky move for Ontario's energy future". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ "Ontario switches gears, plans to increase renewable energy production by 2035; transition still too slow". The Pointer. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ "Renewable Electricity Act". Alberta Government.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Renewable Energy in Alberta: 16 Facts". Canada Action. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ "Investment Impact of Alberta's Renewable Energy Moratorium". www.pembina.org. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ says, Cob (2024-03-01). "Alberta lifts moratorium on renewable energy projects". pv magazine International. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ "Alberta Under Fire From Environmentalists for Restrictions on Renewable Energy". OilPrice.com. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ Sherif, Omar (May 03, 2024). "TransAlta scraps wind farm project as energy market changes loom for Alberta". CBC News.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Bakx, Kyle (October 24, 2024). "Alberta's squeeze on renewable energy has pushed investment to other provinces". CBC News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Fransen, Aaron (March 4, 2024). "Legislative, Procurement and Governmental Updates Signal that British Columbia is Ripe for Renewable Energy Development". Stikeman Elliott.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 22.0 22.1 eggermac (2024-10-21). "Renewable Energy in British Columbia: A Powerhouse in Hydro". Procido LLP | Legal + Advisory. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ↑ "B.C. to streamline regulatory process for clean energy projects". CBC News. February 08, 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Alberta's new wind infrastructure capacity leading Canada - constructconnect.com - Daily Commercial News". Daily Commercial News. 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ↑ "By the Numbers - Canadian Renewable Energy Association". Canadian Renewable Energy Association. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Buljan, Adrijana (September 21, 2022). "First Offshore Wind Leasing in Canada Set for 2025 as Nova Scotia Plans Large-Scale Green Hydrogen Production". offshoreWIND.biz.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Alberta could lead Canada in wind energy and solar power by 2025". REVE. September 21, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Nova Scotia sets first Canadian offshore wind power goal in Atlantic green hydrogen drive | Recharge". Recharge | Latest renewable energy news. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ↑ Communications Nova Scotia. "Province Sets Offshore Wind Target". News Releases. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
