In a new publication covering current and planned projects, the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) expects wind power to drive the country’s growth in the renewable energy sector through 2030, with wind comprising around 70 percent of proposed renewable power capacity additions.
The CER’s interactive online publication – titled “Renewable Energy in Canada: Current Status and Near-Term Developments” – covers trends in the country’s renewable energy sector, projects planned over the next five years, and diverse energy sources.
According to the CER’s news release, the new publication lets readers look up local information relevant to their own province or territory and compare and contrast regions.
“Over the past decade, declining capital costs, evolving policy frameworks and improved efficiency have made renewable projects in Canada, both large and small, cost-competitive with conventional electricity sources,” said Darren Christie, the CER’s chief economist, in the news release.
By 2030, the CER expects renewables to account for 72.9 percent of Canada’s electricity capacity, up from 70.5 percent in 2025. Five years from now, there will be 8,745 MW of additional renewable electricity capacity, comprising 6,206 MW of new wind, 2,337 MW of new solar power, and 202 MW of new hydroelectricity.
From 2010–23, the country increased its total electricity generation capacity by 19 percent and its renewable capacity by 30 percent. The following provinces were primarily responsible for this growth: Ontario (30 percent), Quebec (23 percent), Alberta (18 percent), and BC (15 percent).
The CER highlighted an increasing number of renewable power projects owned by or developed in collaboration with Indigenous peoples and communities.
Across provinces
The CER’s news release noted that Quebec is still Canada’s biggest renewable power producer. The province, which will lead the country’s growth in renewable power capacity over the next five years, plans to add 3,545 MW in 2030 and marginally increase its renewable capacity share from 97.5 percent in 2025 to 97.7 percent by 2030.
The CER shared that Alberta and British Columbia are following Quebec’s lead. Alberta intends to add 2,413 MW of renewable power over the next five years and raise its renewable power capacity share from 46.6 percent in 2025 to 53 percent by 2030.
Meanwhile, BC proposes to add 1,635 MW of renewable power over the next five years. The province will slightly increase its renewable capacity share from 97.2 percent in 2025 to 97.6 percent by 2030.
Read next: How the BC Energy Regulator oversees energy resources in British Columbia
Energy sources
According to the CER’s news release, as Canada’s dominant electricity source, hydro made up for 58 percent of electricity generation.
Over 90 percent of power in BC, Manitoba, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon came from hydroelectric sources.
The CER noted that wind is the country’s second-largest renewable source, accounting for around six percent of electricity generation. The CER added that solar and biomass each comprised another one percent of electricity generation.
Read next: Hydro permits: Key rules for electrical and water projects