This blog has been edited due to Bill C-59
Did you know that Canada is a global leader in wind power? Home to the world’s ninth-largest onshore wind capacity, the renewable energy source is increasingly being used to generate electricity to power homes and businesses across the country.
Canada’s vast geographies have several strategic areas with ideal wind regimes that are in relatively close proximity to existing electrical grids. Today, wind farms are found in 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, with Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Alberta and Ontario leading the way.
But wait, there’s more to learn about Canada’s booming wind power sector! Below are several facts on wind energy in Canada that you may or may not know. Also see:
13 Facts on Canadian Wind Energy
#1 - Canada was home to the eighth-largest installed wind capacity in the world in 2022 [2]
#2 - Electricity from wind is one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity in the world and in Canada; in 2021, wind accounted for 5.5% of Canadian power generation [1]
#3 - Canadian wind power capacity has nearly tripled between 2011 and 2022, up to 15.1 terawatts (TW) [1]
#4 - Canadian wind power generation more than tripled (3.5x) between 2011 and 2021, up to 34.4 terawatt-hours (TWh) [1]
#5 – In 2022, wind accounted for 6.1% of Canada’s electricity production [6]
#6 - 11 of 13 Canadian provinces and territories rely on wind to generate electricity supply, with wind power accounting for the following share of electricity generation [1]:
• Canada – 5.5%
• Prince Edward Island – 96.8%
• Nova Scotia – 13.9%
• Alberta – 8%
• Ontario – 7.6%
• New Brunswick – 6.6%
• Quebec – 5.1%
• Manitoba – 3.3%
• Saskatchewan – 3.1%
• British Columbia – 2.5%
• Northwest Territories – 2.4%
• Newfoundland & Labrador – 0.4%
#7 - Canada is home to 337 wind energy projects producing electricity across the country [2]
#8 - National wind energy capacity grew by 11.3% across Canada in 2022 [2]
#9 - Alberta’s Black Spring Ridge and Ontario’s Henvey Inlet are Canada’s two largest wind power project; both have a total generation capacity of 300 megawatts (MW)[1]
#10 - Alberta’s Black Spring Ridge Wind Project in Vulcan County is Canada’s largest by turbine count, with 166 wind turbines [2]
#11 - Sharp Hills Onshore Wind Farm in Alberta has up to 300MW, generating enough electricity to power 160,000 average homes in the province [3]
#12 - Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia plan on spending a combined $16 billion on wind energy projects over the next 10 years:
• Ontario – 2 projects, $3 billion
• Alberta – 18 projects, $5 billion
• British Columbia – 5 projects, $4 billion
#13 – Alberta was home to Canada’s first commercial wind farm, Cowley Ridge, which was established in 1994 [5]
Canadian Wind Energy is Growing
Canada is home to many regions with strong wind profiles, particularly on the East and West Coasts, in a portion of northern Manitoba, and in southern areas of the prairie provinces.
As a global leader in renewable energy production, Canada’s wind power generating capacity is expected to grow significantly over the coming years. Canada’s wind energy market is expected to hit 18.17 GW in 2024 and grow up to 27.75 GW by 2029 [4] – a 53% increase!
Canada has a long history of renewable energy leadership. Whether that be through the build-out of new solar, wind, and hydro projects, or research and development into geothermal and tidal energies, Canadians should be proud of the progress our country has made in advancing renewables nationwide!
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British Columbia is primed to become one of the most reliable and lowest-carbon-emitting suppliers of critical minerals.https://t.co/r1pX5OuwKV
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) June 7, 2024
SOURCES:
1 - https://energy-information.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/energy-factbook-2023-2024.pdf
2 - https://renewablesassociation.ca/by-the-numbers/
3 - https://www.airswift.com/blog/wind-energy-canada
4 - https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/canada-wind-energy-market
5 - http://www.inference.org.uk/sustainable/images/blyth/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Wind%20Power%20Development%20in%20Canada.pdf
6 - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wind-energy