Wind Power in Canada: 15 Facts & Statistics

Key Takeaways:

Global Leader: Canada ranks 9th globally for installed onshore wind capacity, with nearly 19 megawatts (MW) installed.
Powering Provinces: Wind farms now operate in 11 of Canada's 13 provinces and territories, with Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta leading the way.
Economic Opportunity: The development of wind, solar, and energy storage could represent a total investment opportunity of up to $205 billion over the next decade.

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Did you know that Canada is a global leader in wind power generation? Home to the world’s ninth-largest onshore wind capacity (2024), the renewable electricity source is increasingly being used to power homes and businesses across the country. Canada’s vast geography has several strategic areas with ideal wind regimes that are relatively close to existing electrical grids.

Today, wind farms are found in 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, with Nova Scotia, Alberta and Ontario leading the way in development. Below are several fun facts on wind energy in Canada that you may or may not know. Also see:

15 Facts on Canadian Wind Energy

#1 - Canada was home to the 9th largest capacity of wind power globally with 18,376 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity – just behind France (24,592 MW) and ahead of Sweden (17,239 MW) ^[2]

#2 - Canada saw wind power capacity grow 8.2% in 2024 year-over-year, outpacing the U.S. and Germany which saw zero growth ^[2]

#3 - Wind power accounted for 6.4% of Canada’s total electricity generation in 2023 ^[1]

#4 - Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Alberta had the highest share of generation from wind in 2023, with 82.9%, 15.2%, and 12.7%, respectively ^[1]

#5 - Wind power is one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity in Canada, with capacity growing 3x between 2011 and 2023, reaching 16.1 gigawatts (GW) ^[1]

#6 - Canada’s wind power generation has nearly quadrupled between 2011 and 2023, reaching 40.1 Terawatt-hours (TWh) ^[1]

#7 - Ontario is the largest wind power-generating province in Canada, with 5,532 (MW) capacity, while Quebec (3,992 MW) and Alberta (3,618 MW) are a close second and third ^[1]

#8 - Ontario is home to the most wind turbines (2,712) in Canada as of 2024, with Quebec (2,005) and Alberta (1,558) coming in second and third ^[4]

#9 - In 2025, three wind farms, located in Alberta, Quebec, and New Brunswick totalling 347 MW of capacity, came online, bringing Canada’s total installed capacity to nearly 19 GW ^[3]

#10 - Canada is projected to increase its wind power generating capacity from 18.7 GW in 2025 up to 23.5 GW by 2029 and potentially 50 GW by 2035 ^[3]

#11 - Development of renewables including wind, solar, and energy storage, could help attract up to $20 billion in investment annually and create a total investment opportunity of up to $205 billion in the next ten years ^[3]

#12 - In 2025, Ontario awarded new contracts of 963 MW of wind energy to existing projects that will exceed their original 20-year contracts, with most set to extend another 5 years; most farms can operate for more than a decade beyond their original 20-year project life ^[3]

#13 - In Quebec, the Apuiat Wind Farm came online in 2025, boasting 50% Innu Nation ownership; the project is a small part of a large plan in Quebec to realize 10 GW of wind power by 2035 ^[3]

#14 - In New Brunswick, the Neweg Energy Project wind farm came online, consisting of six wind turbines with a collective installed capacity of 25 MW ^[3]

#15 - Nova Scotia has significant wind power ambitions, both onshore and offshore, expecting to add approximately 1 GW of onshore capacity to the grid by 2030 ^[3]

Canadian Wind Energy is Growing

Canada has 337 wind energy projects producing power across the country

Canada's wind energy future is looking exceptionally bright, with capacity projected to increase from 18.7 GW in 2025 to 23.5 GW by 2029, and potentially reach a remarkable 50 GW by 2035 — nearly tripling current capacity in just a decade ^[3]. As it has been over the past several years, wind power is expected to remain the single biggest driver of Canada's renewable electricity growth through 2030, representing a significant opportunity to unlock billions of dollars in economic activity over the next decade ^[3].

Nova Scotia’s offshore wind power potential is by far one of the largest opportunities for Canada to reach its future renewable energy goals. According to the provincial government, it plans to build up to 15 GW of offshore capacity between 2033 and 2040, enough to power approximately 11 million homes ^[5], which together could total $60 billion in capital spending – $40 billion to the wind farms and another $20 billion for the lines to transport the electricity.

With wind already accounting for 6.4% of Canada's electricity generation and growing rapidly, it is poised to play an increasingly central role in Canada's renewable energy growth, powering homes, supporting Indigenous partnerships, and attracting major capital investment for decades to come.

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