Wind power is expected to account for about 70 per cent of all planned renewable electricity-capacity additions in Canada between now and 2030, according to the Canada Energy Regulator. The CER released a new report on national renewables deployment last week that says wind farms will add roughly 6,206 megawatts (MW) by 2030, making it the dominant growth engine for Canadian clean electricity capacity.
The report, “Renewable Energy in Canada: Current Status and Near-Term Developments,” outlines a possible expansion of more than 8,745 MW in renewable capacity by 2030. In addition to new wind — the bulk of the growth — planned capacity includes about 2,337 MW from solar and 202 MW from hydroelectric projects.
With these additions, renewables could represent approximately 72.9 per cent of Canada’s total electricity capacity by 2030, up from 70.5 per cent in 2025.
Provinces at the Forefront: Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia
The report highlights that three provinces — Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia — lead the slated growth in renewable power capacity. Quebec is projected to add 3,545 MW, sustaining its position as the province with the largest share of renewables. Alberta, with 2,413 MW of planned additions, ranks second; British Columbia follows with 1,635 MW of new capacity.
By 2030, Alberta’s renewable-capacity share is forecast to grow from 46.6 per cent in 2025 to 53 per cent. In British Columbia, the share would rise modestly, from 97.2 per cent to 97.6 per cent. In Quebec, which already operates with a high proportion of renewable generation mostly from hydroelectricity, the share is expected to edge up slightly from 97.5 per cent to 97.7 per cent by 2030.
Furthermore, the report notes a rising number of renewable projects owned by — or developed in partnership with — Indigenous communities, suggesting a larger role for Indigenous-led or co-developed clean energy projects across Canada.
Renewable Growth Outpacing Overall Capacity Expansion
Between 2010 and 2023, Canada’s total electricity generation capacity increased by 19 per cent. Over the same period, renewable electricity capacity expanded by roughly 30 per cent.
The CER’s latest projections indicate that renewables remain the backbone of Canada’s electricity-system growth, with the bulk of near-term new capacity coming from wind, followed by solar and small incremental hydro additions.
Drivers Behind the Forecast
According to the CER, several factors support the expected surge in renewables. Declining capital costs for wind and solar, emerging provincial and federal policy frameworks, and improving technology efficiencies have made renewables — especially wind — increasingly cost-competitive with conventional electricity generation.
The regulator’s forecast aligns with broader market-analysis from industry groups, which suggest strong growth potential for wind, solar and storage across major Canadian markets.
The growing involvement of Indigenous communities in project ownership and development is another trend noted by CER, reflecting a shift toward more inclusive renewables deployment models.
Implications for Canada’s Energy Future
If the forecast materialises, Canada’s electricity sector will draw even more heavily on wind power. That would reduce reliance on fossil-fuel generation and help the country progress toward national clean-electricity and decarbonisation targets — with wind at the core of the transition.
For provinces such as Alberta and British Columbia, which have traditionally relied more on thermal or hydro generation, the planned renewables build-out signals a shifting regional energy landscape. For Quebec, it reinforces its dominant position in clean power, while potentially offering new diversification in generation mix.
The expansion underlines the importance of transmission infrastructure, grid integration and planning — including updated regulation, investment, and grid upgrades — to accommodate new intermittent renewable capacity. The growing role of Indigenous-led or partnered projects may also influence community-level energy governance, benefit distribution, and First Nations participation in the low-carbon transition.
What’s Next
The CER report provides a snapshot of planned projects as of 2025. Actual delivery will depend on financing, timelines, provincial and federal policy consistency, supply-chain conditions, and permitting environments. Changes in any of these factors — along with evolving demand patterns and grid-system realities — could affect outcomes.
The regulator’s underlying datasets are publicly available, allowing analysts, policymakers and stakeholders to explore regional breakdowns and scenario projections. As renewables deployment accelerates, future CER updates will be key to tracking whether Canada stays on the projected path toward a largely renewable electricity system by 2030 and beyond.
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