Wind, solar and storage can keep power affordable and grow Canadian manufacturing
Ottawa, October 13, 2026—Canadians recognize that more electricity will be needed to meet future demand, but they aren’t prepared to write a blank cheque for building out the system needed to meet it, according to a new national report.
National polling conducted for the report, Clean Power Nation: Meeting the Power Needs and Expectations of Canadians, released today by the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), found affordability was Canadians’ top priority for new electricity supply, ahead of reliability, how quickly new supply can be built, economic growth, energy security and reducing emissions.
Affordability ranked first in every region of the country, selected by 33 per cent of Canadians, more than twice any other individual priority, rising to 42 per cent among rural Canadians.
Canada Energy Regulator scenarios project national electricity demand will grow by between 26 and 85 per cent by 2050. About 80 per cent of Canada’s electricity is already generated from renewable and non-emitting sources. CanREA estimates meeting growing demand could require up to 64 gigawatts of new wind, solar and energy storage by the mid-2030s, representing an investment opportunity of up to $200 billion.
“Canada needs more wind, solar and energy storage,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO of CanREA. “They are affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable sources of electricity that can help meet Canada’s growing demand.”
Wind and solar can provide competitively priced new electricity, while battery storage can help match variable generation with demand and support reliability. When asked which source they would most like to see used to build more electricity supply, wind, solar and energy storage were selected collectively by 36 per cent of Canadians, more than any other individual source. Solar was selected by 21 per cent, wind by 12 per cent and energy storage by three per cent. Among other sources, hydroelectricity was selected by 20 per cent, nuclear power by 17 per cent and natural gas by 10 per cent.
The report also examines how to meet Canadians’ expectations for affordable electricity while expanding opportunities to manufacture wind, solar and energy storage components domestically. Additional research conducted for CanREA by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors identified nearly $100 billion in potential Canadian manufacturing opportunities through 2035. This includes approximately $35 billion in strong domestic manufacturing opportunities and approximately $63 billion in conditional or strategic opportunities requiring additional investment.
Under favourable conditions, Canadian-made components could account for up to 30 per cent of capital spent on new wind, solar and battery storage projects through 2035. This is an upper limit, not a forecast. Manufacturers surveyed said they need roughly five to 10 years of predictable demand before committing to new production.
“Building more wind power, solar energy and energy storage will create jobs, support industry and grow Canada’s economy,” said Imran Noorani, Vice President of Policy at CanREA. “With predictable demand and the right policy support, Canada has an opportunity to manufacture more of the equipment needed for the electricity buildout here at home.”
Clean Power Nation recommends action across utility-scale, commercial and industrial, and residential clean energy projects:
Large scale: utility-scale wind, solar and energy storage
- Provide federal tax and financing certainty by extending the Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits to 2040 and improving tax credit and tariff-remission administration.
- Support predictable procurement and Canadian manufacturing through five-to-10-year procurement roadmaps and targeted manufacturing support.
- Speed up approvals and strengthen financing for the transmission Canada needs.
- Expand Indigenous access to early-stage capital through Canada Infrastructure Bank financing.
Mid-sized: commercial and industrial clean energy projects
- Restore a federal funding pathway for commercial and industrial clean energy projects.
Small scale: residential clean energy
- Expand access to affordable financing for home clean energy through a low-interest loan program.
-30-
CanREA’s backgrounder is available here.
The full report is available here.
Polling methodology: Innovative Research Group conducted an online survey for CanREA from September 4 to 18, 2026, with 2,818 Canadian citizens aged 18 and older. The final sample was weighted to n=1,500 using Statistics Canada Census data. Additional polling results are available in Innovative Research Group’s backgrounder.
Quotes
“Canada needs more wind, solar and energy storage. They are affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable sources of electricity that can help meet Canada’s growing demand.”
—Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)
“Building more wind power, solar energy and energy storage will create jobs, support industry and grow Canada’s economy. With predictable demand and the right policy support, Canada has an opportunity to manufacture more of the equipment needed for the electricity buildout here at home.”
—Imran Noorani, Vice President of Policy, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)
About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice of wind, solar and energy storage in Canada. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system that makes significant and sustainable use of renewable energy and energy storage while providing affordable, reliable and clean power to Canadians.
For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact:
Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
communications@renewablesassociation.ca