Renewable energy build-out is now a national story, with 8 GW of new capacity expected by 2029
Ottawa, February 3, 2026—On the heels of two years of modest numbers of new wind energy, solar energy and energy storage projects in Canada, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) expects 2026 to set a pace for steady growth that will continue into the next decade and beyond. That’s the overarching theme that emerges from the new annual industry data report that CanREA is releasing today.
“The momentum is building fast. We expect Canada’s installed wind, solar, and energy storage capacity to grow by a third in the next four years and double in the next decade,” says Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO. “At CanREA, we are working hard to clear the path ahead and reduce the friction to building clean energy projects from coast to coast.”
In 2025, Canada saw the completion of a modest number of wind and solar projects in comparison with recent years, while energy storage grew substantially:
- Storage: In Ontario, the E-LT1 procurements and bilateral agreements resulted in 502 MW of grid-connected battery energy storage in 2025, with another 8 MW of energy storage added in Alberta.
- Wind: Three wind farms, located in Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick and totalling 347 MW, came online.
- Solar: 57 MW of utility-scale solar projects in Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon became operational.
These projects bring the total additions for wind, solar and energy storage in Canada to approximately 1,000 MW (1 GW). The total installed capacity in Canada is now roughly 25 GW, an increase of 56% since 2020.
While not a record-breaking year for capacity growth, it is clearer now than ever before that Canada’s future will be powered by wind, solar and storage. Announcements now total nearly 24 GW of opportunities in the next 10 years, with projects under construction and in advanced stages of development expected to connect roughly 8 GW of utility-scale wind, solar and storage to grids nationwide by 2029. This does not include projects connected behind customer utility meters.
Beyond these additions already underway or announced, the report Canada’s Renewable Energy Market Outlook 2025 projects that by 2035, Canada will deploy:
- 30 to 51 GW of new wind power
- 17 to 26 GW of new solar power
- 12 to 16 GW of new energy storage
The report further forecasts that between 2035 and 2050, total installed capacity for all these technologies will grow by another 50%–60%.
For the past five years, Canada’s clean energy growth was concentrated mostly in Alberta. Today, the story is national, as provincial authorities seek to meet real, growing demand for more power through transparent, competitive procurements.
Ontario is leading the charge on this front, commissioning multiple battery energy storage systems (BESS) in 2025 and early 2026, including Oneida, the largest energy storage facility in Canada. Even larger successors are slated for 2026.
Quebec and British Columbia have also each procured or will soon procure thousands of megawatts of renewable energy that will come online in the next decade, tripling Quebec’s current wind and solar capacity and quadrupling B.C.’s.
“2025 marked a new phase in Canada’s clean energy build-out. Renewable procurement is becoming a nationwide reality, with a trajectory that now extends well beyond one or two jurisdictions that were first out of the gates,” explains Imran Noorani, CanREA’s Vice President of Policy. “Canada is demonstrating what a modern nation-building program looks like: stable procurement, smart incentives, a skilled workforce, and Indigenous and community partnerships. Investors are taking note, and this is how we build Canada strong—with a clean electricity backbone.”
As governments, utilities and electricity system operators plan for this renewable energy future, CanREA is heartened by the level of community and First Nations engagement seen in 2025. Over 70% of new grid-connected projects installed in 2025 were built with some level of Indigenous ownership and involvement. According to the Indigenous Energy Monitor, there are currently 118 Indigenous-owned wind, solar and energy storage projects in operation in Canada.
“2025 also marked a turning point for customers choosing solar and storage to meet their energy needs behind commercial utility meters,” points out Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Director of Member Programs, who leads the annual data release. “We’re seeing everything from residential solar accelerating to innovative microgrids in First Nation communities and large industrial batteries. It’s an exciting time for wind, solar and energy storage in Canada.”
Facts at a glance
- Led by Ontario, Canada’s energy storage capacity more than doubled to a total of nearly 1 GW in 2025 and is set to nearly double again in the next two years.
- Canada’s total wind, solar and storage installed capacity grew 56% since 2020, including more than 5 GW of new wind, more than 3 GW of new solar and hundreds of megawatts of new energy storage.
- Canada’s total wind, solar and storage installed capacity is now approximately 25 GW, including nearly 19 GW of wind, more than 5 GW of solar and nearly 1 GW energy storage.
- Total installed capacity of wind, solar and storage in Canada is expected to increase by 32% by 2029 and double by 2035.
- There are currently 118 Indigenous-owned wind, solar and energy storage projects in operation in Canada.
- Almost every major wind, solar and energy storage procurement process in Canada in 2025 had specific criteria or incentives regarding Indigenous participation or ownership.
- Recent and upcoming procurements are expected to triple Quebec’s wind and solar installed capacity (from about 4.5 GW to over 14 GW) and quadruple British Columbia’s (from about 900 MW to 4 GW).
- In 2025, renewable energy met 9.7% of Canada’s total electricity demand.
- The Canada Greener Homes Initiative, which supported solar photovoltaic installations and wound down in October 2025, served over 50,000 homes, totalling around around 500 MW of installed solar capacity.
For more information
To download a summary table of CanREA’s latest industry data and a full PDF report, visit CanREA’s “By the Numbers” webpage. CanREA members have access to a more detailed data table on the members-only side of the website.
Quotes
“The momentum is building fast. We expect Canada’s installed wind, solar, and energy storage capacity to grow by a third in the next four years and double in the next decade. At CanREA, we are working hard to clear the path ahead and reduce the friction to building clean energy projects from coast to coast.”
—Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
“2025 marked a new phase in Canada’s clean energy build-out. Renewable procurement is becoming a nationwide reality, with a trajectory that now extends well beyond one or two trailblazing jurisdictions. Canada is demonstrating what a modern nation-building program looks like: stable procurement, smart incentives, a skilled workforce, and Indigenous and community partnerships. Investors are taking note, and this is how we build a strong Canada—with a clean electricity backbone.”
—Imran Noorani, Vice President of Policy, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
“2025 also marked a turning point for customers choosing solar and storage to meet their energy needs behind commercial utility meters. We’re seeing everything from residential solar accelerating to innovative microgrids in First Nation communities and large industrial batteries. It’s an exciting time for wind, solar and energy storage in Canada.”
—Phil McKay, Senior Director of Member Programs, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
For media interview opportunities, please contact:
Joshua Bleser, Manager of Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
communications@renewablesassociation.ca
About CanREA
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision. Follow us on LinkedIn here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.