Renewables in Canada
Canada, with its massive land area and diverse landscapes, is blessed with substantial renewable resources – moving water, wind, biomass, solar, geothermal and ocean energy – that have allowed our nation to become a global leader in renewable energy production. Today, Canada stands as the 7th largest producer of renewable energy in the world, with renewables accounting for more than 16 per cent of our primary energy supply and around 67 per cent of our total electricity demand.
Canada’s leadership in renewables is exemplified by a long list of facts, one being that our country exports about eight per cent of our electricity to the U.S. where it displaces more greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive generation and prevents millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the atmosphere each year. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our renewable leadership on the global stage.
Canadian Renewable Industry Facts
Globally, Canada is the…
- 4th largest producer of hydropower in the world
- 6th largest producer of electricity in the world, most of which is generated from renewable sources
- 7th largest producer of renewable energy in the world
- 9th largest producer of onshore wind power in the world
- 10th largest producer of bioenergy in the world
Canada is also global leader in clean tech and innovation, ranking 2nd on the Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2021 with 11 out of 100 companies named to the list. To add, both the private and public sector are investing significant resources into exploring the use of geothermal and hydrogen as new sources of renewable energy.
Renewable Sector & Environmental Leadership
- Canada generates about 67 per cent of its electricity demand from renewable sources such as hydro, wind and solar
- Canada was the world’s 3rd largest exporter of electricity in 2018, which displaces more GHG-intensive power generation in the U.S.
- Six Canadian provinces and territories generated more than 94 per cent of their electricity demand from renewable sources in 2017
- Between 2010 and 2018, renewable electricity generation in Canada increased by 16 per cent, with wind and solar experiencing the largest growth
- More wind energy was built in Canada from 2009 to 2019 than any other form of electricity generation
Also see these 75+ Canadian Renewable Energy Facts for even more examples of our nation’s global leadership on renewables today!
*Sources: Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada, International Renewable Energy Agency, International Hydropower Association, Canadian Wind Energy Association
The World Needs More Canadian Energy
Canada’s vast renewable resources present an incredible opportunity to provide the world – namely North America – with more renewably produced energy. Canadian hydropower, for example, currently generates more than 81,000 megawatts (MW) of power, but with our nations’ vast network of lakes and rivers we could more than double that capacity in the years to come.
Expanding our network of renewable energy capacity in Canada could help displace more GHG-intensive forms of electricity generation both here at home and in the U.S., while also rising to meet growing North American demand for power generation.
The world needs more Canadian energy; as one of the world’s most transparent, regulated and environmentally conscious energy producers, we should be a global supplier of choice for all forms of energy!
Join Us Today!
Canada’s global leadership in clean tech and renewables means that we have a key part to play in the energy transition to a lower carbon future. Whether it be building large scale wind, solar and hydro projects, or developing new and innovative technologies to drive down carbon emission intensities for large emitters, Canada has proven time-and-time again that our nation takes climate action seriously.
The truth is that the world will need all forms of energy for many years to come. Renewables – being the fastest growing source of electricity production in Canada over the past decade – have a major part to play in our future energy mix. It’s critical that we support all Canadian workers in the energy sector as it is their ingenious and innovative ideas that have made our nation a global leader in environmentally responsible energy production.
Learn why the world needs more Canadian renewable energy by joining us at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook today. We hope to see you there!
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