Renewable energy in Canada - statistics & facts

Stretching nearly ten million square kilometers across the North American continent, Canada’s vast landmass and rich endowment of renewable resources have made it a world leader in renewable energy. As of 2022, Canada was among the leading countries in renewable energy capacity worldwide, with 106 gigawatts installed. With more than two-thirds of electricity generated from renewable sources, Canada’s electricity mix is already one of the cleanest in the world.

The Pan-Canadian Framework

Nevertheless, ambitious climate policies such as the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change aim for an even cleaner energy future through coal phase-out and increased renewable electricity generation. Canada’s renewable energy sector is dominated by hydropower, though recent years have seen considerable growth in wind and solar assets.

Leading the hydropower race

Canada is among the top five countries in cumulative hydropower capacity worldwide, thanks to its rich water resources. Roughly 500 large and small-scale hydro facilities are spread throughout the country, though the largest hydropower generation share is in Quebec. The majority of renewable electricity generation in Canada is sourced from hydropower, accounting for more than 60 percent of generated power in 2022. Hydropower consumption has remained relatively stable over the past two decades and stood at 3.7 exajoules in 2022.

Strong growth in wind and solar

In line with the country’s climate targets, there has been significant growth in utilizing other renewable energy sources over the past decade. The share of wind energy in total electricity production has seen continuous growth, standing at about six percent in 2022. An even greater growth trend can be seen in Canada’s installed capacity of photovoltaic power, which increased 20-fold between 2010 and 2022. Developments such as these will ensure Canada remains a global leader in renewable energy in the years to come.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Lucía Fernández, Nov 28, 2023

Key insights

Global renewable energy consumption
45.18 EJ
Canada's largest renewable source
Hydropower
Canada's renewable energy capacity
106 GW
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Cumulative installed capacity of wind energy in Canada from 2012 to 2022 (in megawatts)

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Canada's installed wind power capacity 2012-2022

Capacity of the largest onshore wind power plants in Canada as of July 2023 (in megawatts)

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Largest operating onshore wind farms in Canada 2023, by capacity

Cumulative installed capacity of solar photovoltaic power in Canada from 2010 to 2022 (in megawatts)

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Installed solar PV capacity in Canada 2010-2022

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