The New Geography Of Wind Power In Canada

Wind power has become one of Canada’s fastest-growing energy sources. The country now ranks 9th in the world for installed onshore wind capacity. By early 2025, Canada’s total wind capacity reached nearly 19 gigawatts (GW). That’s enough power to light up millions of Canadian homes.

Canada now ranks 9th in the world for installed onshore wind capacity, with nearly 19 gigawatts reached by early 2025.

The growth has been steady and fast. Wind capacity grew 8.2% in 2024 alone, outpacing both the U.S. and Germany. It’s also more than tripled by 2021. In 2023, wind power produced 40.1 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, making up about 6.4% of Canada’s total power supply. By 2025, an estimated 50.5 million megawatt-hours was generated, a 10.1% jump from the year before.

Wind farms now operate in 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories. Ontario leads the country with 5,532 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity and 2,712 turbines. Quebec comes second with 3,992 MW, and Alberta is third with 3,618 MW. Prince Edward Island stands out for a different reason. In 2023, wind supplied 82.9% of its electricity, the highest share of any province.

Quebec and Alberta are planning big expansions. Quebec’s aiming to add 3,545 MW by 2030. Alberta’s targeting 2,413 MW more, which could push its renewable energy share to 53%. Across Canada, wind’s expected to make up 70% of all new renewable additions through 2030. Total capacity is projected to reach 23.5 GW by 2029 and possibly 50 GW by 2035.

The economic side’s significant too. Wind, solar, and storage projects could represent $205 billion in investment over the next decade. In Alberta, industry reports suggest repowered turbines now achieve roughly 42% capacity factors and trimmed operating costs to CAD $12 per megawatt-hour. Canada’s cumulative installed wind capacity has grown consistently each year from 2012 through 2024, reflecting over a decade of uninterrupted expansion.

But there are real challenges. Alberta reportedly curtailed 508 gigawatt-hours of wind power in 2024, a 178% increase from the year before. Its grid substations are running near their limits. Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula faces transmission bottlenecks until at least 2029. These infrastructure gaps could slow down what’s otherwise been a remarkable shift in where and how Canada gets its power.

✅ Claims in this article were verified using AI-assisted fact-checking.