February 10, 2023 – The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) reports Canada’s wind and solar energy sectors “grew significantly” in 2022.

Western Canada accounted for 98% of Canada’s total growth in 2022, with Alberta adding 1391 MW and Saskatchewan adding 387 MW of installed capacity in 2022. Quebec contributed 24 MW to the total growth for 2022, Ontario 10 MW, and Nova Scotia 2 MW.

“I am happy to see that, across Canada, the sector grew by an impressive 10.5% […]” said CanREA’s Phil McKay. “Canada now has an installed capacity of more than 19 GW of utility-scale wind and solar energy, having added more than 1.8 GW of new generation capacity in 2022.”

Some 2022 facts from CanREA…

Canada added more than 1.8 GW of new generation capacity in 2022.

CanREA forecasts the addition of more than 5 GW of wind, 2 GW of major solar, and 1 GW of energy storage capacity in the short term (2023-2025).

Solar energy grew by 25.9% (810 MW) in 2022, to a new total installed capacity of nearly 4 GW.

More than a quarter of Canada’s current solar capacity was installed in 2022.

Alberta accounts for almost all this growth, with 759 MW of 771 MW. Saskatchewan installed 10 MW, Nova Scotia 2 MW, and Yukon 0.1 MW this year.

As of 2022 year end, Ontario had more than 1.9 GW of installed solar PV capacity.

Wind energy grew by 7.1% (1 GW) this year, to a new total of more than 15 GW of installed capacity.

Western Canada led the way in 2022, thanks to growth in Alberta (nearly 605 MW) and Saskatchewan (377 MW), as well as some (24 MW) new wind in Quebec.

As of year end 2022, Ontario had more than 5.5 GW in total installed wind capacity, Quebec had nearly 4 GW. Alberta had a new total of 2.6 GW, Saskatchewan had 804 MW of installed wind capacity, and Nova Scotia had 616.

Across Canada, energy storage increased by 30.5% or 50 MW, now accounting for nearly 214 MW of energy storage capacity (347 MWh duration), up from 164 MW/ 277 MWh in 2021.

This increase was led by Alberta (40 MW/40 MWh). Alberta doubled its energy storage capacity this year.

As of year end 2022, Ontario had the most installed energy storage capacity, with 126 MW/240 MWh, having added 10 MW/30 MWh in 2022, while Alberta had 82 MW/92 MWh.