Because of its large oil, gas and coal resources, Canada has been slow to transition to renewable energy compared to some other developed nations.
Canada has a significant amount of hydropower, a renewable source of energy that is controversial due to its significant environmental and social impacts. Because of Canada’s easily available hydro and hydrocarbon resources, many provinces and territories have lagged in the development of other renewable energy sources with lighter footprints, such as solar, run-of-river hydroelectric, tidal, wind and geothermal.
However, in recent years there have been some significant changes, mostly notably in East and Atlantic Canada. Electricity from wind power varies widely across the country. For example Nova Scotia gets approximately 14 per cent of its electricity from wind power, Ontario 6 per cent and British Columbia 2 per cent.
Canada has committed to achieving 90 per cent of its electricity from zero-emission sources by 2030, so electricity from these sources is expected to grow in coming years.
We track Canada’s renewable energy revolution.
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