As wind power generates electricity from the wind – an energy source that naturally renews or replenishes itself, it is considered renewable. And you have probably already seen a windfarm in Canada or different countries while walking or driving by them, easily recognizable like “giant fans”.
Wind farms can be found near farmland, in mountains, and even in the ocean. They are always in places where there are strong, frequent winds. As the concern for environmental health (air and water pollution, waste generation, etc.) is increasing across the world, wind power has been a growing possibility for many countries.
Talking about Canada, according to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s annual industry data for 2023, the country has increased installed capacity by 11.2% for a new total of 21.9 GW of wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage, which means Canada considers wind as a source to improve its energy efficiency in the long term.
The last data issued from the Government shows that in 2022, Canada added 1006 megawatts of installed capacity for wind energy for a total of 15’132 MW, accounting for 5.7% of total electricity generation, and providing enough electricity to power about 3 million homes.
Wind power across the world
Investments in wind power have also grown around the world. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the industry installed 117GW of new capacity in 2023, a record that made it the best year for WP. China is still the leader in wind power generation, followed by the United States and Germany, as you can check on the list below with the 20 countries that invest the most in wind power to generate electricity:
| Country | Generation (TWh) |
| World | 2098.46 |
| China | 762.70 |
| United States | 434.30 |
| Germany | 124.91 |
| United Kingdom | 80.26 |
| Brazil | 80.00 |
| India | 70.05 |
| Spain | 61.90 |
| France | 38.56 |
| Canada | 38.13 |
| Turkey | 35.14 |
| Sweden | 33.33 |
| Australia | 31.65 |
| Netherlands | 21.49 |
| Italy | 20.28 |
| Mexico | 20.23 |
| Poland | 19.73 |
| Denmark | 18.93 |
| Norway | 15.90 |
| Argentina | 14.02 |
| Portugal | 13.28 |
Largest wind farms in Canada
1st. Seigneurie de Beaupré, Quebec
Capacity: 363.5MW
2nd. Rivière-du-Moulin, Quebec
Capacity: 350MW
3rd. Blackspring Ridge, Alberta
Capacity: 300MW
4th. Henvey Inlet, Ontario
Capacity: 300MW
5th. Lac Alfred, Quebec
Capacity: 300MW
How is the progress of wind power in the main Canadian provinces?
Alberta has 44 wind farms, and according to the last data issued in 2019, the province’s wind fleet had a capacity of roughly 1 467 MW, ranking it 3rd highest in the country after Ontario and Quebec.
In September of 2023, the government announced The Cypress 2 project in southern Alberta, which expects to reduce GHG emissions by 67 tonnes per year, equivalent to removing over 20,000 cars off the road each year, and produce enough zero-emission electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 15,000 average homes.
Saskatchewan, such as Alberta, has abundant wind resources and is one of the sunniest places in the country. In 2018, 386 GW.h of electricity was generated from wind in the province. Between 2010 and 2017, Saskatchewan added a net 113 megawatts (MW) of renewable capacity, primarily in the form of wind (50 MW).
Its largest wind farm was opened near Assiniboia in 2022; a 50-turbine windfarm with capacity to generate enough power for 100,000 homes.
In British Columbia, wind power currently makes up about four percent of B.C.’s total electricity generation. Its biggest farm, Meikle Wind Farm, came online in 2017 and increased wind power capacity in the province by more than one-third — to almost 674 megawatts, being consequentially able to generate energy for up to 54,000 homes.
Talking about Ontario, between 2010 and 2017, the province added a net 7 152 megawatts (MW) of renewable capacity, primarily in wind (3 668 MW) and solar (2 299 MW). Today, the province has more than 2.500 turbines spinning, and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has plans to add roughly 5,000 MW of wind, hydro, solar, and biomass energy by 2030. There are currently 5,500 MW of wind turbines built in Ontario.
Regarding Quebec, the province is the second-largest jurisdiction for wind generation in Canada (after Ontario) and the second-largest jurisdiction for biomass in Canada (after British Columbia). The province’s wind farms produce over 4000 megawatts (MW) of energy according to government data. On the way to growth, In March 2023, Hydro-Quebec accepted projects to add an additional 1,150 MW of wind power to meet increased consumer demand between 2019 and 2029.
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