Wind energy is the fastest-growing major source of new electricity in Canada. It is also growing rapidly in more than 90 countries around the world, including the U.S. where four states now generate 30 per cent or more of their electricity using wind energy.
As of August 2018, Canada’s installed wind energy capacity was 12,796 megawatts (MW) — enough to power over 3.8 million homes, supplying about six per cent of our country’s electricity demand. Four new projects saw completion that added 546 MW of new installed capacity, representing approximately $962 million of investment. Two of the four projects included significant ownership stakes from Aboriginal Peoples, municipal corporations or local owners. There are now 297 wind farms operating from coast to coast, including projects in two of the three northern territories.
Over the last five years, Canada’s wind energy capacity has grown by an average of 15 per cent annually and over the past 11 years, more wind energy was installed in Canada than any other form of electricity generation. We now rank ninth in the world in terms of installed wind energy capacity.
Bloomberg NEF estimates that renewable energy sources are set to represent almost three quarters of the $10.2 trillion the world will invest in new power generating technology until 2040, thanks to rapidly-falling costs for wind and solar power, and a growing role for batteries, including electric vehicle batteries, in balancing electricity supply and demand. With Canada’s unparalleled wind resource, there are still opportunities to do more to maximize the economic, industrial development, and environmental benefits associated with wind energy development.
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