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Data Sources
This publication provides a comprehensive overview of renewable electricity capacity and generation across provinces and territories.Footnote 1 It examines historical trends, current capacity, and near-term project developments – specifically major projects that are currently planned or under construction – to offer a clear picture of the evolving landscape. Sections in this publication also highlight bioenergy and the share of renewable energy in end-use demand. These sections provide additional insights and advance our understanding of how renewable energy is being used across the country.
Data Sources
Electricity Generation
Mainly Statistics Canada. Tables 25-10-0020-01, 25-10-0084-01, and 25-10-0028-01 are combined to display data for all categories and years.
Electricity Generation Capacity
Mainly Statistics Canada. Table 25-10-0022-01 and Table 25-10-0023-01 are combined to display data for all of the categories. It is supplemented by additional project-level data for planned capacity from provincial governments, utilities, and system operators, as well as industry associations.
Solid Biofuels
Statistics Canada, Tables 25-10-0025-01, 25-10-0084-01, 25-10-0031-01. Also, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wood Pellets Annual 2023, Canadian Bioheat Database, and the National Energy Use Database’s Comprehensive Energy Use Database. The data is also supplemented by project-level data for planned capacity published by Wood Pellets Association of Canada.
Liquid Biofuels
Advanced Biofuels Canada – Biofuels in Canada 2024 report, Statistics Canada Table 25-10-0082-01, ECCC data collected under Renewable Fuel Regulations, and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Canada Biofuels Annual 2024. The data is supplemented with additional project level data for planned capacity from project websites and other published data.
Gaseous Biofuels
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s National Inventory Report 1990-2023: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada, provincial utilities data, Canadian Biogas Association, and Statistics Canada Table 25-10-0084-01. The data is supplemented with additional project level data for planned capacity from provincial utilities, Canada Gas Association, and project websites.
Share of Renewable Energy in End-use Demand
End-use energy and electricity demand data comes from Statistics Canada Table 25-10-0029-01. Electricity generation data comes from Table 25-10-0015-01.
Renewable electricity demand in each sector is estimated using the following formulas:
- Industry: (electricity demand for industry-generated electricity × share of renewable energy in industrial electricity generation) + (electricity demand for grid electricity × share of renewable energy in utility electricity generation)
- All other sectors: (electricity demand for grid electricity × share of renewable energy in utility electricity generation) + (electricity demand for industrial generation exported to grid × share of renewable energy in industrial electricity generation)
- The impact of international electricity trade with the United States is not included
Liquid biofuel demand and biogas demand are estimated using gasoline and diesel demand from Statistics Canada Table 25-10-0029-01 and using ratios for ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel demand from a study completed by Navius, the Biofuels in Canada 2024 Annual Report.
Share of renewable energy in end-use demand for each sector includes the sum of demand for renewable electricity, solid biofuels, liquid biofuels, and gaseous biofuels. The total renewable end-use energy demand is the sum of renewable demand for all sectors. Shares for each sector are estimated as total demand for renewable energy over total end-use for each sector (including non-energy use and producer consumption).
Planned Capacity Data Collection Process
Data is collected for all planned grid-connected electricity generation types by source, including all renewable sources.
Annual data collection process
The CER conducts an annual data collection process, which is critical in identifying new project additions and retirements. To ensure consistency and accuracy, we collaborate closely with federal and regional partners. The following are key sources used in this process:
- Provincial/system operator reports and announcements
- Provincial procurement results
- Provincial consultations
- Ongoing collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Publications and updates from industry associations
- Project lists collected for other CER publications
Verification process
Verification is conducted manually by CER subject matter experts (SME), who review each project entry, assign an appropriate reference source, and add relevant comments for tracking. The process may vary depending on project size, location, and data availability.
Key steps include:
- Project details review: Assess whether project timelines, regulatory filings, and public documentation are available and credible.
- Information gaps: For projects with insufficient details, the SME may consult with regional contacts to validate and supplement information.
- CER team input: Input is provided collaboratively by the CER’s electricity modelling staff and the responsible SME to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Selection of Planned Projects
The table below outlines the general prioritization framework we used to evaluate project maturity and categorize projects. This is meant as a guideline and not a definitive rule.
| Project Status | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under construction | 5/5 | Strong inclusion candidate: typically included unless there is evidence of cancellation. |
| Projects that are part of provincial, territorial, or market-based procurement processes, contracted by a utility or secured through competitive mechanisms, but not yet under construction. | 4/5 | High likelihood of proceeding: generally included, but subject to SME validation. |
| Proposed with regulatory approval | 3/5 | Included if SME validation suggests viability. |
| Proposed and applied for regulatory approval but has not received full approval | 2/5 | Considered for inclusion based on context and SME input. |
| Expression of interest / concept stage | 1/5 | Typically excluded unless SME input provides strong evidence of viability. |
Units
Common energy units used in this publication:
- MW (Megawatt): Power production capacity — e.g., 1 MW = ~800 homes powered at once.
- MWh (Megawatt hour): Electricity consumed or produced over time — e.g., a 1 MW wind turbine running at full capacity for 1 hour = 1 MWh.
- TWh (Terawatt hour): Large-scale electricity use or production — Canada currently uses ~600 TWh/year.
- BOE (Barrel of oil equivalent): A unit that combines different energy sources into the energy content of one barrel of crude oil — e.g., 1 BOE ≈ the energy in 1,700 kWh.
- PJ (Petajoule): Total energy — 1 PJ = 278 GWh = 163,456 BOE.
Biofuel-specific units:
- Million litres/year: Used to report production capacity of ethanol, biodiesel, etc.
- Thousand metric tonnes: Used for wood pellets and solid biofuels.
Energy Sources Definitions
Renewable energy comes from natural sources that are continuously replenished, like sunlight, wind, flowing water, biomass, and geothermal heat. These sources can be broadly categorized as variable—like wind and solar, which depend on weather conditions—or non-variable, such as hydroelectricity with reservoirs, which can be dispatched as needed. Some renewable energy, including wind, solar, and hydroelectricity, produce no direct greenhouse gas emissions. Others, like bioenergy, do emit carbon but can be considered low carbon over their lifecycle when emissions are balanced by regrowth or sustainable land use practices.
| Electricity Generation | ||
| Renewable |  |
Bioenergy: Includes solid biomass fuels like wood pellets, and firewood, and gaseous biofuels like landfill gas. It can be used to generate electricity or as fuel for heat and transportation. |
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Geothermal: Includes electricity generated by utility-scale geothermal sources. | |
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Hydroelectricity: Electricity generated by hydroelectric power plants, in addition to minor contributions from wave and tidal power stations. | |
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Solar (utility scale): Electricity generated using photovoltaic or concentrated solar power installations—typically 5 MW and above—that feed directly into the grid. | |
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Solar (distributed): Electricity generated using small-scale photovoltaic installations, mainly installed on residential and commercial rooftops. | |
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Wind: Includes electricity generated by wind turbines. | |
| Non-renewable |  |
Coal: Electricity generated by coal-fired power plants with and without CCUS. |
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Natural Gas: Electricity generated by a variety of technologies using natural gas, including steam generation units, gas turbine and combustion engine plants, and combined cycle units. | |
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Nuclear: Electricity generated by nuclear power plants. | |
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Petroleum: Electricity generated using refined oil products like diesel, heavy fuel oil, or other petroleum-based fuels through technologies like steam or combustion turbines. | |
| Bioenergy | ||
| Renewable if used less than replenished. |  |
Solid Biofuels: Includes solid biomass like firewood, wood residue, and pulping liquor. |
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Liquid Biofuels: Biomass derived fuels used for blending with fossil fuels or used as drop-in fuels. Includes ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel. | |
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Gaseous biofuels: Includes biogases like landfill gas and renewable natural gas produced using biogas. | |
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