Canada Plans $200B Push Into Wind and Solar, Creating Up to 350,000 Jobs

Canada could be on the verge of its largest renewable electricity expansion in decades. A market outlook from the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) projects that more than C$200 billion could be invested in wind energy, solar power and grid-scale battery storage by 2035. The organization estimates that this level of development could support as many as 350,000 direct and indirect full-time equivalent jobs while helping provinces meet rising electricity demand.

The forecast points to a broad transformation of Canada’s power system. New wind farms, solar facilities and battery projects would need to be supported by substations, transmission upgrades and modern grid-management technology capable of balancing electricity supply across different regions and weather conditions.

Renewable capacity could double within a decade

Canada has approximately 150 gigawatts of installed electricity generation capacity across hydroelectricity, nuclear power, natural gas, wind, solar and other sources. Wind currently contributes about 17 GW, while solar accounts for roughly 2.3 GW and energy storage represents around 1 GW.

CanREA’s outlook estimates that Canada could add between 30 GW and 51 GW of new wind power over the next 10 years. Solar capacity could increase by another 17 GW to 26 GW, while grid-scale energy storage could grow by 12 GW to 16 GW.

Even the lower end of those ranges would represent a substantial expansion compared with today’s installed base. CanREA expects combined wind, solar and storage capacity to grow by about one-third within four years and potentially double over the decade.

Why Canada needs more electricity

Electricity demand is expected to increase as more vehicles, buildings and industrial processes move away from fossil fuels. Population growth, manufacturing expansion, mining projects and data centres are adding further pressure to provincial power systems.

Several provinces are preparing renewable energy procurement programs to secure new generating capacity. These competitive processes allow utilities or provincial agencies to select projects based on price, location, reliability and the ability to connect to the existing grid.

Battery storage will play an important role because wind and solar production changes throughout the day. Batteries can absorb electricity when production is high and release it during periods of stronger demand, reducing short-term pressure on the grid.

Storage cannot solve every reliability challenge on its own. Provinces will still need a mix of generation sources, stronger transmission links, demand-management programs and better coordination between neighbouring electricity systems.

Jobs could spread across construction and supply chains

The projected employment impact extends beyond workers installing turbines and solar panels. Large energy developments require engineers, electricians, heavy equipment operators, environmental specialists, transportation providers, equipment manufacturers and project managers.

Additional jobs would be created through transmission construction, battery installation and long-term maintenance. However, the estimate of up to 350,000 positions refers to direct and indirect full-time equivalent employment supported across the development period, rather than 350,000 permanent jobs created at the same time.

The speed of construction will depend on access to skilled workers and equipment. Competition for transformers, turbines, batteries and transmission components could increase costs or delay projects if supply chains fail to keep pace with demand.

Transmission and approvals remain major obstacles

Building generation capacity is only one part of the challenge. Many of the areas with the best wind or solar resources are far from major cities and industrial centres, making new transmission lines essential.

Transmission projects often take longer to approve and construct than renewable facilities. Land-use planning, environmental reviews, community consultation and interconnection studies can add years to development schedules.

Indigenous participation will be especially important. Many proposed energy and transmission projects cross traditional territories or are located near Indigenous communities. Early consultation, ownership opportunities and long-term benefit agreements can help projects move forward while supporting local economic development.

Financing conditions are another risk. Higher borrowing costs can make capital-intensive projects more expensive, while changes to provincial procurement plans or federal incentives can affect investment decisions.

Offshore wind could add to the investment total

The C$200-billion forecast focuses on onshore wind, solar energy and storage. It does not include offshore wind projects, despite growing interest in developing large wind farms off the Atlantic coast.

Offshore wind could eventually supply electricity to Atlantic provinces or support industries such as hydrogen production. Those projects remain dependent on regulatory development, transmission planning, investment agreements and competitive costs.

If commercial offshore wind development moves ahead during the next decade, Canada’s total clean electricity investment could rise beyond the amount included in the current outlook.

The next phase will depend on provincial decisions

Canada does not operate a single national electricity market. Provincial governments, utilities and system operators make many of the key decisions about procurement, transmission and electricity pricing.

That means growth is unlikely to be evenly distributed. Provinces with clear procurement schedules, available transmission capacity and faster approval systems may attract investment sooner, while others could face delays.

The expansion is taking place alongside wider economic and population changes. For related Canadian policy coverage, see the report on Canada’s first Express Entry draw of 2026.

More information about the industry forecast, renewable capacity and energy storage development is available from the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, which represents companies working in Canada’s wind, solar and energy storage sectors.