Solar power development in Canada still to gain momentum

November 24, 2025
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Here is quick info abut the current state of solar power in Canada.

  1. Installed Capacity
    • As of 2024, Canada has over 5 GW of cumulative solar PV capacity.
    • According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), this includes both utility-scale solar and on-site (i.e., rooftop) solar.
    • The Energy Fact Book shows 4,323 MW installed as of 2022.
  2. Growth Trends
    • Canada’s solar capacity (utility + on-site) has grown ~92% from 2019 to 2024.
    • In 2024 alone, 314 MW of new solar capacity was deployed.
    • According to CanREA, there are now 217 major utility-scale solar projects across Canada.
    • There are nearly 96,000 on-site (residential/commercial) solar installations.
  3. Electricity Generation from Solar
    • In 2022, solar generation was about 4.2 TWh.
    • According to monthly data, solar generation in July 2024 reached a high of ~700,632 MWh.
    • In 2024, renewables (hydro + wind + solar) made up 63.9% of Canada’s total electricity production.
    • But solar is still a small share of overall generation compared to hydro; per Wikipedia, solar is about 1% of total electricity generation.
  4. Major Solar Projects
    • The Travers Solar Project in Alberta is Canada’s largest, with a capacity of 465 MW.
    • Other large solar farms include Claresholm (132 MW), Kingston (100 MW), Grand Renewable (100 MW), etc.
    • According to the Energy Fact Book, there are 200+ major solar energy projects across Canada.
  5. Regional Dynamics
    • Alberta is a key driver of solar growth in Canada, according to CanREA.
    • On-site solar (e.g. residential rooftop) is increasingly common and growing quickly.
  6. Storage and Renewables Integration
    • Beyond just solar, Canada is also expanding energy storage. CanREA reports that storage capacity has grown significantly.
    • The integration of wind, solar, and storage is a key part of Canada’s renewable energy strategy.

Challenges & Constraints

  • Geographic / Climatic Limitations: Canada’s high-latitude regions have fewer sunlight hours in winter, which can limit solar output compared to sunnier regions.
  • Grid Integration: Scaling up solar, especially distributed (on-site) solar, requires upgrades in grid infrastructure to handle variability.
  • Land Use: Large-scale solar farms need land, which can conflict with agriculture or conservation in some areas.
  • Policy & Regulation: While solar is growing, policy support, interconnection rules, and incentives differ significantly across provinces.