From June 2025 through May 2026, almost four-fifths of Canada’s electricity consumption came from low-carbon sources, while just over one-fifth came from fossil fuels. Hydropower supplied more than half of electricity, at about 55%, followed by nuclear at roughly 13% and wind at 8%. Biofuels and solar contributed around 2% and 1%, respectively. Among fossil sources, gas supplied about 18% of electricity and coal about 2%. Canada therefore has a strong clean electricity foundation, but replacing its remaining fossil electricity would help reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Canada?

The latest figures do not show growth relative to Canada’s historical per-person records, although they cannot establish whether total national consumption or recent annual consumption is growing. Electricity consumption in 2026 was about 15,700 kWh per person, roughly 3,900 kWh—or 20%—below the record of about 19,600 kWh set in 2000. Low-carbon electricity generation was approximately 12,400 kWh per person, about 2,900 kWh—or 19%—below its 1996 record of roughly 15,300 kWh. These shortfalls are concerning: Canada needs to expand clean electricity supply to support electrification, growing AI demand, and the replacement of fossil fuels.

Suggestions

Canada can build on its established nuclear sector by expanding existing nuclear generating capacity, alongside substantial solar and wind development. Relevant examples include Finland, where nuclear supplies about 38% of electricity, and the US states of New Hampshire and Illinois, where it supplies roughly half; France’s nuclear share of about two-thirds offers another strong model. For wind, Canada’s prairie provinces can learn from the US states of North Dakota and Iowa, where wind supplies about 36% and 57% of electricity, respectively. Solar also deserves a much larger role: the US state of Maine gets about 18% of its electricity from solar, while Germany gets 20%, demonstrating substantial contributions in places beyond the sunniest climates. Combining these technologies with Canada’s large hydropower base would strengthen and expand its low-carbon electricity supply.

History

Canada’s low-carbon electricity history features substantial growth interrupted by sharp hydropower fluctuations. From 1978 through the mid-1980s, selected annual hydro increases ranged from about 15 to 20 TWh, before a 16 TWh decline in 1989. Nuclear delivered major gains of about 13–14 TWh in both 1993 and 1994, followed by another 16 TWh increase in 2004. Hydropower rose about 20 TWh in 1996, fell 19 TWh in 1998, and recovered 14 TWh in 1999. The 2000s brought a 25 TWh hydro decline in 2001, followed by gains of roughly 17 TWh in 2002, 21 TWh in 2005, and 15 TWh in 2007. A 17 TWh decline in 2010 was followed by a 24 TWh rebound in 2011. More recently, hydro grew 15 TWh in 2022 but fell about 37 TWh in 2023 and another 14 TWh in 2024—disappointing setbacks that underline the importance of expanding nuclear, solar, and wind alongside hydropower.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jun 2025 – May 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.