How the electricity sector slashed emissions to become one of the biggest success stories in Canada’s national emissions inventory.
Electricity is Canada’s biggest emissions success story. Overall, the country’s electricity is 57 per cent cleaner today than it was in 2008. The reason for this dramatic change is largely two-fold: the near elimination of coal and the rise of renewables like solar and wind.
Together, Ontario’s 2014 coal exit and Alberta’s coal phase-out and renewables boom led to more than 60 per cent of the 60 Megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2 eq) reduction in national electricity emissions from 2008 to 2024.
Wind, solar and biomass now supply roughly 10 per cent of the grid across the federation.
In the graph below, electricity emissions intensity is cut in half, while renewables skyrocket. The big switch has been flipped on.
Figure 1: Canada is making a big switch to clean power
Beyond coal, other factors contribute to progress
Additional factors have played a role in the switch nationally with coal-to-gas conversion, steady output from nuclear power, and shifts in demand driven by the COVID-19 pandemic all amplifying the renewables surge.
Those factors led to a drop in emissions intensity from about 195 gCO₂eq/kWh in 2008 to roughly 86g/kWh in 2024.
Renewable energy such as wind, solar and biomass also grew 24 per cent year-over-year since 2008.
Provinces drive down electricity emissions with help from federal policy
These game-changing provincial switches are behind the national trend:
- Ontario: Full exit began in 2005 and with a full exit by 2014, emissions dropped 75 per cent from 2008.
- Alberta: Coal retirements kicked off in 2016 and renewables surged post-2021, seeing emissions drop in 2024 by 61 per cent compared to 2008. By 2024, Alberta had shuttered its last coal plant.
- Nova Scotia: Coal’s grip continues to loosen, with emissions intensity halved since 2008.
- Saskatchewan and New Brunswick: The shift away from coal power here has been slower, but wind and gas are reducing the intensity of these provinces’ grids.
- Hydro giants (British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador): These provincial grids are already near-zero emissions due to substantial hydropower reserves, which can anchor a clean grid as demand climbs.
Electricity’s remarkable emissions success story is another example of aligning federal, provincial and territorial policies with fast-moving technology improvements to accelerate emissions cuts.
Even in the face of increasing thirst for new electricity supply, maintaining the Clean Electricity Regulations and finalizing the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credits can help keep momentum.
Against the backdrop of stalling emissions progress and the threat of rising electricity emissions, all orders of government must recognize this is a critical juncture for Canada. Will emissions progress in electricity be overshadowed by faltering in other sectors, or will that success story spur more action towards net-zero?
Dave Sawyer is Principal Economist and Head of 440 Megatonnes at the Canadian Climate Institute.