Canada’s Renewable Energy: Facts vs. Myths

With wind and solar electricity generation accounting for 7% of Canada’s electricity today, the future promises a dramatic shift. By 2050, these clean energy sources could power up to 37% of the nation’s grid under net-zero goals. Yet, myths about renewables often cloud their potential. Let’s set the record straight.

Myth 1: Renewables are unreliable.

Fact: Critics believe that renewables depend on the whims of the weather. The truth? Though it’s a fact that wind and solar provide the most power to the grid when the sun shines or the wind blows, grid-scale storage, better interconnections, and demand-side solutions ensure reliability. Globally, countries like Denmark (67% wind and solar) and the U.K. (34%) have already demonstrated success.

Myth 2: Renewables might be effective in other places, but not in Canada.

Fact: The integration of sizable amounts of wind and solar power is ideally complemented by Canada's hydro-dominated electrical grid. Wind and solar power might, on average, reach a penetration rate of 54% nationwide in Canada; demand-side interventions could raise this figure even further.

Myth 3: When you take into consideration the equipment waste that renewables produce at the end of their lives, they aren't clean.

Fact: From manufacturing to end-of-life disposal, renewables generate a fraction of the emissions and waste of fossil fuels. Plus, advancements in recycling promise a circular economy for wind turbines and solar panels. Though 85% to 90% of wind turbines and solar panel's mass can be recycled or repurposed, the majority is now disposed of in landfills or kept in storage until more recycling possibilities are available.

Canada’s abundant wind and solar resources make it one of the most promising markets for renewables. Borrum Energy Solutions is harnessing these opportunities to bring sustainable solutions like their Anorra wind turbines to rural and off-grid dwelling owners. to adopt clean, reliable electricity, reducing their dependence on the electrical grid.