Carney government unveils plan to double Canada’s electricity grid by 2050

(Horizon Media / OTTAWA) — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced this week that the federal government will launch consultations on a forthcoming National Electricity Strategy aimed at doubling Canada’s electricity grid capacity by 2050.

The federal government said electricity demand in Canada is expected to double by mid-century as industries, transportation, and households increasingly transition toward electrification. Ottawa noted that approximately 80 percent of Canada’s electricity generation is already non-emitting, giving the country one of the cleanest electricity grids among G7 countries.

According to the government, the strategy will focus on expanding electricity generation, modernizing transmission infrastructure, connecting fragmented provincial and territorial grids, and increasing domestic manufacturing of energy technologies. The plan is also expected to require more than 130,000 skilled workers by 2050.

Officials said the strategy could deliver up to $15 billion in total energy savings by 2050 and lower overall energy costs for seven in ten Canadian households. Ottawa also indicated it intends to adjust clean electricity regulations to allow greater flexibility in using energy sources, including natural gas, to maintain affordability and reliability while reducing emissions.

As part of the initiative, the federal government announced expanded support for energy-saving retrofits and heat pump installations for up to one million households.

The strategy builds on several major energy projects already underway across Canada, including the Darlington New Nuclear project in Ontario, the Taltson Hydro Expansion in the Northwest Territories, the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project in Nunavut, and major transmission and wind developments in British Columbia and Nova Scotia.