Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sectors in Canada. Onshore wind projects in Canada have expanded from eight wind farms in 1998 to 337 in 2023, highlighting the country’s shift toward renewable energy. Currently, the installed wind energy capacity of Canada has reached 15 gigawatts. 

Canada’s upcoming wind farm projects, including the Buffalo Plains wind farm, Des Neiges wind farm, and Hecate Strait Offshore wind farm, contribute further to the country’s net zero targets by 2050. The growth of wind projects in the country is headed by strong historic wind leadership demonstrated by Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec.

In this blog, we’ll explore the top 7 upcoming wind farm projects in Canada, including the capacity, installation type, and detailed view of each wind project.

List of Upcoming Top 7 Wind Energy Projects in Canada

Buffalo Plains Wind Farm

The Buffalo Plains Wind Farm is Canada's largest onshore wind farm under construction, located in Vulcan County, Alberta. The wind farm has a capacity of 495 MW. The construction of the wind farm started in November 2023 and it is being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). The wind farm spans over 17,500 acres of privately owned land near the town of Lomond.

The Buffalo Plains project will use 83 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines, featuring SG6.0-170 and SG5.0-145 models with capacities of 6.6 MW and 5.2 MW. The wind renewable energy project is expected to be fully operational by December 2024 and will generate around 1,500 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, enough to power 240,000 Alberta homes.

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In November 2024, Amazon entered a power purchase agreement (PPA) to procure 415 MW of the project’s output to support its logistics operations and data center in Canada. The project will benefit the local economy by creating 300 construction jobs and up to 15 permanent positions. Also, the wind farm displaces approximately 795,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. 

The wind farm, with more than a third of its 83 wind turbines in place, delivered its first power to the grid in Canada in August 2024.

Des Neiges Wind Farm - West

The Des Neiges–West wind project is one of three major 400 MW onshore wind power phases under development on the Seigneurie de Beaupré territory in Quebec, Canada. This project, located in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, La Jacques-Cartier, is being developed by Boralex, Énergir, and Hydro-Québec.

The Des Neiges–West project is part of a larger 1,200 MW initiative, which also includes Des Neiges–Charlevoix and Des Neiges–South. The Des Neiges–Charlevoix phase will be located in Lac-Pikauba, Charlevoix, and Des Neiges–South, which is planned for Lac-Jacques-Cartier in La Côte-de-Beaupré. Both of these phases are in pre-construction and are expected to generate 400 MW each.

The project costs of these three wind farm projects are estimated to be USD 3 billion. This will enhance Quebec’s energy infrastructure and contribute to local economic growth. The wind farm is planned for commissioning in 2025 and has a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Hydro-Québec.

Hecate Strait Offshore Wind Farm (NaiKun Wind Farm)

The Hecate Strait Offshore Wind Farm, also known as the NaiKun Wind Farm, is a 400 MW offshore wind energy project under development in the Hecate Strait, located off the coast of Haida Gwaii in British Columbia. Originally developed by the NaiKun Wind Energy Group (now Oceanic Wind Energy), the project was acquired by Northland Power in 2020. Oceanic Wind Energy recently regained development rights following negotiations, with Northland Power's involvement adjusted accordingly.

The offshore wind farm project focuses on partnerships with First Nations and industry players to participate in BC Hydro's spring 2024 power call (a solicitation for power generation proposals). The Hecate Strait project is anticipated to be operational by 2026, with the potential to supply clean electricity for approximately 900,000 households across British Columbia.

Planned to cover an area of around 550 km², the project is expected to use fixed-foundation turbines, with initial plans indicating 100 Siemens Gamesa SWT-4.0-130 turbines rated at 4 MW each. The project is positioned to support the CleanBC objectives by addressing the growing energy demands in British Columbia and enhancing renewable energy infrastructure.

Pe-Na-Koam Wind Farm

The Pe-na-koyim Wind Project is one of the largest wind farms in Canada in pre-construction stage. The renewable energy initiative is jointly developed by the Kainai/Blood Tribe and EDF Renewables Canada. The Pe-Na-Koam wind farm is located within the Blood Tribe Reserve #148 in Alberta. The onshore wind farm has a planned capacity of up to 300 MW and represents Alberta's first wind power facility located on a Nations reserve.

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The wind farm project will be situated on lands that are part of the Blood Tribe Agricultural Project (BTAP), approximately six kilometers southwest of Lethbridge. The onshore wind farm consists of up to seventy-one wind turbines, each capable of generating up to 7.2 MW. The wind farm has an estimated project cost of USD 425 million.

The Pe-na-koyim Wind Project will involve local investments during the construction phase, including contracting, employment, and increased business. The wind farm, currently in the pre-construction phase, has completed its baseline studies. The construction of the wind project is set to begin in 2025, with operations projected to start by 2027.

Forty Mile Wind Farm - Granlea

The Forty Mile Wind Farm is one of the largest upcoming wind farms in Canada. The onshore wind farm is located approximately 6 kilometers east of Bow Island in Alberta’s Forty Mile County No. 8. It is the largest onshore wind project developed by ACCIONA Energía in North America.

The project will be executed in two phases: Phase 1, known as Granlea, and Phase 2 - Maleb. The Granlea phase will consist of 49 Nordex N155/5.X turbines with a combined capacity of 280 MW, and the Maleb phase will add 21 additional turbines to bring the project to its full 400 MW capacity. 

In August 2023, ACCIONA Energía acquired the 280 MW Forty Mile wind farm in Bow Island from Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Canada. RES will continue working on the project as the balance of plant construction contractor on behalf of ACCIONA Energía.

Construction began in 2023 and is expected to finish by the first quarter of 2025. Once fully operational, Forty Mile Wind Farm will produce enough clean energy to power around 230,000 households in Alberta. The project has an estimated cost of USD 300 million and is expected to create  250 jobs at peak construction and 25 permanent roles for ongoing operations.

Bull Trail Wind Farm

The Bull Trail Wind Power Project is one of the prestigious projects by EDF Renewables Development Inc. under the Bull Trail Renewable Energy Centre Limited Partnership. The 270 MW wind farm is located approximately 3 kilometers south of the Hamlet of Irvine, Cypress County, Alberta. The wind farm spans around 21,951 acres of privately owned land and is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Each wind turbine is planned to be connected to an on-site substation through a 34.5 kV underground collector system. The substation will transmit the generated power to Alberta's provincial grid through a transmission line developed and operated by AltaLink Management Ltd. The construction phase of the wind project is expected to begin in Q3 2025 and is projected to create approximately 200 jobs at peak construction.

Madawaska Wind Farm

The Madawaska Wind Project is a 270 MW onshore wind project located in Quebec’s Lower St. Lawrence region within the Regional County Municipality of Témiscouata. The onshore wind project in Canada will have 33 to 56 wind turbines, each mounted on 110-meter-high towers. EDF Renewables North America and Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie, along with other stakeholders, co-own the project, each holding a 33.33% ownership stake.

The project spans approximately 27,200 acres of both public and private land. The larger clean energy initiative is designed with considerable attention to environmental sustainability and community engagement. 

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Madawaska Wind Farm avoids the need for new transmission lines connecting to the existing 315-kilovolt Hydro-Québec transmission line adjacent to the project area. This connection will allow the generated clean energy to flow directly into Quebec’s power grid, supporting the province’s renewable energy targets.

Conclusion: Wind Energy in Canada

Canada's upcoming wind power projects demonstrate the country’s move towards the 2050 net-zero targets. The Government of Canada is also drafting several policies to develop offshore wind projects. On May 30th, 2023, the federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources introduced Bill C-491, which would permit offshore wind development in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

From the large-scale Buffalo Plains Wind Farm to the unique on-reserve Pe-Na-Koam Wind Project, these developments highlight both innovation and collaboration with local communities and indigenous groups. Together, these wind farm projects reinforce Canada’s leadership in green energy and its dedication to energy transition.

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