Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada
Canada: Solar energy generation vs. capacity was 9,036 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada, 1990–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada stood at 9,036 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.9% on the previous year and up 212.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada peaked at 9,036 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1990.
Canada ranks 31st of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 2.05 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 2.05 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2.05 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 3.84 terawatt-hours | +87.2% |
| 1996 | 5.89 terawatt-hours | +53.4% |
| 1997 | 6.95 terawatt-hours | +17.9% |
| 1998 | 10.11 terawatt-hours | +45.5% |
| 1999 | 13.26 terawatt-hours | +31.2% |
| 2000 | 16.42 terawatt-hours | +23.8% |
| 2001 | 19.58 terawatt-hours | +19.2% |
| 2002 | 22.74 terawatt-hours | +16.1% |
| 2003 | 22.79 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 14.26 terawatt-hours | -37.4% |
| 2005 | 17 terawatt-hours | +19.2% |
| 2006 | 21 terawatt-hours | +23.5% |
| 2007 | 26 terawatt-hours | +23.8% |
| 2008 | 35 terawatt-hours | +34.6% |
| 2009 | 109 terawatt-hours | +211.4% |
| 2010 | 255.56 terawatt-hours | +134.5% |
| 2011 | 571.72 terawatt-hours | +123.7% |
| 2012 | 880.81 terawatt-hours | +54.1% |
| 2013 | 1,499 terawatt-hours | +70.2% |
| 2014 | 2,120 terawatt-hours | +41.4% |
| 2015 | 2,895 terawatt-hours | +36.5% |
| 2016 | 3,005 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 3,309 terawatt-hours | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 3,492 terawatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 3,753 terawatt-hours | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 4,072 terawatt-hours | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 5,114 terawatt-hours | +25.6% |
| 2022 | 5,737 terawatt-hours | +12.2% |
| 2023 | 7,072 terawatt-hours | +23.3% |
| 2024 | 7,930 terawatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 2025 | 9,036 terawatt-hours | +13.9% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 9,036 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,936 terawatt-hours, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +211.4% | 35 terawatt-hours | 109 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.62 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 13.26 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.38 terawatt-hours | 14.26 terawatt-hours | 109 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,178 terawatt-hours | 255.56 terawatt-hours | 3,753 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,494 terawatt-hours | 4,072 terawatt-hours | 9,036 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More energy & mining data for Canada
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 6.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada?
- Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Canada was 9,036 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9,036 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1990.
- How does Canada rank for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- Canada ranks 31st out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation vs. capacity rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 212.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.