Ontario targets 20 GW of renewables by 2025

Dec 3, 2013 - The Canadian province of Ontario aims to have 20 GW of operational renewable energy capacity by 2025, accounting for about 50% of total power capacity, under a revised long-term energy plan released Monday.

The figure includes hydropower capacity.

The new plan “Achieving Balance” is focused on energy conservation and also aims to bring clean and affordable energy to the province, the government said in a statement. The plan will extend the phase-in of wind, solar and bioenergy projects by over three years as compared to estimates in the long-term energy plan that was released in November 2010. Now, the Ontario government expects to have 10.7 GW of these three types of renewable energy sources by 2021.

Furthermore, the province government will work with the Ontario Power Authority to create a different competitive procurement process for future renewable projects of more than 500 kW. Ontario also aims to keep encouraging First Nation and Metis participation in renewable energy and transmission undertakings.

According to the government, “Achieving Balance” will cut projected cost hikes by CAD 16 billion (USD 15bn/EUR 11bn) in the 2013-2017 as compared to the energy plan from 2010. By 2030 cost reductions are estimated to reach CAD 70 billion. This would translate into lower costs for consumers. The expected cost cuts will be realised even if the Canadian province phased out its last coal-fired power capacity by end-2014 as previously planned, the government pointed out.

(CAD 1 = USD 0.939/EUR 0.693)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!