Each week, we curate and summarize key renewable energy developments to help energy users understand how energy systems are evolving. This week’s insights focus on how new electricity capacity is being added across North America and how large power systems are integrating renewable energy and storage at scale.
1. Canada Could See 70% of New Electricity Capacity from Wind, Solar & Storage
Canada’s future electricity growth is expected to be driven primarily by renewable energy and energy storage. According to outlooks from the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), up to 70% of new electricity capacity added in Canada could come from wind, solar, and battery storage as electricity demand continues to rise.
This projection reflects growing electrification across transportation, buildings, and industry, as well as the need for energy systems that are flexible and scalable. Rather than expanding through a single resource, Canada’s grid is expected to grow through a balanced mix of renewable generation and storage, enabling better alignment between supply and demand.
As renewable penetration increases, battery storage will play an increasingly important role in managing variability and supporting grid reliability. This outlook highlights how future energy systems are being designed not only to generate clean power, but also to manage it more intelligently.
2. U.S. Wind and Solar Tie to New Generating Capacity Growth
Recent U.S. electricity data shows that wind and solar continue to account for the majority of new generating capacity additions, tying as leading sources of new power added to the grid. According to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data analyzed by industry groups, renewable energy technologies are consistently outpacing fossil fuels in new capacity growth.
Solar remains the largest contributor to new additions, while wind continues to provide significant capacity across multiple regions. Together, these technologies reflect a shift in how new power generation is being built — favoring resources that are modular, cost-competitive, and faster to deploy.
This trend illustrates how renewable energy is no longer a niche addition to the grid, but a primary driver of new electricity infrastructure in the United States. It also underscores the growing importance of complementary technologies, such as energy storage, to support reliability as renewable penetration increases.
3. California Emerges as a Clean Energy Powerhouse
California continues to demonstrate how large power systems can integrate high levels of renewable energy while maintaining grid stability. Recent reporting shows that renewable sources now supply a significant share of the state’s electricity, with solar generation and battery storage playing a central role throughout the day.
Battery energy storage capacity in California has expanded rapidly, allowing excess solar power generated during daylight hours to be stored and used during evening peak demand periods. This has helped reduce reliance on fossil-fuel generation during critical hours and improved overall system flexibility.
California’s experience provides a real-world example of how renewable energy, when paired with storage and thoughtful system planning, can support reliable electricity delivery at scale. It offers valuable insights for other regions as renewable penetration continues to grow.
Looking Ahead
Together, these developments show a consistent direction across North America: new electricity capacity is increasingly coming from renewable energy, supported by energy storage and system-level planning. From long-term outlooks in Canada to real-world implementation in California and capacity growth in the U.S., these trends highlight how clean energy systems are becoming more resilient, flexible, and central to grid development.
Understanding these shifts helps homes and businesses better prepare for an energy landscape that continues to evolve.
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References
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The Energy Mix — Wind, solar and storage could supply 70% of Canada’s new electricity capacity
https://www.theenergymix.com/wind-solar-storage-could-supply-70-of-canadas-new-electricity-capacity-canrea-outlook-finds/ -
Solar Power World — Solar and wind dominate new U.S. electricity capacity additions
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2025/10/solar-and-wind-make-up-new-us-electricity-capacity-so-far-this-year/ -
The Guardian — California’s clean energy transformation
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/20/california-renewable-energy
