After an extended period of limited deployment, renewable energy is once again gaining momentum in Ontario. Wind, solar and batteries swept the most recent, technology-neutral, procurements, outcompeting other technologies to deliver the lowest-cost options for Ontario ratepayers.
More broadly, renewable energy is poised to help supply even more low-cost, clean energy to meet Ontario’s rapidly growing demand, but with centralized procurements as the primary pathway to adding new resources, barriers to deployment remain.
To better understand these barriers, the Pembina Institute sat down with local, Indigenous, and industry leaders across Ontario’s renewable energy sector to gain insight on their experiences with and perspectives on renewable energy deployment. This report gathers and summarizes their insights and highlights the key challenges, emerging trends, and practical solutions required to support the expansion of affordable, clean energy across the province.
Key findings
Municipalities are becoming more familiar with Ontario’s energy and capacity procurement processes and their role as decision-makers in the approval process for new renewable technologies sited in their communities.
Indigenous leadership and participation in the renewable energy sector is growing; trust and reliable partnership are at the heart of successful outcomes.
Municipal capacity and access to trusted expertise remain important factors in enabling consistent and informed decision-making about new renewable energy projects in their communities.
