After more than doubling in 2006 to 1,468MW, Canada's installed wind power capacity is expected to grow nearly tenfold to 14,100MW by 2015, according to a new study by Emerging Energy Research (EER).

With CAN$18 billion in wind power investment forecasted between 2007 and 2015, Canada is expected to rank among the world's five or six largest wind power markets over the forecast period, with annual MW development over the coming decade set to average 1,400MW, according to EER's study Canada Wind Power Markets and Strategies 2007-2015. Driven largely by provincial utility RFPs, Canada added 784MW in new installed wind power capacity in 2006, more than double the country's cumulative installed capacity of 684MW through the end of 2005.  Canada will contribute at least a quarter of North America's yearly growth through 2015, and 5% of total annual global growth.  Quebec and Ontario will account for approximately 60 percent of the total market through the forecast period, with strong growth in British Columbia expected in later years.