The Immense Potential of Wind, Solar, and Storage in Manitoba

By James Wilt, Policy Development Manager

November 17th, 2025

This brief outlines the opportunities for wind, solar, and energy storage to support a clean energy transition in Manitoba in the next five years and the decades to come.

Manitoba must expand sources of electricity generation to meet growing peak demand. This brief finds that Manitoba could meet its short-term demand requirements by building 600 megawatts (MW) of wind power and at least 200 MW of batteries to increase reliable power supply. To support electrification in the longer-term, Manitoba should build an average of at least 200 MW of wind, 160 MW of solar, and 80 MW of energy storage every year over the next 25 years.

These investments can ensure electricity rates remain affordable while reducing emissions, fostering green industries and jobs, and supporting Indigenous-led development, among other benefits.

Executive Summary 

Meeting Near-Term Peak Electricity Requirements

• Summary: Manitoba is facing a wintertime peak capacity of about 270 megawatts (MW) of electricity by 2030, which Manitoba Hydro has proposed to address by building a new gas-fired power plant. This report argues that Manitoba should instead invest public resources in building grid-scale battery storage, which would maximize the benefits of existing and new wind power projects by matching supply with demand.
• Recommendations: Manitoba could meet its short-term peak demand requirements by building 600 MW of wind power and at least 200 MW of batteries. In addition to the 120 MW of winter firm capacity from new wind power, batteries would unlock an additional 170 MW from existing and new wind power projects. If Manitoba Hydro procures less than 600 MW of wind power through the current process, it should build additional wind power to meet upcoming requirements.

Developing a Longer-Term Vision for Manitoba’s Electrification

• Summary: Provincial electricity demand is projected to more than double by 2050 due to electrification of transportation, buildings, and industry. Significant new generation capacity will be needed alongside demand reductions. Wind and solar power are highly complementary generation sources; Manitoba should plan to invest in both, and switch reliance between the two between summer and winter.
• Recommendations: By 2050, Manitoba should aim to reach at least 5,000 MW of wind power, 4,000 MW of solar power, and 2,000 MW of a diverse mix of energy storage. This would require annual additions of at least 200 MW of wind, 160 MW of solar, and 80 MW of energy storage every year between 2026 and 2050. Along with grid-scale battery storage, Manitoba should consider other forms of longer-duration energy storage such as compressed air and thermal storage.

Benefits to Manitoba

These investments in clean electricity would reduce greenhouse emissions, promote provincial economic development, create good green jobs, eliminate wasteful spending on imported fossil fuels, improve affordability, and increase the reliability and stability of the grid. Crucially, Indigenous Nations and organizations can be central part of the transition, advancing energy justice and Indigenous-led development.