Mapping B.C.'s Renewable Energy Potential

As electricity demand grows across British Columbia, the Mapping B.C.’s Renewable Energy Potential project helps identify where new renewable energy can be developed to support a resilient, low-carbon energy future.

The province currently generates most of its electricity from hydro power, but more renewable energy sources are needed to meet climate goals while maintaining a reliable electricity supply.

This project is creating detailed maps that show the potential for utility-scale wind and solar energy across the province, while also developing new tools to assess rooftop solar opportunities for B.C. communities.

Using data on land use, renewable energy resources and existing electricity infrastructure, the Mapping B.C.’s Renewable Energy Potential project identifies areas that are both suitable and practical for development. The results will help governments, utilities, communities and planners better understand where renewable energy projects can have the greatest impact.

By providing clear and accessible information on renewable energy potential, this project helps accelerate clean energy development, informs decision-making and supports British Columbia's transformation to a more resilient and sustainable electricity system.

Project Activities

The project is organized around two complementary streams of work:

1. Utility-scale wind and solar mapping

• Assess renewable energy resources across British Columbia
• Apply land-use and environmental constraints to identify developable areas
• Evaluate site suitability using a multi-criteria assessment framework
• Quantify renewable energy potential and map the most suitable locations

2. Rooftop solar potential assessment

• Develop a methodology for identifying suitable rooftop space using LiDAR data
• Calculate rooftop solar generation potential
• Demonstrate the approach through a case study in Kamloops
• Create an open-source tool to support broader application in communities across British Columbia

Major Milestones

• September - April 2026: three graduate students begin mapping BC’s energy potential as part of the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management programme at UBC
• May 2026: preliminary mapping results complete
• May - July 2026: formal surveys and engagement with utilities, policymakers, researchers and solar industry reps are conducted to inform refinement of the maps
• September 2026: final mapping results to be published

People

Naoko Ellis, Professor & Principal Investigator, University of British Columbia
Connor McGookin, Research Associate & Project Lead, University of British Columbia
MacKenzie Thomson, Research Assistant, University of British Columbia
N. Tyler Goncalves, Research Assistant, University of British Columbia

Research Areas

Partners and collaborators

Publications

Preliminary mapping results from the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management student projects:

• "Spatial Assessment and Modelling of Wind Energy Potential in British Columbia," Mawlod, Mohammed, 2026.
• "Solar Farm Site Suitability and Energy Potential Analysis in British Columbia," Thomson, Mackenzie, 2026.
• "Evaluating Rooftop Solar Resources in Kamloops, British Columbia," Goncalves, N. Tyler, 2026.

Contact

If you are interested in more details about this project or have any questions, please email connor.mcgookin@ubc.ca.

Land Acknowledgement

Our province-wide assessment takes place across the unceded, traditional territories of the many distinct First Nations in British Columbia. It also includes local case studies such as Kamloops on Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc territory, within unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation. We recognise that energy planning and land use are closely tied to Indigenous sovereignty and stewardship.