Canada Keeps Pace With European Wind Energy Efforts

Posted on May 9, 2012 by admin

The Europeans have always been in the lead when it comes to adopting the kind of green technology that includes the latest wind farm techniques and recent reports have them racing to place more clean wind energy off their coasts. In the last three years European wind energy efforts have more than doubled and plans to increase output continue to move forward.

Amid ever increasing fossil fuel prices and political pressure, more plans have recently been announced to bump up offshore wind energy capacity according to the European Wind Energy Association, or EWEA. Still called a niche industry, but one that’s rapidly growing, the offshore wind farm market will count for 8% of worldwide needs in 2016.

Not to be outdone, we’ve kept pace here in Canada. Currently we use only enough of what’s called our ‘massive’ wind energy potential to power 1 million of our homes, but there are hopes to harness the power of our three coastlines and windy mountains. The Canadian Wind Energy Association also advocates what they call a balanced energy diet whereby conventional electricity and the type generated by wind power compliment each other.

The proposed relationship between wind and hydroelectric is just one example of this suggested tag team. It’s proposed that over shorter time spans hydro can be used here in Canada to compensate for times when wind power isn’t as abundant. On the other hand, wind power is the clear choice to compensate when reservoir levels drop which is a forecast from the models derived from climate change.

There can be no mistake the push is on in Canada to make this sustainable resource one for the future in several provinces including Ontario. Consider the future plans for Canada’s biggest province when it comes to wind energy that encompasses:

· Plans to increase the province’s wind farm capacity by 2018. There’s a double-edged sword here when it comes to employment and revenue since the proposed 5,600 MW of new wind capacity will create 80,000 person years of employment. Good news for a province that has been ravaged by the hard times encountered by their manufacturing sector.
· Increased revenues in the forms of taxes and lease payments over the 20 year lifespan of the projects being proposed.

There are even those in the industry that are predicting bigger things than the current numbers support. In fact, one of the Canadian proponents of wind-based energy, CanWEA, is saying that this sustainable energy can support 25% of the nation’s electricity demands by the year 2025. A new way of thinking comes with any shift to clean energy and the problem has always been with detractors who say sustainable energy efforts don’t make room for job creation. Clearly that’s not the case here as the projections for 2025 are also including 52,000 new high quality jobs in the arena.

Across the globe, more and more countries are seeing the obvious benefits to looking into sustainable energy in general and wind energy specifically. From the wind farm techniques used off the coasts in Europe to our efforts at harnessing the power of this natural resource here at home, the benefits are becoming more and more clear.

The Wind Turbine: Everything Old Is New Again

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

There has been some big promises made by governments when it comes to the concept of the wind farm. The wind turbine has been touted as a way to promote clean energy, but in fact these devices have an historical flair that goes back to the days when they were used as a mechanical device to turn machinery.

Of course, today’s market for this green technology has seen some interesting turns that weren’t heard of years ago. There have even been recent software programs released that allow interested parties to develop their own wind farms in the cyberworld and test the hypothetical possibilities before they launch in reality. The software clearly shows how far the industry has come in just a short while and it boasts the ability to test a number of different wind turbine factors such as Load Flow and Harmonic Analysis.

The need for this software parallels the growing industry where the wind farm is concerned and as a result of the detailed analysis that can be gained here, different locations can be picked for the right set ups.

The industry is always moving forward with more innovations and one of the latest ones that has been reported concerns the blades that are used and how they can better adjust themselves in varying wind conditions. Syracuse University has researchers looking at many new innovations that will help these blades work more efficiently. First, the general data from the wind flowing over the blades is recorded using what is called an intelligent controller. By reducing both noise and vibration on the blades, this research is helping industry to move forward towards more and more cost-efficient green technology.

There are also tests underway where scientists are experimenting with different angles of the blades to increase the efficiency. A full wind turbine comprises of fifteen different parts and the capacity is growing alongside the technology. For example, outputs will reach 447GW in the next five years and within the next two years Asia will lead the world in wind energy.

Finally, all this about the industry might make you think that wind energy is on the cutting edge and has only been around for a few years, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are records of the predecessors of wind energy being mentioned as far back as 1838.

In fact, one academic from Cambridge notes that the history of the wind turbine goes back even farther and that there were records of 10,000 of these units being used as far back as the 1800s.

There are other early records of wind energy being used even further back in China and it’s thought that an early predecessor of those traveled to Europe by the end of the 12th century. There’s a saying, “Everything old is new again”, and that cannot be more applicable than with today’s wind turbine.

Investing In The Future Of Wind Energy

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

As the world begins to change so to does our reliance on fossil fuels. Wind energy is one innovation that is helping the fledgling renewable energy industry make huge strides towards a change in the way we think about energy production.

New innovations in wind turbine technology are beginning to show that renewable energy is a viable solution for our collective future. There are always new and exciting things happening in research and development in this area, and the following is just a brief overview that proves entrepreneurs are looking to, and investing in, this latest technology.

Although the initial investment isn’t recouped at once, there is every indication that good returns come in after several years of operation. For example, did you know that:

Big American money is investing in this technology?
GE (General Electric) has made moves to build offshore turbines. They see the trends toward green technology and the ROI is getting more positive by the day. GE purchased a company only three years ago that makes direct drive components for these wind turbines and had originally planned to start marketing them in Europe first. They’ve been a force in the wind energy market for several years now. Today, as much as 50% of the new units being built are now sold in the United States.

Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes?
We are all familiar with the current look of the wind turbine, that all too familiar three-bladed design, but now it seems that the industry is taking on a new shape in the form of wind cubes. Just like the name implies, these are wind generators that are shaped like cubes. Since these are smaller than the full sized wind turbines, they are best used when set up on the roofs of buildings in urban and rural areas.

There are of course many other exciting new ideas when it comes to the world of green energy and wind energy. One that is turning some heads is kite-like turbines. These airborne turbines are tethered to the ground and generate energy while in flight.

Of course, the familiar design of the wind turbine is still the mainstay when it comes to producing massive amounts of wind energy.

South Korea is one of the countries in that area that is leading the way with plans announced last year to have a wind farm offshore that will cost an amazing $8.3 billion. There have been reports that there will be, once the project is completed, an estimated 500 turbines that will supply 2,500 megawatts of clean, renewable energy each year.

In other wind energy news, there are reports out of Africa that one of the biggest wind projects on the continent will be completed this year. Northern Kenya is expected to get 365 giant wind turbines to help with the country’s initiative to move to greener energy sources.

All across the globe, private companies are beginning to see the possibilities when it comes to wind energy. The benefits of installing this technology as a sustainable energy source will not only serve their communities for years to come, but after the initial costs, the ROI may very well be unfathomable.

Top 10 Largest Wind Farms In Canada

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

*Picture Source: Canadian Wind Energy Association

According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association, there are currently 140 active wind farms across Canada. With the largest Canadian wind farm creating just over 197 Megawatts of electricity, we are by no means a major player when it comes to wind energy. This is bound to change in the near future however, thanks to government initiatives like the Ontario FIT Program.

The title of the world’s largest wind farm is held by the United States, with the Roscoe Wind Farm in Roscoe, Texas. With 627 wind turbines that span over 100,000 acres (400 km2) of land, the Roscoe Wind Farm creates 781.5 Megawatts of electricity, which enough to power more than 250,000 average Texan homes.

Currently, the total wind farm capacity in Canada is only 5,265 Megawatts, and although that is enough electricity to power over 1 million homes, it only equates to about 2% of our energy requirements. In comparison, the state of Texas alone creates 10,223 Megawatts with its combined 40 different wind farm projects.

However, there is still room for growth, and by looking at the top 10 largest wind farms in Canada, it is evident that we are already on the right track:

#10 – Baie-des-Sables, QC

Located on the Gaspe Péninsule of Bas Saint-laurent, Quebec, the Baie-des-Sables wind farm consists of 73 GE wind turbines that have been cranking out 109.5 Megawatts of electricity since November 2006.

#9 – Carleton Wind Farm, QC

At the tip of Chaleur Bay in Carleton-sur-mer, Quebec you will find the Carleton Wind Farm. With 73 GE wind turbines, this wind farm is capable of producing 109.5 Megawatts of electricity, and has been doing so since November of 2008.

#8 – Jardin d’Eole Wind Farm, QC

The Jardin d’Eole Wind Farm is located in Saint-Ulric, Quebec, and with 85 GE wind turbines it has been producing 127.5 Megawatts of electricity since November 2009.

#7 – Melancthon Phase II, ON

Situated between Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario you will find the Melancthon Phase II wind farm. It was installed in November of 2008, and with its 88 GE wind turbines, it is capable of producing 132 Megawatts of electricity.

#6 – St. Joseph, MB

Just over a year old, this southern Manitoba wind farm is located on Highway 75 near St. Joseph. With its 60 Siemens wind turbines this wind farm can produce up to 138 Megawatts of electricity for Manitoba Hydro.

#5 – Dokie Wind Project, BC

Head north from Vancouver and 1,100 kilometres later you’ll find the Dokie Wind Project, near Chetwynd, British Columbia. With its 43 Vestas V-90 wind turbines it is capable of producing 144 Megawatts of electricity for BC Hydro.

#4 – Centennial Wind Power Facility, SK

Located southeast of Swift Current, Saskatchewan is the Centennial Wind Power Facility.
With its 83 Vestas wind turbines it is capable of producing 149.4 Megawatts of electricity for SaskPower. That’s enough to power 69,000 Saskatchewan homes each year.

#3 – Enbridge Ontario Wind Farm, ON

Situated on the shores of Lake Huron, near Kincardine, Ontario is the Enbridge Ontario Wind Farm. With 110 Vestas wind turbines, this wind farm has been producing up to 181.5 Megawatts of electricity since April 2009.

#2 – Prince Wind Farm, ON

Just north of Sault Ste. Marie, near the shores of Lake Superior is the Prince Wind Farm.
With its 126 GE wind turbines capable of producing 189 Megawatts of electricity each year, the Prince Wind Farm is the second largest wind farm in Canada.

#1 – Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre, ON

Wolfe Island is located at the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River in Lake Ontario near Kingston and the wind farm can be found on the western portion of island. Its 86 Siemens wind turbines are capable of creating 197.8 Megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 75,000 average households with clean, renewable energy each year, making the Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre the largest wind farm in Canada.

Ontario FIT Program Explained

Posted on March 22, 2012 by admin

FIT, or feed-in tariff, is a worldwide, governmentally funded program that is designed to encourage the growth of renewable energy technologies such as wind energy. It is achieved by offering long-term contracts, 20 years in the case the Ontario FIT Program for onshore wind energy projects, to renewable energy producers. Furthermore, the program also awards a lower per-kWh price, 13.5 ¢/kWh for wind power created in Ontario, to further assist in the growth of these renewable technologies.

Ontario first introduced their own feed-in tariff program in 2006, and later revised it in 2009, when the Green Energy Act and FIT program were officially launched with the goal of:

Making it easier and more efficient to develop renewable energy projects
Stimulating the economy and creating new jobs
Replacing output lost by the closure of coal-fired plants with cleaner sources of renewable energy

In just the first two years of the FIT program there have been approximately 2,500 medium and large renewable energy projects awarded and over 11,000 microFIT projects, with enough clean renewable energy produced to power almost 1.2 million homes.

Thanks largely to the efforts of the FIT program, Ontario has been able to shutdown 8 of its 19 coal-fired plants in the province, with the remaining scheduled to be closed by the end of 2014. Technologies such as wind and solar will be needed to make up the difference.

Even though wind energy is relatively new to Canada, two of the largest wind farms in the country are already located in Ontario, and by the end of 2009 they were producing nearly 1,200 megawatts of electricity for the province.

The Ontario FIT program is currently in the process of its 2-year review, which will help to ensure the continued success and sustainability of the program. The outcome of the review may be uncertain, but according to the Ministry of Energy website, Deputy Minister Fareed Amin expects to submit his “recommendations to the minister in the near future”.

With the recent release of the Drummond report, the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services recommends that the province can reduce the impact on electricity prices by “lowering the initial prices offered in the FIT contract and introducing degression rates that reduce the tariff over time to encourage innovation and discourage any reliance on public subsidies”.

Only time will tell what the future of Ontario’s FIT program will be.

Will Wind Overtake Nuclear As The Preferred Worldwide Power Source?

Posted on February 29, 2012 by admin

According to the Global Wind Energy Council, by the close of 2011, the total worldwide wind power generation output was 238 gigawatts. Although this may seem lower than the 392 gigawatts of power that was generated from nuclear plants in 2010, as reported by the World Nuclear Association, you just have to look at wind power’s short history to see that, if the trend continues, wind will overtake nuclear as the preferred worldwide power source.

In just ten short years wind power’s output as increased 10 times since 2001, where only 23.9 gigawatts were generated. Furthermore the 2011 numbers were up 21% from 2010.

Nuclear on the other hand has only risen by 7% since the 2001, and the numbers have actually fallen within the first month of 2012. The decline in nuclear output is in relation to the Fukushima disaster, which not only shut down two of Japan’s nuclear reactors, but a host of other reactors where also shut down around the world in order to avoid a similar accident.

Industry experts agree, that if the trend for significant growth in wind power generation continues, that in just five short years wind will overtake nuclear as the preferred worldwide power source.

Eight Reasons Why Wind Energy Rocks

Posted on December 6, 2011 by admin

Wind energy rocks. It always has, of course, but now there are more and more reasons why governments and industry are turning to wind energy to power the future. Here are just eight of those reasons.

Wind is abundant does not fluctuate over the long term. Today might be windy, tomorrow less so, the next day you might have to hold your coat closed. Such is the nature of wind. Day to day, it can be fickle. This year, there will be plenty of wind. Next year, more wind. The following year, you can count on more of the same. Such is the nature of wind. Year over year, the wind keeps blowing.
Wind is available at all hours (unlike solar). Wind blows in the morning. Wind blows in the afternoon. Wing blows at midnight. Wind blows at noon. Wind even blows at tea time. Yes, even while you sip your Earl Grey, wind turbines are working to power your electric candles.

Wind is everywhere:

Top 10 wind power countries (source)
Country	Total capacity end 2009 (MW)	Total capacity June 2010 (MW)
United States	35,159	36,300
China	26,010	33,800
Germany	25,777	26,400
Spain	19,149	19,500
India	10, 925	12,100
Italy	4,850	5,300
France	4,521	5,000
United Kingdom	4,092	4,600
Portugal	3,535	3,800
Denmark	3,497	3,700
Rest of world	21,698	24,500
Total	159,213	175,000

Wind is clean. It leaves no emissions (unlike coal and fossil fuels). That is not to say that wind is 100% clean; no human activity leaves the world unmarked. It does take materials to build the turbines and the towers, there still is wiring, etc. But wind does not emit pollution. Wind does not use chemicals that could be toxic. Wind does not block rivers or carry the risk of a meltdown. Most of the concerns over wind power generation have been aesthetic, meaning that in some cases people have not wanted the towers in their neighborhoods because they do not look rustic enough or they do not match the colour of the houses or because of some other reason related to appearance.
Wind is free. Everyone has access. Countries will fight for water and for oil, but the wind blows around the globe. Sun is less abundant farther from the equator in the cold season, but wind is everywhere.
Wind power has history. Think of Dutch windmills. Think of the Santa Maria discovering the new world. Think of kids flying their kites.
Wind is economical. Energy costs money, but over time, non-renewables cost more. That is the nature of supply and demand. On the other hand, renewables cost less over time. Such is the nature of economies of scale.
Wind is safe. Some birds might get hurt by the turbines (manufacturers are working on ways to reduce this), but there are no risks of explosions or water contamination or nuclear fallout, and the risks to wind power workers is much less than for most forms of energy generation.

Wind – reliable and renewable

Posted on November 7, 2011 by admin

There are several sources of renewable “green” energy. In fact, the world is practically composed of energy. One of the advantages of living in a world full of energy is that we should not have to transport energy long distances (which consumes or degrades the energy, the farther it is transported).

Oil tankers ship petroleum across the ocean.
Hydro power is transported through huge corridors over long distances.
Nuclear power, generated at a few centralized stations, is transported through huge corridors over long distances.

Huge urban areas cannot generate all their energy locally, but a lot of energy needs can be generated in a more dispersed manner. Wind is everywhere. Sun is everywhere. Geothermal is everywhere. Each one has places and times where it is best suited.

In northern climates like Canada’s, especially in regions where there is a lot of cloud activity, solar energy makes little sense. But wind makes a lot of sense, especially in coastal regions, where wind tends to be greater.

Wind has a long history of powering boats and mills, and now we can harness that energy to power refrigerators and computers, too.

As long as the earth turns, there will be wind. As long as there are warm regions and cooler regions, there will wind. And wind is 100% renewable.

Close your eyes and imagine a world where electricity is produced right close to your home, using renewable sources that don’t require military budgets and people dying to keep them secure.

Imagine a world where a diverse range of renewable “green” energy sources power everything we do.

Imagine a world where your house is powered in large part by wind.

But don’t keep your eyes closed to long; when you open them, imagination might already be reality. Already wind power provides 14 percent of electricity in the U.S. state of Iowa and an incredible 40 percent in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Welcome to the future.

A Brief History of Wind Power

Posted on September 23, 2011 by admin

If we are to discuss wind power generation, we should start at the beginning.

One of two 1887 wind turbines

Wind energy has a long and glorious history. In fact, it was around long before mankind learned how to harness it so that it would serve a more useful purpose than merely dispersing the leaves you had just finished raking into a pile.

Once upon a time, wind powered our ships, blowing into our billowing sails. Wind powered our mills, grinding our grain so that we could make bread and cakes. Wind was used to ventilate buildings. Wind-powered pumps drained the Netherlands and pumped water into the desert.

But it was not until late in the 19th century, that mankind learned how to make wind energy portable by converting it to electricity. Today, wind powers everything from light bulbs to heating systems, from power tools to home entertainment. And it still powers our mills, but not our ships.

The first wind turbine to produce electricity was in Scotland (a land where Windsmith has installed several wind farm projects), where it powered a house in 1887. The cloth-sailed wind turbine stood 33 feet high and produced enough electricity to power the street lights in the town of Maykirk – but the townsfolk rejected electricity as “the work of the Devil”.

Of course, wind no longer works alone; the electricity wind farms generate is combined with energy generated from solar, nuclear, fossil fuel and coal power generation, together mixing in what we call “The Grid”.

It must be understood that until recently, wind was not a major player feeding the grid. Not until the 1990s did the public start to discuss wind as a mainstream source of electrical power. Climate change and an eventual shortage and even depletion of fossil fuels have combined to make wind energy more attractive.

In the posts ahead, we will discuss wind power and its role in electricity generation, climate change, economics and practical applications, and we will also share with you some of our wind farm installation and maintenance experiences..

Testing various wind turbines at North Cape, PEI, Canada