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.

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.

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.