Wind power in Canada
Encyclopedia
As a means of pumping water and generating electricity in remote locations, wind power
has a history in Canada
dating back many decades, particularly on prairie
farms. The amount of electricity generated by wind in Canada remains, however, small compared to other sources such as hydroelectricity and coal, although it is the fastest growing source. As of October 2011, wind power nameplate capacity represents approximately 2% of Canada's electricity demand, with approximately 4,708 MW of generating capacity. The Canadian Wind Energy Association has outlined a future strategy for wind energy that would reach a capacity of 55,000 MW by 2025, meeting 20% of the country’s energy needs.
Early development of wind energy in Canada was located primarily in Ontario
, Quebec
, and Alberta
. Throughout the late 1990s and early years of the 21st Century every Canadian province has pursued wind power to supplement their provincial energy grids. Alberta
built the first commercial wind farm in Canada in 1993. British Columbia
was the last province to add wind power to its grid with the completion of the Bear Mountain Wind Park
in November 2009. With increasing population growth, Canada has seen wind power as a way to diversify energy supplies away from traditional reliance on fossil fuel
burning thermal plants and heavy reliance on hydroelectricity in some provinces. In provinces like Nova Scotia, where only 12% of electricity comes from renewable sources, the development of wind energy projects will provide a measure of electricity security that some jurisdictions are lacking. In the case of British Columbia, wind energy will help close the electricity deficit that the province is facing into the 2010s and help reduce the reliance on importing power from other jurisdictions that may not use renewable energy sources.
An additional 2,004 megawatts of wind power is to come on stream in Quebec between 2011 and 2015. The new energy will cost 10.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, a price described as "highly competitive".
that initially used a Wind-Diesel system and is now being converted to Wind-Hydrogen technology.
being one example.
In a survey conducted by Angus Reid Strategies in October 2007, 89 per cent of respondents said that using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power was positive for Canada, because these sources were better for the environment. Only 4 per cent considered using renewable sources as negative since they can be unreliable and expensive.
According to a Saint Consulting survey in April 2007, wind power was the alternative energy source most likely to gain public support for future development in Canada, with only 16% opposed to this type of energy. By contrast, 3 out of 4 Canadians
opposed nuclear power developments.
Despite this general support for the concept of wind power in the public at large, local opposition
often exists, primarily from residents concerned about a perceived "eyesore", noise or reduced property values. This has delayed or aborted a number of projects. This opposition has been described as a case of NIMBY
ism.
Several wind farm
s in Canada have become tourist attractions, to the surprise of the owners.
emissions annually.
is planning to build the largest wind farm in Canada in the southern part of the province near the cities of Brandon
and Portage la Prairie
.
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
has a history in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
dating back many decades, particularly on prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
farms. The amount of electricity generated by wind in Canada remains, however, small compared to other sources such as hydroelectricity and coal, although it is the fastest growing source. As of October 2011, wind power nameplate capacity represents approximately 2% of Canada's electricity demand, with approximately 4,708 MW of generating capacity. The Canadian Wind Energy Association has outlined a future strategy for wind energy that would reach a capacity of 55,000 MW by 2025, meeting 20% of the country’s energy needs.
Overview
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Throughout the late 1990s and early years of the 21st Century every Canadian province has pursued wind power to supplement their provincial energy grids. Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
built the first commercial wind farm in Canada in 1993. British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
was the last province to add wind power to its grid with the completion of the Bear Mountain Wind Park
Bear Mountain Wind Park
The Bear Mountain Wind Park is an electricity generating wind farm facility located near Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. It is owned by Bear Mountain Wind LP and began operations in November, 2009. BC's first operating wind farm has a generating capacity of 102 megawatts....
in November 2009. With increasing population growth, Canada has seen wind power as a way to diversify energy supplies away from traditional reliance on fossil fuel
Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years...
burning thermal plants and heavy reliance on hydroelectricity in some provinces. In provinces like Nova Scotia, where only 12% of electricity comes from renewable sources, the development of wind energy projects will provide a measure of electricity security that some jurisdictions are lacking. In the case of British Columbia, wind energy will help close the electricity deficit that the province is facing into the 2010s and help reduce the reliance on importing power from other jurisdictions that may not use renewable energy sources.
An additional 2,004 megawatts of wind power is to come on stream in Quebec between 2011 and 2015. The new energy will cost 10.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, a price described as "highly competitive".
| Province/Territory | Current Installed Capacity (MW) |
Expected 2015 Capacity (MW) |
Installed Capacity per Capita (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 806 | 999 | |
| British Columbia | 247 | 272.7 | |
| Manitoba | 242 | 242 | |
| New Brunswick | 294 | 309 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 54.7 | 54.7 | |
| Nova Scotia | 286 | 303.3 | |
| Ontario | 1656 | 2600 | |
| Prince Edward Island | 164 | 151.6 | |
| Québec | 759 | 3330.5 | |
| Saskatchewan | 198 | 195.95 | |
| Yukon | 0.81 | 0.81 | |
| Total | 4708 | 7667.96 |
Wind Hybrid Projects
Contributors to the main power grid are Wind-Diesel and Wind-Hydrogen. One Canadian example is the community of Ramea, Newfoundland and LabradorRamea, Newfoundland and Labrador
Ramea, Newfoundland and Labrador is a small village located on Northwest Island, one of a group of five major islands located off the south coast of the island of Newfoundland, Canada. The Island is approximately 3.1 km long by 1 km wide...
that initially used a Wind-Diesel system and is now being converted to Wind-Hydrogen technology.
Wind tower manufacture
Canadian industry has started to supply major components for Wind Tower projects, Hitachi Canadian IndustriesHitachi Canadian Industries
Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. is a wholly owned, independent subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. of Japan. located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. HCI was created in 1988, and is part of the Power & Industrial division of Hitachi Ltd. Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd...
being one example.
Public opinion
According to a Saint Consulting survey in April 2007, wind power was the alternative energy source most likely to gain public support for future development in Canada, with only 16% opposed to this type of energy. By contrast, 3 out of 4 Canadians
opposed nuclear power developments.
Despite this general support for the concept of wind power in the public at large, local opposition
Environmental effects of wind power
Compared to the environmental impact of traditional energy sources, the environmental impact of wind power is relatively minor. Wind power consumes no fuel, and emits no air pollution, unlike fossil fuel power sources. The energy consumed to manufacture and transport the materials used to build a...
often exists, primarily from residents concerned about a perceived "eyesore", noise or reduced property values. This has delayed or aborted a number of projects. This opposition has been described as a case of NIMBY
NIMBY
NIMBY or Nimby is an acronym for the phrase "not in my back yard". The term is used pejoratively to describe opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development close to them. Opposing residents themselves are sometimes called Nimbies...
ism.
Several wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
s in Canada have become tourist attractions, to the surprise of the owners.
Proposed future strategies
Wind farms on crown land
Some rural communities want Alberta to grant companies the right to develop wind farms on leased Crown land.Wind Vision 2025
In 2008, the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), a non-profit trade association, outlined a future strategy for wind energy that would reach a capacity of 55,000 MW by 2025, fulfilling 20% of the country’s energy needs. The plan, Wind Vision 2025, could create over 50,000 jobs and represent around CDN$165 million annual revenue. If achieved, CanWEA’s target would make the country a major player in the wind power sector and would create around CDN$79 billion of investment. It would also save an estimated 17 megatonnes of greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions annually.
Manitoba
ManitobaManitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
is planning to build the largest wind farm in Canada in the southern part of the province near the cities of Brandon
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
and Portage la Prairie
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
.
See also
- Electricity sector in Canada
- Energy policy of CanadaEnergy policy of CanadaCanada is the 5th largest producer of energy in the world, producing about 6% of global energy supplies. It is the world's largest producer of natural uranium, producing one-third of global supply, and is also the world's leading producer of hydro-electricity, accounting for 13% of global...
- List of wind farms in Canada
- Renewable energy in CanadaRenewable energy in CanadaCanada generates a significant part of its electricity from hydroelectric dams, but has otherwise limited renewable energy generation, although wind power is growing quickly. A 15 megawatt tidal plant sits at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, and uses the daily tides of the Bay of Fundy...
- Science and technology in CanadaScience and technology in CanadaScience and technology in Canada consists of three distinct but closely related phenomena:* the diffusion of technology in Canada,* scientific research in Canada* innovation, invention and industrial research in Canada...
- V2G
- Melancthon EcoPower CentreMelancthon EcoPower CentreThe Melancthon EcoPower Centre is a 199.5 megawatt wind farm in Melancthon Township, near Shelburne, Ontario. The centre, Canada's largest wind energy installation, is owned and operated by Canadian Hydro....
- Association of Power Producers of OntarioAssociation of Power Producers of OntarioThe Association of Power Producers of Ontario is a trade and professional body representing commercial electricity generators in Ontario, and the largest organization of its type in Canada. APPrO was established in 1986 as the Independent Power Producers’ Society of Ontario and changed its name...
External links
- Renewable energy players opt to network
- Canadian Wind Energy Association
- Association of Power Producers of Ontario
- The Great Lakes May Soon be Home to Offshore Wind
- The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
- Canadian Wind Atlas by Environment Canada
- Wind turbine production would boost troubled manufacturing
- The BC Sustainable Energy Association
- "Where is my Electricity Coming From at this Hour? (if I lived in Ontario)" (Canadian Nuclear Society, with data from IESO)