Canada’s Energy Future: What Role for Wind Power? Jim Prall Systems Programmer The Edward S. Rogers Sr.. Dept. Of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Toronto
[email protected] http://www.eecg.utoronto.ca/~prall part-time student of climatology (etc.) The Wind Power Industry • Wind power the fastest growing sector – As high as 30% per year growth • Already a mature industry worldwide – Dozens of major manufacturers – Consolidation under way – Mature designs now in mass production • Wind power prices already competitive in many markets, getting closer elsewhere Wind Power Worldwide 2003 Rated capacity, MW Germany 14609 Spain 6202 Denmark supplying 18% of Denmark 3110 national demand from wind! Netherlands 912 Italy 904 USA 4685 United Kingdom 649 Canada 322 Austria 415 Sweden 399 Greece 375 Portugal 299 France 239 Ireland 186 Wind Power in Ontario Date in rated Operator Location Service Equipment kW Status 1x Tacke TW-600 CWM Ontario Hydro Tiverton 1995/10 (600 kW) 600 Active O.P.G. Pickering 2001/10 1x Vestas V80 (1,800 kW) 1,800 Active Private Port Albert 2001/12 1x Vestas V47 (660 kW) 660 Active Huron Wind Kincardine 2002/11 5x Vestas V80 9,000 Active Sky Generation Ferndale 2002/11 1x Vestas V80 1,800 Active Source: http://www.canwea.ca/CanadianProduction.html Wind Power in Canada • Canada has decent wind resources • Yet wind industry not as far along here • Why not? – Cheap power • fossil fuels historically subsidized – Limited political support so far – Provincial utilities slow to embrace wind – Hydro & nuclear power well developed • Both avoid air quality & CO2 concerns • This may mean less public pressure for wind – Lenders unfamiliar with wind charge more Phasing Out Coal Smog KILLS thousands in Canada each year http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/rdc-mrc01/pdf/rdc0901e.pdf http://eastern.sierraclub.ca/campaign_coal_fired_power_is_killing_us.shtml http://www.oma.org/phealth/report/airq001.pdf Phasing Out Coal • Smog kills almost 2000 each year • Coal power plants a big problem – More prevalent in U.S.