North Cape Wind Farm
Prince Edward Island residents are witnessing firsthand the growth and potential of wind-generated electricity. North Cape is located at the very northern tip of the Island and is the longest natural rock reef in North America at 3.2 kilmotres in length. The North Cape Wind Farm is where our nation is taking the lead in the research and development of a clean, renewable and reliable source of energy for Canadians. It already provides 5% of the Island’s electricity.
The Atlantic Wind Test Site, adjacent to the North Cape Wind Farm is a joint initiative of the federal and provincial governments. It has recently evolved to become the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) and hopes to strengthen its place in the world as a leader in wind energy technology. Wind energy is the fastest-growing form of electricity production in Canada. The wind testing site has been leading research and development for more than 20 years.
North Cape has grown from just a few turbines to 17 electricity generators now sweeping their gigantic white arms over the north-western tip of the Island. It's like poetry in motion this combination of technology and nature. They convert the energy, contained in moving wind, into electricity and feed it into the local electrical grid.This wind generated electricity helps reduce the amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels.
Eastern Kings Wind Farm
Eastern Kings Wind Farm is located located in a rural area in King’s County on the northeastern tip of Prince Edward Island. The purpose of this project is to utilize an indigenous form of sustainable energy and to help provide Prince Edward Islanders with more long term stability in their electrical rates.
The Eastern Kings Wind Farm has 10 V-90 turbines with a capacity of three megawatts each for a total capacity of 30 megawatts of wind power. This displaces 75,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year which is the equivalent of taking about 15,000 cars off the road. The average house uses about 8,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Since annual production will be 90-95 million kilowatt hours the wind farm will produce enough electricity to power about 12,000 homes. The Eastern Kings Wind Farm supplies 7.5% of all the Island’s electricity needs.
Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village
The project will demonstrate how wind energy and hydrogen technologies can work together to offer clean energy solutions for small and remote communities. Islanders and visitors will see the first phase of the demonstration village in operation by fall 2007.
The first phase of the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village Project includes the installation of a hydrogen production station, a hydrogen storage depot, a hydrogen fuelled generator, and a wind-hydrogen integrated control system. Wind energy from the turbines at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada will be used to meet ongoing electricity needs and to provide power to electrolysis equipment which makes hydrogen from water. The hydrogen will then be used in a hydrogen fuelled engine to provide backup electricity to the Wind Energy Institute of Canada, the existing Atlantic Wind Test Site building, and the North Cape Wind Farm utility building. Based on the results in Phase 1, the intent is that Phase 2 of the PEI Wind-Hydrogen Village Project would see the control system power other homes and buildings in the North Cape area.
Details of the transportation component of the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village Project are still being finalized. The Energy Corporation is in discussions with potential partners on options that would demonstrate wind-hydrogen technologies in the transportation sector and give visitors to the site the opportunity to experience hydrogen powered transportation.