Wind

GLOBAL:

Global Wind Atlas

  • 5.3% global electricity is generated by Wind Power (source: BP Energy Review)

    • 1429.6 TWh of Wind power generation in 2019 (+12.6% growth from 2018)

      • Compared to 724 TWh of Solar (+24.3% growth)

  • A 23% average annual growth rate over the past 30 years (source: IEA renewables)

    • 60.3 GW (2019) of new installed wind capacity (source: GWEC Windsight)

      • WindEurope plans to quadruple wind power in the next 30 years

      • With increasing feasibility propelling more Offshore wind in the mix

CANADA:

Based on meteorological tools and wind resource potential simulation: http://windatlas.ca/maps-en.php

Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)- see: infographic

ONTARIO:

    • 5,436 MW (end of 2019) in Ontario- largest wind market in Canada with 2,681 wind turbines

      • IESO's Live Output and Forecast for Wind Power

      • More dense placement on the Southern Coast near the load center of Toronto

HISTORY:

  • It all comes together- Wind Resources coupled with the Technology, Parts, Aerodynamics, & Control Systems

    • Originated from wind mills used for milling grain, draining rice fields, driving scoop wheels for pumping water, and sawing wood.

    • Evolved to wind turbines from a vertical to a horizontal axis of rotation, with the most common being a lift-driven rotor with upwind orientation and 3 blades.

    • Today's primary Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) use wind's kinetic energy to produce mechanical power and transform it into electricity:

      • The majority of WTGs are for large utility grids and in the capacity range of 1.5 to 5 MW

      • They can achieve up to 9.5 MW power ratings- see the Top 10 wind turbines on the market