The P.E.I. Energy Corporation is gearing up to replace the turbines at the oldest wind farm in the province, paving the way for a new generation of larger and more powerful machines. Situated at North Cape, the wind farm and the Aeolus turbine were revolutionary installations in Atlantic Canada in the early 2000s.
Blair Arsenault, an operations engineer at the P.E.I. Energy Corporation, referred to North Cape as the cornerstone of wind energy in P.E.I. over the past 25 years. However, he noted that the aging turbines are exhibiting more frequent breakdowns, leading to increased downtime and decreased energy production efficiency.
As the turbines approach the end of their lifespan, the provincial government has initiated a tender for an environmental impact assessment to explore the retirement of the current turbines and the installation of a new wind project in their place at the same locations. The 16 turbines at North Cape were installed in two phases between 2001 and 2003, with Aeolus, a larger turbine, being retrofitted in 2007.
Arsenault highlighted that the current equipment has been operational for more than two decades, experiencing various failures that are becoming more common. He emphasized the decline in energy production due to increased turbine downtime, with annual production dropping from approximately 33 gigawatt hours to around 28.
While the specific replacement turbines have not been finalized, Arsenault indicated that the new units will be significantly larger and more efficient. Compared to the current 0.66-megawatt turbines with a 47-meter rotor diameter, the newer models are expected to be larger and capable of withstanding harsher weather conditions.
The plan is to reuse existing infrastructure such as access roads, turbine pads, and transmission lines as much as possible for the new wind farm, which is targeted for completion by 2029 or 2030. The P.E.I. Energy Corporation will issue a request for quotes to manufacturers to compare bids based on price, inclusions, and performance.
Angus Orford, the vice president of corporate planning and energy supply at Maritime Electric, highlighted the importance of wind energy in meeting electricity demand but noted that capacity challenges remain. He explained that wind and solar power’s intermittent nature necessitates the use of dispatchable generation sources to ensure reliable electricity supply.