- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why this location?
- How will the Township of Dorion and other local communities benefit from the Greenwich Wind Farm?
- How much energy will the Greenwich Wind Farm supply?
- How many North American households can one megawatt of wind energy supply?
- Where will the electricity from the Greenwich Wind Farm go?
- What is a wind farm?
- What are wind turbines? How big are the turbines?
- What is a wind turbine made of?
- How big is a wind turbine?
- Why are wind turbines so tall?
- How are wind turbines sited?
- How do the wind turbines work?
- How is the electricity from the turbines fed to the existing transmission lines?
- What if the wind doesn’t blow?
- Will the turbines generate excessive sound?
- Does wind energy impact the environment?
- Will the Greenwich Wind Farm affect birds?
- How can I get involved with wind energy? If have questions or comments about the project, who should I contact?
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Why this location?Top
The proposed project location has an excellent wind resource (high-speed and consistent winds) and is close to existing transmission lines with available capacity. Preliminary environmental screening has revealed no major environmental constraints exist in the area. Early and extensive consultation has shown that the project enjoys good public support.
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How will the Township of Dorion and other local communities benefit from the Greenwich Wind Farm?Top
The construction and operation of a wind farm requires a large capital investment, much of which will be spent locally, on contractors and services. About $25 million will be spent regionally on civil and electrical contractors (road and foundation construction and electrical infrastructure). Local engineering firms, hotels and secondary service companies would also see an increase in business.
- Construction of the wind farm would generate approximately 300 jobs at the peak of the construction phase
- Once operational, the project will require a team of 8 to 10 people to manage and maintain the wind farm. These will be well-paid and highly skilled jobs. Further contracts for road and electrical maintenance will also be awarded.
- It is currently estimated that the Greenwich Wind Farm will generate approximately $75,000 in municipal tax payments each year.
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How much energy will the Greenwich Wind Farm supply?Top
The Greenwich Wind Farm will provide approximately 100 MW of power under optimal operating conditions. This is enough renewable energy to power around 30,000 typical Canadian homes each year.
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How many North American households can one megawatt of wind energy supply?Top
An average U.S. household uses about 10,655 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. One megawatt of wind energy can generate from 2.4 to more than 3 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of wind generates about as much electricity as 225 to 300 households use. It is important to note that since the wind does not blow all of the time, it cannot be the only power source for that many households.
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Where will the electricity from the Greenwich Wind Farm go?Top
Power generated by the Greenwich Wind Farm will be supplied into the Ontario high-voltage transmission network, operated by Hydro One Networks, then flow to customers all across Ontario.
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What is a wind farm?Top
Wind farms, also known as wind energy power plants, are power plants comprised of multiple wind turbines. As demand for electricity grows, wind turbines can be added as needed. The power collected at wind farms is fed into the existing electricity grid where it is combined with electricity from other power plants and delivered to utility customers. Wind farms generate extra income for municipalities and local landowners. Other land uses, like hunting and farming can continue undisturbed.
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What are wind turbines? How big are the turbines?Top
Wind turbines generate electricity for homes and businesses. The main components of a wind turbine are a tower, three propeller-like blades, a rotor, a shaft, and a generator. Read “How Do Wind Turbines Work?” to see how these parts work together to create electricity. The turbines proposed for the Greenwich Wind Farm have a rotor centre 80 meters above the ground. The rotor is typically up to 90 meters in diameter. Newer, larger turbines allow increased efficiency and slower blade movement help to reduce possible impacts of raptors and other birds.
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What is a wind turbine made of? Top
The towers are usually made of steel and the blades are made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester or wood-epoxy.
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How big is a wind turbine?Top
Depending on the selection of the turbine make and model, the tower and blade combination may be as high as 128 meters.
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Why are wind turbines so tall? Top
Wind turbines are mounted on a tower to capture the maximum amount of energy. At 30.5 meters or more above ground, they can take advantage of faster and less turbulent wind. (U.S. Department Of Energy, “How Wind Turbines Work,” www1.eere.energy.gov, Accessed 3/12/09)
Take a look inside a wind turbine to see the various parts. (U.S. Department Of Energy, “How Wind Turbines Work,” www1.eere.energy.gov, Accessed 3/12/09)
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How are wind turbines sited?Top
Wind measurement devices called anemometers are placed in areas where frequent and consistent winds are suspected. Together with wind vanes, anemometers measure wind speed, direction and seasonal fluctuation. Data from anemometers is interpreted by specialists and an indicative turbine layout is prepared. Turbine layouts often are modified to accommodate landforms, property line setbacks, construction restrictions and environmental constraints.
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How do the wind turbines work?Top
To generate electricity, a wind turbine performs three key steps: 1) Energy from the wind turns the turbine’s blades around a rotor. 2) The rotor spins a shaft. 3) The shaft spins a generator to create electricity. The concept behind wind energy is similar to that of hydroelectric electricity. Turbines are placed in currents of wind, as the wind currents pass the turbine blades, the rotors are turned and electricity is generated.
View the U.S. Department of Energy’s wind turbine animation. (U.S. Department Of Energy, “How Wind Turbines Work,” www1.eere.energy.gov, Accessed 3/12/09)
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How is the electricity from the turbines fed to the existing transmission lines? Top
Electricity is gathered from each turbine and conveyed by a common cable to substations where the voltage is then increased to the levels of existing transmission lines. A three-phase overhead line from each substation would then convey the electricity to the interconnect points of the existing transmission lines, along steel or double wood poles, topped by anti-perching triangles and surge arrestor caps.
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What if the wind doesn’t blow?Top
When the wind isn’t blowing strong enough to turn the turbines to generate electricity, your electricity will still work as usual. Electricity grids and the various sources of generating facilities that supply them are designed to cope with peaks and valleys in the demand for power. These planning and system redundancies include backup sources of power to ensure electricity is there when people need it.
Wind energy is an efficient way to generate electricity. Using a free and infinite source of fuel to generate electricity – the wind – is about as efficient as you can get. The technology is efficient too – modern wind turbines are operational 70 to 85 percent of the time, and generate, on average, up to 35 percent of the theoretical maximum output over a year’s time. This is known as a load or capacity factor. The exact figure is dependent on the location, technology, size, turbine reliability and wind conditions, of course. By comparison, the load factor of a conventional power plant is on average about 50 percent.
The wind you feel on the ground is not the same as the wind at the top of a turbine. Wind is slowed by friction as it hits the ground and vegetation, but the power of wind can be five times greater at the blade tip on a large modern wind turbine. (American Wind Energy Association, “Wind Power Today,” www.awea.org, Accessed 3/12/09)
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Will the turbines generate excessive sound?Top
For more information, please read the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s (CanWEA) "The sights and sounds of wind."
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Does wind energy impact the environment?Top
Wind energy is an environmentally-friendly energy source.
- Wind energy produces clean, renewable electricity without emitting pollutants into our air or creating hazardous wastes.
- Wind energy, unlike other sources of energy, requires no mining, drilling, or transportation of fuel, and no disposal of radioactive or other hazardous or polluting waste.
- Wind energy helps preserve open space, conserves water and poses no threats to our national security
Compare wind’s environmental impact to other sources of energy:
(American Wind Energy Association Website, www.awea.org, Accessed 3/12/09) -
Will the Greenwich Wind Farm affect birds?Top
The project poses a low significant net effect on local birds. RES Canada has hired experienced consultants to monitor bird and bat populations near the wind farm site over a one year period. The results of these studies will be available to the public for general review.
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How can I get involved with wind energy? If have questions or comments about the project, who should I contact?Top
Stephen Cookson
Project Developer
Renewable Energy Systems Canada Inc.
300 Léo-Pariseau, Suite 2516
Montréal, Québec, H2X 4B3
Email:
Tel: 514-525-2113 x226Don McKinnon
Project Manager
Dillon Consulting Limited
235 Yorkland Blvd. Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, M2J 4Y8
Email:
Tel: 877-934-5566