The History of Wind Power in Canada

Wind Power has been utilized in Canada for over 100 years. In many of these cases, local or independent operations built and maintained the equipment necessary for the collection of small amounts of electricity needed for one household or farm operation.  Compare this to today with the industrial-size operations common to wind power farming and off-shore installations.

1930s		Hundreds of small wind turbines were built in rural areas, particularly in the Western Provinces.  One to three kilowatts in capacity, the turbines at first were installed to provide lighting for farms and to charge batteries for crystal radio sets.  Later, their use was extended to power appliances and farm machinery.
1940s		As fossil fuel prices fell after the Second World War, utility power grids were gradually extended throughout rural areas.  Interest in wind turbines fell as a result.
1973		The oil crisis of 1973 sparked interest in large wind turbines and prompted the Canadian Government to sponsor renewable energy programs.
1975		Hydro-Quebec Research (IREQ) started a wind power program with the installation of a 40-kW vertical-axis wind turbine.  This type of wind turbine is often referred to as an “egg beater”, because of its physical appearance.  This site is no longer in operation.
1977		IREQ and the National Research Council of Canada installed an experimental vertical- axis wind turbine (230 kW), in the Magdalen Islands.  The advantage of using a vertical-axis is that the turbine is at the bottom of the rotor.  Also, the rotor accepts wind from any direction without a complex yaw mechanism.  The major disadvantages are that the mechanical loads vary from zero to maximum operating values two or three times per cycle, depending on the number of blades.  Also, the height of the rotor is significantly lower than the rotors of comparable horizontal-axis wind turbines placed on high towers where the wind is stronger.  This site is no longer in operation.
1984		On the Gaspé Peninsula construction began on Project Eole, the world’s largest-vertical axis wind turbine.  The $65 million, 110 m (361 ft.) high turbine was a joint venture between Hydro-Québec and the National Research Council of Canada.
1986		Hydro-Québec built the Kuujjuaq Wind Turbine demonstration project.  It is an off-grid system, 65 kW horizontal-axis wind turbine.  The turbine is still in operation.
1994		The Cowley Ridge wind plant was built near Pincher Creek, Alberta.  This was the first commercial wind farm in Canada, and is currently generating 60,000 MWh annually.
Present		At the end of 2007, wind power in Canada amounts to an installed capacity of 1,588 MW.  Approximately 4,000 MW worth of projects are currently being developed.