Though British Columbia’s first wind energy project has found itself in financial trouble, developers appear confident in the sector.
BC Hydro received 19 proposals for wind energy projects in its 2008 call for clean power, which closed this week. The majority of the large project proposals -- over 50 MW -- were for wind energy, said BC Hydro spokesperson Dag Sharman.
There were 68 submissions in total, more than half of which were for hydroelectricity projects.
Two companies made public this week their plans to develop wind power in the province. Epcor, an Edmonton city-owned utility, announced a bid to build a 142 MW facility just outside Tumbler Ridge in the Peace River region.
Finavera Renewables Inc. announced bids to develop four wind projects, also in the Peace, totaling 295 megawatts.
If Finavera's bids are accepted by BC Hydro, GE Energy Financial Services would finance the combined $800 million capital cost of the projects.
"Up until now, BC Hydro has been focused on hydro-based generation sources and now they're looking to diversify that portfolio," said David Huggill, western policy manager with the Canadian Wind Energy Association.
"Wind projects are definitely up there."
While the province hasn't set specific targets for acquiring wind energy, Sharman said it is encouraging to see this number of wind project proposals.
"[Wind] is beginning to get more competitive in price," he said.
But there are still challenges, especially during these financial times.
BC Hydro accepted three wind project proposals in its 2006 call for clean power, one of which was the Dokie wind project near Chetwynd.
Last week, the project's proponent, EarthFirst Canada Inc., announced it obtained temporary court protection from creditors seeking $131 million in debt.
In July 2008, just two months after beginning construction, the company announced capital project costs had increased from $325 million to $360 million.
Another project, the Mount Hays Wind Farm near Prince Rupert, experienced delays last year after a dispute with the turbine supplier.
"Construction costs are items or issues we need to keep on top of," said Myke Clark, Finavera's senior vice president of business development.
"It is a difficult time for sure, but we believe that we’ve got bids together that will address any concerns."
Clark said although there is difficulty getting capital and credit across the board right now, there is confidence in renewables.
"There is definitely competition in BC," he said. "What projects will be awarded and how many, is anyone's guess. We don't need to be first. There is a growing demand and a significant demand for electricity."
Colleen Kimmett is a regular contributor to the Hook
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morechatter
3 years ago
Its Not Cost Efficient
But its a start as better ways are needed and will be found no doubt thanks to the many creative minds and problems solvers as they tap universal knowledge. If there is a problem then there is solution as they are all part of the same mechanism. However this is not the solution as they are not cost efficient and god how many windmills do you need to run a city?
SharingIsGood
3 years ago
wind turbines
Problems Associated with Windmills:
. Not cost efficient
solutions:
Develop and support better means of storing energy when energy is not being consumed. IE: use wind energy to compress air for use in compressed gas vihicles.
Use electricity generated to produce hydrogen for use in internal combustion engine cars.
Develop capacitors that hold electricty better and more cheaply than batteries:
As Bailey said at the Tyee some time ago, place many small wind turbines on top of hydro poles that already exist. The resultant energy could be inverted and supplied directly to the wire. Extra energy in the system could be drawn off and stored as compressed air, pumped water, or split hydrogen.
http://zeropollutionmotors.us/
http://www.hydrogenenginecenter.com/aspx/investor/
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0416/p13s01-sten.html
* Wind generators are not bird/bat-friendly.
Solution:
Use helical wind turbines that are safe and have an added bonus of being able to generate in relatively light wind conditions.
* Technology too expensive
Solution:
During this economic depression, train unemployed people to build and install equipment in BC.
Offer tax incentives for small BC-based businesses wanting to start-up wind generation and energy storage equipment manufacture and installation.
Offer incentives and help to homeowners wanting to install such devices.
Province buy and open an MDI car company.
http://mdi.lu/index.php
Windturbines need not be large or part of large companies to do good efficient work.