The Pembina Institute is a sponsor and co-organizer of this year's Yukon International Wind Energy Conference featuring the annual Wind-Diesel Workshop, to be held in Whitehorse from May 25 to 28.
Wind energy is a local, low-impact and sustainable source of energy yet to be harvested by many Canadian communities. Every kilowatt of installed wind energy capacity represents an annual savings of 2,200 kg of CO2 when it displaces the diesel systems that many of North America's northern inhabitants depend on for electrical power generation. Due to increased air densities, expensive conventional methods of power generation, and climate conditions such as extreme temperatures and ice, wind energy generation in cold climates offers both unique challenges and opportunities.
Many of these challenges and opportunities are being addressed head-on by teams all over the world, from Antarctica and Finland to Alaska and the Yukon. The Yukon Wind Energy Conference is a chance to bring together experts from all over the world to discuss both successes and lessons learned in developing wind power in cold climates.
The program will feature sessions on project developments, project implementation and success stories in cold climates, wind energy modelling in complex terrains, small-scale operations and village electrification and cold temperature issues.
Utilities, independent power producers, government officials, community leaders, students, researchers and interested citizens are all encouraged to attend, and be a part of this growing industry! Register before April 24th and take advantage of early-bird rates!
Pembina's Involvement
The Pembina Institute's Eco-Solutions team has been involved with community energy planning and wind energy development for many years. It was the Pembina Institute that initiated the conference as a way to showcase the opportunities that wind energy has for cold climates at both the utility and community levels.
Members of the Pembina Institute's Eco-Solutions team are on the conference steering committee and are session moderators. Tim Weis, a member of the Eco-Solutions team, will also be giving presentations on dealing with icing issues in the Yukon.
Wind Energy in the Yukon
Yukon Energy Corporation has two grid-connected utility grade turbines, a 150 kW Bonus machine that is in its tenth year of operation, and 660 kW Vestas machine that has entered its third year of operation. Both machines have had to overcome harsh temperatures and severe icing conditions, and have become world famous within the wind industry for their successes.
Yukon Energy believes that wind-generated electrical energy will prove to be less expensive than diesel-generated electrical energy currently used in many northern small grid or off-grid communities. Wind energy is an environmentally low-impact technology, which is especially important in sensitive northern eco-systems. For these two reasons, having proven its technical viability, wind energy is in the north to stay.
For more information on the May 25-28, 2003 wind energy conference visit www.yec.yk.ca/wind.