Thunder Bay examines success of international wind-energy centers.

If one wished to learn about sustainable community energy planning one of the best places to visit is Denmark, and that is exactly what a northwest delegation did this fall.

Denmark is one of the world leaders in green power technologies, which is fuelling the country into becoming one the most energy efficient places on earth, says Rene Larson, a Thunder Bay city councillor. Denmark has already achieved and surpassed many of the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.

A 27-member Canadian delegation spent nine days in Denmark in October to gain a better understanding of the potential for wind farm development in Thunder Bay. The delegation, dubbed the Community Energy Mission, included two members from Thunder Bay Hydro, Larson, who is a board member on Thunder Bay Hydro and a city councillor and James Loppacher, senior manager in the power systems division at Thunder Bay Hydro and a professional engineer.

Larson presented a detailed report on the trip in the city's monthly report to the community, along with a number of energy-saving ideas to consider for Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario.

Delegates observed cogeneration plants, which use a variety of fuel sources ranging from coal, oil, natural gas, biomass (wood, straw) and garbage. The excess heat energy is then captured and stored and used as hot water for district heating systems.

Denmark is focused on implementing renewable energy resources to the extent of 35 per cent of total energy consumption by the year 2030, far ahead of the European Commission's goal of 12 per cent, says Larson. To meet this objective, Denmark has been at the forefront of developing wind power to generate electricity, he adds.

In his report to the city, Larson questions whether or not Thunder Bay can harness wind for power generation. The Ontario government recently released its Wind Power Task Force Report, and the first of 15 recommendations says the province should adopt a proposal that by 2010, eight per cent of total provincial electrical consumption should be met by renewable energy sources. The estimated investment would be $4.5 billion.

Wind-power generation can work in Thunder Bay because the main prerequisite for this green power technology is plenty of cold wind, says Larson. The taskforce report states "Ontario enjoys very "energetic" winds, higher winter wind speeds coupled with colder dense air combine to deliver a big energy yield."

The report also indicates that much of the high value wind resource in Ontario is found near the Great Lakes. Lake Superior's wind speed was highlighted in the report and indicated that since 1956 records show very modest variations of wind speed between 6 mph and 9.5 mph.

"This augers well for future wind energy production in our area," says Larson. "Is northwestern Ontario going to get on the bandwagon by investigating and learning about wind energy power or will we let others enjoy the jobs and investment?"

Pincher Creek in southern Alberta promotes itself as "The Wind Energy Capital of Canada." On Sept. 5,2001 Calgary's light rail transit system became the first public transportation system in North America to be wind powered using the output of 12 wind turbines from the Pincher Creek area.

Larson spoke with the mayor of Pincher Creek during their trip to Denmark and Larson says the mayor offered to host a delegation from northwestern Ontario to study the success Pincher Creek has had with wind power-generation. Thunder Bay Hydro will be organizing the trip, which will take place Nov. 15 to 16, and invites interested officials and citizens from municipalities in northwestern Ontario to participate at their own expense.