WindShare

WindShare is a for-profit wind power co-operative that was officially launched in February 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was created by the non-profit Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) which was incorporated in 1998. TREC continues to exist as a separate non-profit entity.[1][2][3][4][5]

The Toronto WindShare ExPlace turbine viewed straight on, its blades facing east.

WindShare's ExPlace wind turbine was erected on December 18, 2002, on the grounds of Exhibition Place, in Toronto. It was the first wind turbine installed in a major North American urban city centre,[6] and the first community-owned wind power project in Ontario.[7]

The 91-metre (299 ft) tall ExPlace wind turbine is co-owned by the WindShare co-operative and Toronto Hydro, and annually adds an average of 1000 MWh of electricity to the city's main power grid.[8]

History
  • 1998 – Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) was incorporated
  • 1999 – TREC received a grant to study three potential sites for an urban wind turbine project in Toronto.[9]
  • June 30, 1999 – TREC forms ad hoc partnership with Toronto Hydro to build wind turbine(s)[10][11]
  • February, 2002 – WindShare co-operative officially launched. (Members of non-profit TREC are asked to also become members of the for-profit WindShare co-operative.)
  • December 16–18, 2002 – WindShare's ExPlace wind turbine erected
  • January 23, 2003 – ExPlace turbine began generating electricity
  • 2006 – The government of Ontario introduced a feed-in tariff (renewable energy payments)
  • February 23, 2009 – Ontario Green Energy Act 2009 introduced in the Ontario legislature
  • March, 2009 – The government of Ontario revises feed-in tariff

Specifications of Ex Place turbine
  • Exact location (coordinates): 43°37′49.5″N 79°25′29.3″W
  • Model: 750 kW, direct drive, Lagerwey Wind model LW 52 wind turbine
  • Height: Total 91 m (299 ft), or roughly 30 storeys; tower 65 m (213 ft)
  • Weight: approximately 121,000 kg (266,759 lb)
  • Rotor diameter: 52 m (171 ft)
  • Blades: three blades, each 25 m (82 ft) in length
  • Rotation: maximum approximately 24.5 rpm
  • Power Output: range of 625 - 650 kilowatts at 12 m/s (871 electrical hp) in winds of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) to 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
  • Cost: approximately CAD$1.8 million (including foundation, interconnect, and erection)

See also

References
  1. website for Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) - About page
  2. "website for Windshare - history page". Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  3. Adria Vasil (Oct 6–13, 2009). "Taking T.O. off the grid". Now. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  4. Brian McAndrew (July 1, 1999). "Hydro backs waterfront windmill plan". Toronto Star.
  5. Karen Palmer (July 1, 1999). "Energy answer blowin' in the lakefront wind project". The Globe and Mail.
  6. "Canada's First Urban Wind Turbine - Not Your Average Windmill". Toronto Hydro. 2006-02-06. Archived from the original on 2008-03-30. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  7. "Explace turbine information on the Windshare website". Archived from the original on 2012-01-03. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  8. "Toronto Wind Energy Co-op Windmill". Bruce Centre for Energy Research and Information. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  9. "website for Windshare – history page". Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  10. Brian McAndrew (July 1, 1999). "Hydro backs waterfront windmill plan". Toronto Star.
  11. Karen Palmer (July 1, 1999). "Energy answer blowin' in the lakefront wind project". The Globe and Mail.
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