No. Even if we were to multiply five-fold the number of wind turbines installed in Ontario over the next three years, wind energy would still supply less than 20% of our electrical GRID. 20-30% is what several international communities consider an ideal contribution by wind power, and the rest of our grid would be a mix of things like hydro (Niagara Falls), biomass, combined heat and power from natural gas or biogas, and to a lesser degree, things like solar. Some nations in Europe are working towards generating as much as 60% of their electricity from wind. Swings in wind power production can easily be managed just like the rest of the electrical system. The current method for managing swings in production or demand in Ontario is based on dispatchable power supplies like (1) coal, (2) hydro-electric plants which maintain reservoirs of water that can run through water turbines at any time to produce electricity (we can turn them on/ off in milliseconds), and (3) natural gas “peaker” plants that can top up power requirements upon demand. In less than a second, the province can already turn up the power we get from water, coal or gas to make up for lack of wind, and then turn it back down again when the wind picks up.

In addition, there are many types of energy storage that are inexpensive and are already successfully in use in Canada, such as water-pumping technology, where wind is used to power pumps which push water uphill into reservoirs or storage towers where it can then be used to power water turbines when the wind is not blowing. For future use, researchers are developing advanced battery and other technology that will allow for mass power storage which is much more efficient than any other type of mass power storage currently available. Turbines could charge the batteries on WINDY days for storage and use on calmer days. Wind already works very well TODAY as part of a supply mix, and these future storage opportunities will make it WORK even BETTER.

No. Even if we were to multiply five-fold the number of wind turbines installed in Ontario over the next three years, wind energy would still supply less than 20% of our electrical grid. 20-30% is what several international communities consider an ideal contribution by wind power, and the rest of our grid would be a mix of things like hydro (Niagara Falls), biomass, combined heat and power from natural gas or biogas, and to a lesser degree, things like solar. Some nations in Europe are working towards generating as much as 60% of their electricity from wind. Swings in wind power production can easily be managed just like the rest of the electrical system. The current method for managing swings in production or demand in Ontario is based on dispatchable power supplies like (1) coal, (2) hydro-electric plants which maintain reservoirs of water that can run through water turbines at any time to produce electricity (we can turn them on/ off in milliseconds), and (3) natural gas “peaker” plants that can top up power requirements upon demand. In less than a second, the province can already turn up the power we get from water, coal or gas to make up for lack of wind, and then turn it back down again when the wind picks up.

In addition, there are many types of energy storage that are inexpensive and are already successfully in use in Canada, such as water-pumping technology, where wind is used to power pumps which push water uphill into reservoirs or storage towers where it can then be used to power water turbines when the wind is not blowing. For future use, researchers are developing advanced battery and other technology that will allow for mass power storage which is much more efficient than any other type of mass power storage currently available. Turbines could charge the batteries on windy days for storage and use on calmer days. Wind already works very well today as part of a supply mix, and these future storage opportunities will make it work even better.