subject: Wind Energy: Top Ten Biggest Canadian Wind Power Plants [print this page] The Canadian Wind Energy Association states that there are fewer than 145 wind farms in all of Canada. The largest wind farm only produces 197 Megawatts of electricity, which pales in comparison to the amount of energy produced by other farms. The Canadian government, therefore, has set up the Ontario FIT Program in order to bolster Canada's wind energy production in future years.
The largest and most powerful wind farm on the planet today is located in the United States of America in the state of Texas. In the tiny town of Roscoe, Texas, the worlds largest wind farm boasts a production of over seven hundred and fifty Megawatts of electricity that is generated by over six hundred turbines. The entire farm spans over more than four hundred square kilometres of land and creates enough electricity to power two hundred and fifty thousand homes in Texas.
At present, Canadian wind farms only produce a total of 5,265 Megawatts of electricity. Although this amount is enough to provide power to over one million homes, it only amounts to two percent of Canadian energy requirements. As a comparison, over ten thousand Megawatts of power are created in the state of Texas with its more than 35 wind energy initiatives.
Despite Canada's need for growth and development in the wind power field, we can see that progress is being made if we focus on the top 10 wind farms in Canada:
10) Baie-des-Sables, QC
Coming in at number ten on the list of Canada's largest wind farms is the Baie-des-Sables wind farm located in Quebec. This farm has 73 turbines that have been producing over 109 Megawatts of electricity since 2006.
9) Carleton Wind Farm
Generating just under 110 Megawatts of wind power since 2008, the Carleton Wind Farm boasts 73 powerful GE turbines and is located in Carleton-sur-mer, Quebec. The Carleton Wind Farm is the ninth largest wind farm in all of Canada.
8) Jardin d’Eole Wind Farm
The eighth largest wind farm in Canada is the Jardin d’Eole Wind Farm located in Saint-Ulric, Quebec. Boasting eighty-five GE wind turbines, this farm has been pumping out 127.5 Megawatts of electricity since November 2009.
7) Melancthon Phase II, ON
The seventh largest wind farm in Canada is the Melancthon Phase II wind farm located between Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario. Set up in 2008, this wind farm has 88 turbines that are capable of producing 132 Megawatts of electricity.
6) St. Joseph, Manitoba
Coming in at number six on the list of Canada's largest wind farms is the St. Joseph wind farm situated off highway 75 in Manitoba This wind farm boasts over sixty turbines and produces a total of one hundred and thirty eight Megawatts of electricity.
5) Dokie Wind Project, BC
The Dokie Wind Project, near Chetwynd, British Columbia is the fifth largest wind farm in Canada. Boasting a grand total of 43 new wind turbines, this farm creates one hundred and forty four Megawatts of electric energy for British Columbia Hydro.
4) Centennial Wind Power Facility
The fourth largest wind farm in all of Canada is the Centennial Wind Power Facility located southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan. This particular farm has 83 turbines that create just under 150 Megawatts of electricity for SaskPower. This is enough electricity to power approximately sixty nine thousand homes in Saskatchewan each year.
3) Enbridge Ontario Wind Farm
The third largest wind farm in Canada is the Enbridge Ontario Wind Farm located near Kincardine, Ontario. This wind farm has over 100 turbines and has been producing 181 Megawatts of electricity since April 2009.
2) Prince Wind Farm, ON
The second largest wind farm in all of Canada is the Prince Wind Farm located north of Sault Ste. Marie near Lake Superior. This particular farm has over one hundred and twenty five wind turbines and is able to produce a total of one hundred and eighty nine Megawatts of electricity.
1) Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre
Located at the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River near Kingston, Ontario, the Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre is the number one largest wind farm in all of Canada. The Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre can generate one hundred and ninety seven Megawatts of electricity with its eighty-six turbines. This is enough electricity to effectively and renewably power over seventy five thousand average households throughout the country.
