BC Wind Energy BC Wind Energy Feasibility StudyFeasibility Study

Alissa Cullum~Chirssie Kwan~Kathleen Macdonald

IntroductionIntroduction

Environmental Benefits of Wind Power:Environmental Benefits of Wind Power:● Does not produce hazardous wastesDoes not produce hazardous wastes

● Lacks air and water emissionsLacks air and water emissions

● Does not exploit natural non-renewable resourcesDoes not exploit natural non-renewable resources

Economic Benefits:Economic Benefits:● Rejuvenation on rural economiesRejuvenation on rural economies

● Royalties and lease payments to farmers and other Royalties and lease payments to farmers and other land ownersland owners

● Reduction of ‘hidden’ costsReduction of ‘hidden’ costs

IntroductionIntroduction

● Wind Power Production Incentive Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI) aims to bring about (WPPI) aims to bring about creation of 4,000 MW of wind creation of 4,000 MW of wind energy by 2010.energy by 2010.

● Currently, Canada produces 570 Currently, Canada produces 570 MW of wind power. MW of wind power.

IntroductionIntroductionThe Fortis Bank, the Petroleum The Fortis Bank, the Petroleum

Economist, and the World Energy Economist, and the World Energy Council:Council:““B.C.’s wind power is possibly the best in the world.”B.C.’s wind power is possibly the best in the world.”

● B.C.’s favourable characteristics:B.C.’s favourable characteristics:● Good wind resourcesGood wind resources

● Sufficient power grid accessSufficient power grid access

● High energy demandHigh energy demand

● Federal and provincial incentives, such as the WWPI Federal and provincial incentives, such as the WWPI and B.C.Hydro’sand B.C.Hydro’s

● Integrated Energy PlanIntegrated Energy Plan

MethodologyMethodology

Data Acquisition

● Canadian Wind Atlas

● DMTI

● NTS

Methodology cont.Methodology cont.

Area ExclusionArea Exclusion● Lakes, rivers, and wetlands● Parks, airports, landfills● Rail lines and Cities

Methodology cont.Methodology cont.

Multi-criteria Multi-criteria EvaluationEvaluation

Step 1 :Step 1 :Factor Factor ScoringScoring

● Roads● Transmission lines● Wind Speed● Elevation variation

Methodology cont.Methodology cont.

Multi-criteria EvaluationMulti-criteria EvaluationStep 2:Step 2:Factor WeightingFactor Weighting● Roads● Transmission lines● Wind Speed● Elevation variation

ResultsResults

Optimal Area Identification, using zonal statistics.

The best area: North half of BCBest locations within this area:North central BC.

DiscussionDiscussion

Issues● Data● Area Exclusion● Factor Scoring● Factor Weighting● Zonal Statistics

In light of these issues how In light of these issues how useful is our analysis?.......useful is our analysis?.......

● The models are consistentThe models are consistent● The methods of analysis can be The methods of analysis can be

used with different dataused with different data● New siting guidelines can be New siting guidelines can be

used to refine our multi-criteria used to refine our multi-criteria modelsmodels