Canada's growing wind turbine fleet generates new business opportunities
Canada had 6,596 wind turbines totaling more than 12,816 MW of installed capacity operating at the end of 2018; the eighth largest wind generating fleet in the world. With wind energy costs still falling after already plummeting 70 per cent since 2009, the industry will only continue to grow.
The need to keep these assets operating as safely and efficiently as possible is sparking a boom in the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) side of Canada's wind energy business, a market expected to increase from about $290 million a year today to an estimated $450 million by 2020, and bring new jobs and investment along with it. It is also driving the development of innovative new tools and technologies to unlock even more value from Canada's investment in wind energy. Getting the most out of wind energy facilities is not only good for owners and operators, but also our environment and economy.
As we transition to a low-carbon economy powered by zero-emission technologies, responsible and sustainable operation of our generating facilities ensures that wind energy will play a leading role.
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) works closely with the industry to understand and respond to emerging needs in this area. Our initiatives include providing networking and information sharing opportunities for asset managers, collecting and analyzing data to support company and government decision-making, and developing best-practice guidelines to help operators ensure wind energy projects continue to meet community expectations through their operating lives.
Operations and Maintenance Program
CanWEA has created an O&M program to bring together stakeholders to address key challenges facing Canadian wind farm operators. Its key areas of focus are determined by program participants, and include benchmarking data, health and safety best practices, improved networking, and information sharing on critical issues like wildlife and the environment.
A company must be a Leading Edge, Champion or Advocate corporate CanWEA member in good standing to be eligible to participate in this exclusive program. Engagement takes place through the O&M Caucus, along with sub-groups that include health and safety and O&M Summit program committees, and operators' groups in Western and Atlantic Canada to complement the industry-led forums already in place in Ontario and Quebec. CanWEA is also working closely with the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) to develop and refine the O&M program.
CanWEA also offers technical information and O&M-related reports to all members.
To learn more, visit CanWEA's membership page or email members@canwea.ca.
