On June 24, 50% of electricity generated in Nova Scotia came from wind power – a new record in the province, according to utility NS Power.
The record level of wind production – generated between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. – is credited to the South Canoe Wind Farm coming online. It is the province's largest wind farm, with 34 turbines over 3,000 hectares of land that generate enough electricity to power 32,000 homes. The last of those turbines was commissioned June 11.
The new record for wind generation occurred on a windy night when the overall demand for electricity was about half of what Nova Scotians use during the daytime.
Nova Scotia Power will achieve 25% renewable generation this year and 40% by 2020, aided by the Maritime Link, which will bring hydroelectricity from Muskrat Falls in Labrador.
‘This is a significant milestone for Nova Scotia Power and Nova Scotians as we work to dramatically shift the way we generate power by transitioning to more renewable energy,’ says Mark Sidebottom, vice president of power generation and delivery.
In 2007, only 1% of the total electricity used by Nova Scotians was generated by wind, the utility notes. That figure is expected to hit 18% in 2020. There are now 274 wind turbines across the province, mostly owned by independent power producers.
