Wind-powered generation in Ontario more than doubled in 2007, according to statistics released by Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). In 2007, the output from the more than 400 MW of installed wind generation in Ontario totaled 1.04 terrawatt hours (TWh) compared to 0.44 TWh in 2006.
‘With an additional 700 MW scheduled to come into service over the next 18 months, wind will play an increasingly important role in Ontario's supply mix,’ says Paul Murphy, IESO president and CEO. ‘We will continue to work with wind generators to find ways to accommodate the unique operating characteristics of wind-powered generation.’
Nuclear generation continued to supply the largest amount of power in Ontario, with nuclear facilities producing 80.9 TWh in 2007, down 3.5 TWh from 2006. As percentages of total output in 2007, nuclear generation represented 52%, hydroelectric generation totaled 21%, coal-fired generation was at 18%, and other fuel types (natural gas, oil, wind, biomass, solar etc.) totaled 9%.
At 25,737 MW, peak demand in 2007 was considerably lower than in 2006, which saw an all-time record for electricity demand of 27,005 MW set on Aug. 1, 2006.
