Financial Post, October 6, 2015
F or the first time in Ontario’s electricity history the early morning hours of October 3 saw industrial wind turbines outproduce hydroelectricity. Hours 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. showed wind turbines generated 12,481 megawatts (MWh) versus 11,736 MWh of hydroelectricity. Generation from wind turbines represented over 21 per cent of Ontario’s total demand for those five hours.
The advocates of renewable energy will presumably tout this as proof of the wonders of industrial wind power but before they do they should consider the facts related to those five hours and the resulting costs!
Ontario’s total demand averaged 11,663 MW during the time frame, meaning base-load power supplied by nuclear and hydro could have easily coped with the province’s needs, making wind’s production surplus. During those five hours Ontario exported 11,718 MWh at an average price of $3.43 MWh, meaning revenue generated was about $43,000 (less than half a cent per kilowatt hour) whereas the cost for their production (if we attribute all exports to wind) was $1.5 million (at an average price of $123.50/MWh) or 12.4 cents/kWh!
Ontario was probably also spilling clean hydro and perhaps even curtailing wind generation and ratepayers were forced to pick up the cost for those manoeuvres.
Conclusion: Wind continues to whip Ontario’s ratepayers!
Parker Gallant is a retired banker
12 Comments
R Hyland
Get your numbers right.
12,481 MWh = 12.481 TWh.
yeah sure.
Get someone that knows what a MWh is?
Parker Gallant
I presume you meant 12.481Gigawatts (GWh) not TWh
ScepticalGord
Get someone that knows what a TWh is?
Richard Mann
“Ontario’s Electricity Dilemma – Achieving Low Emissions at Reasonable Electricity Rates.”
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), April 2015.
Link: www DOT ospe DOT on DOT ca/events/event_details.asp?id=629254
Page 15 of 23.
“Why Will Emissions Double as We Add Wind and Solar Plants ?”
– Wind and Solar require flexible backup generation.
– Nuclear is too inflexible to backup renewables without expensive
engineering changes to the reactors.
– Flexible electric storage is too expensive at the moment.
– Consequently natural gas provides the backup for wind and solar in North America.
– When you add wind and solar you are actually forced to reduce nuclear genera,on to make room for more natural gas genera,on to provide flexible backup.
– Ontario currently produces electricity at less than 40 grams of CO2 emissions/kWh.
– Wind and solar with natural gas backup produces electricity at about 200 grams of CO 2 emissions/kWh. Therefore adding wind and solar to Ontario’s grid drives CO2 emissions higher. From 2016 to 2032 as Ontario phases out nuclear capacity to make room for wind and solar, CO2 emissions will double (2013 LTEP data).
– In Ontario, with limited economic hydro and expensive storage, it is mathematically impossible to achieve low CO 2 emissions at reasonable electricity prices without nuclear generation.
Barbara
And what good is “free” wind fuel when and if there is none when needed.
Something” free” is no good if there is no supply of it.
Also no way of predicting future hydro-electric water supplies. All depends on the amount of water available to generate electricity.
Sommer
When I realize all of this, against the backdrop of victims in rural Ontario, who, during those five hours, experienced serious distress due to the audible sounds that ruin their environment and the infrasound radiation that reeks havoc on their bodies, I feel absolute disgust for the people who are in charge of the energy portfolio in Ontario.
Barbara
Do people really understand what it means to have a big gush of wind/solar power come into the grid and what happens when this occurs? I doubt it!
Tracy
Your thoughts are much appreciated Somner, thank you.
People don’t realize that after constant exposure to infrasound, the damage is done. The more one is exposed, the less they can take; think about Chinese water torture.
When I remove myself from the toxic environment, the vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, dizziness, lethargy, eventually stops. Blood pressure lowers from a dangerously high level.
However, long term permanent damage remains: brain aneurism, weak bones, shingles-pain and scarring on my face, psychological trauma.
I continue to have painful medical procedures- biopsies and scopes. I continue to pay for my home of many years. It sits empty. Family relationships have gone to hell. I am not able to work, yet OTIP pushes me to return to the classroom! This in itself is stressful and unethical. Imagine in my state managing a classroom of 28-32 high school kids!
This is complete insanity. Many others are suffering as well. I’m surprised someone in at the end of their rope has not taken drastic measures. When you have lost everything including your health, there is nothing left to lose.
The developer of the wind turbines, Mike Crawley, should have expropriated my house at the least. Instead he built 18 turbines within a 3 km radius of my home. Imagine living in a house with the closest turbine located less than 400 meters from my home. THIS IS CRIMINAL. Crawley thinks I’ll eventually go away, perhaps die like others? It won’t end there.
I have asked for help at various levels of government, right down to the municipal level. There has been no assistance at all.
Negative health issues caused by exposure to industrial wind turbines will not be addressed. The problem is vast, beyond comprehension fir most. This will be avoided and issues such as harm to the environment and species such as the Blandings turtle will provide a deterrent in the kangaroo court known as the environmental tribunal. This is frigging pathetic.
Hello Ontario, you are failing to understand, believe, acknowledge, whatever, that negative health effects from exposure to industrial wind turbines does not hit you like a bullet. It is a silent killer. Wind turbine syndrome, vibro acoustic disease is cumulative; it sneaks up on you. Approximately 20-25% of people exposed will become ill. As with cancer, not everyone will develop it. We know that not all people who smoke develop lung cancer. Not everyone has asthma, allergies. Heart, stroke, diabetes, dementia are illnesses associated with exposure to infrasound. Many of my neighbors from home have died. Most recently, a neighbor has developed an illness: her veins and arteries are disintegrating. She is an RN, a person of strong faith, and has relatives in this close knit community who hold leases to these turbines. She will adjust her lifestyle-slowdown and trust God will take care of them.
Is our government trying to kill me? Is this a movement to reduce world population, it is a global issue afterall.
Government officials who also have shares in wind companies, filling their coffers at the taxpayers’ expense, collecting mega millions in subsides, are acting as a mafia. Any suggestions as to how to stop this corrupt activity that is killing people?
I’d rather have the gas chamber, or just shoot me; this is much more ethical.
Crazy you say? This is my reality. It is absurd.
Maybe I’ll do as I’m told, return to the classroom. I will be doing the students a disservice. I am not able to perform at a level expected of a competent teacher. Maybe I’ll drop dead in class, huh….maybe I’ll snap!?
I was a healthy middle aged productive woman before the turbines were built at my home of many years. I will never have my health or my life back but dammit, stop this. Help us, you will be helping yourselves.
Tracy
NIMBY and NAIMBY
Barbara
Don’t we all now know why the various denominations have not spoken out to assist IWT victims? And I’m indeed sorry to have to mention this.
This Ontario IWT situation has not likely reached a critical mass yet but it will as more and more people become affected.
Many, many people have worked to do anything and everything they can to remedy the present situation.
Tracy
Correction: NIABY
Tracy
Did you know that the Germans used infrasound as a weapon of torture in the Great World War?!
Tracy
Hey Esther,
How are things in New Brunswick?
The turbines are encroaching, moving inland and to the north in Ontario. I have moved 9 times since 2010 to be out if the turbine zone. I need a place that is well away from the turbines, that can accommodate my cat and dog. I researched the area where I currently live for future turbine development. I am 40 kms from the Gunn’s Hill development south of Woodstock. Now I have Phase 2 of the Capstone development in the Aylmer area. Due to my poor health, brain anneurism I cannot live around industrial wind turbines. To do this could be fatal for me as the infrasound causes my blood pressure to spike to dangerously high levels. I will not subject my pets to another assault by industrial wind turbines. I will not let them go, they have been true companions since early 2000.
I really have had enough of this bullshit dumped on us by the Liberal government. I will continue to fight, out of the province of Ontario when necessary.
This scandal WILL eventually blow up in the faces of the Liberals. It is inevitable; a matter of time. McGuinty’s money and his people will not be enough to keep them out of jail. Bend over Dalton, ha! Soon coming your way: a huge bite in the ass. Karma has a way of coming around. I would love to be there when the cuffs are slapped on you and they take you and your bandits away. I live for the day. Maybe you and Katie can bunk together; take turns running your tin cups back and forth across the cell bars. Enjoy your freedom now; you don’t have a hope in hell.