Offshore wind power gets green light; Construction costs would be large

Even though the Ontario government has lifted the moratorium on offshore wind development, one consultant predicts turbines won't be popping up in Lake Erie any time soon.

Prior to AIM PowerGen starting to acquire options in 2001 to build what is now the Erie Shores Wind Farm, the company was looking at the possibility of commencing with an offshore development in Lake Erie between Elgin County and Long Point. AIM consultant Jim Wilgar explained the lakebed is already segmented and leased for natural gas development. At the time, AIM had identified sections that weren't leased yet and approached the ministry about the possibility of wind power development.

"The ministry, at the time, hadn't given any real thought to wind power in any of the Great Lakes," Wilgar said.
Around the same time, other developers were also looking at the possibility of offshore wind power generation. One such proposal was to build turbines in the Leamington area.

"There was a tremendous public disagreement," Wilgar said of the Leamington proposal. "The ministry slapped a moratorium on any offshore wind development by anyone."

Minister of Natural Resources Donna Canfield announced last week (Jan. 17) the moratorium would be lifted and the government would accept applications for offshore power development.

Since the freeze was put in place, the province has partnered with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate offshore wind potential. It has also analyzed the potential of the lakes and the possible impact on birds and bats.

While AIM was originally looking at rights in the area adjacent to the Erie Shores Wind Farm, the company ended up leasing property off Nanticoke. Wilgar said this area has better connectivity into the grid.

The company completed a study to look at the potential of offshore wind generation. The study concluded it was feasible, but the construction costs are large. "There is considerable research and further study required before offshore wind development would be considered feasible," he said.

Wilgar said offshore wind is popular in Europe, but the amount paid per kilowatt-hour is three to four times the rate in Ontario. Also, there is no problem with the build-up of layers of ice in Europe that occur in Lake Erie. When one layer of ice slips under another, it provides tremendous force on the base, requiring stronger construction. In addition, the bases have to be 25 to 35 feet deep to hit bedrock and the developer would have to string cable to connect to the grid on shore, all of which would add to the cost.

"There is considerable research and further study required before offshore wind development would be considered feasible," Wilgar said.

Even something as simple as a detailed study of the wind regime is complicated when done offshore. When Erie Shores was built, it was a matter of having the appropriate permits and erecting a 60 to 80-foot test tower. Offshore, the process is more complicated when such a tower has to be anchored to the bottom.

"You need vast, vast amounts of generation to offset the costs," Wilgar said.

Dr. Scott Petrie, research director with the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, said waterfowl are one of the bird groups most affected by the installation of turbines.

"I'm not close to being convinced studies have been done to show offshore turbines don't affect waterfowl," he said. "We have a new minister and she wants to be perceived as looking green."

LPWWRF flies Long Point to count waterfowl during spring and fall migration. Petrie said waterfowl could be found as far as two to three kilometres offshore, in an area stretching from the tip of Long Point almost to Clear Creek on the mainland.