Henvey Inlet isn't harbouring honesty
A short post to debunk some belligerently dishonest claims regarding Ontario's most inane electricity/social science project, Henvey Inlet Wind.
The contract, according to the IESO's contract list, was signed in June 2011 under the feed-in-tariff (FIT) program that paid $135/MWh, plus up to another $15/MWh as an "Aboriginal Price Adder." While those contracts were expected to be operational 3-years after the project data, apparently this one is exceptional in ways other than costing $150/MWh (roughly 5 times what new 2019 wind in Alberta will cost).
Here are the claims I'll rebuke (emphasis added):
The project, of course, missed the coal era in Ontario's electricity sector. The "goal of phasing out coal-fired power generation" is long since met.
According to the Government of Canada's Air Pollutant Emission Inventory, for 2015, Ontario's electricity sector emitted 436 tonnes (t) of sulpher oxides. It is simply ignorant to claim nearly 10 times that will be displaced by an irrelevant, aside from costs, industrial wind project.
The Air pollutant data for 2015 shows 9,572 tonnes of nitrous oxides emitted in generating electric power, which 7,801 t of that coming from natural gas. In 2017 the IESO reported generation from natural gas down 61% from 2015's level, so if the wind project were to displace 4,100 t of nitrous oxides, it would again be displacing all emissions in the sector.
The claim that the project will displace 851,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is also driven by the fantasy the slow and expensive project participants are displacing coal-fired generation. Assuming coal plants emit 1 tonne of CO2 per MWh, 851,000 MW displaced would be the 851,000 tonnes of CO2 displaced - and it would coincide with an annual capacity factor of 32.4% from the 300 MW wind project, which may be achievable in the mediocre wind setting due to the delay in construction allowing for the project to use much bigger industrial wind turbines newly designed to be efficient in low and mild winds.
But there is no coal to displace, and there's not much gas to displace either.
Ontario's electricity system operator (IESO), reports 5.9 TWh of transmission-connected gas/oil fueled generation in 2017, down sharply from 12.7 TWh in 2016. Preliminary greenhouse gas reporting for 2016[1] shows 4.5 million tonnes CO2e for the electricity sector, so I'd expect 2017's emissions to be roughly half that. It's unlikely this one big, late, unnecessary industrial wind facility will further reduce emissions by 40%, despite the ignorant claim of the proponent.
The biggest reductions due to this project seem to be in honesty.
End-note:
[1] Preliminary 2016 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory tables:
Background: Clement/Thibeault $billion negligence: Henvey Inlet Wind
The contract, according to the IESO's contract list, was signed in June 2011 under the feed-in-tariff (FIT) program that paid $135/MWh, plus up to another $15/MWh as an "Aboriginal Price Adder." While those contracts were expected to be operational 3-years after the project data, apparently this one is exceptional in ways other than costing $150/MWh (roughly 5 times what new 2019 wind in Alberta will cost).
Here are the claims I'll rebuke (emphasis added):
Development of wind energy will help Ontario in meeting its goal of phasing out coal-fired power generation.
The windfarm is expected to displace 851,000t of carbon dioxide emissions a year, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide released by 200,000 cars. It will also offset 4,100t of sulphur dioxide, 1,200t of nitrogen oxide, and 13.4kg of Mercury emissions per year.
Unlike coal-fired power plants, the project will not use water leading to the conservation, which normally uses approximately two billion litres of water a year.
The project, of course, missed the coal era in Ontario's electricity sector. The "goal of phasing out coal-fired power generation" is long since met.
According to the Government of Canada's Air Pollutant Emission Inventory, for 2015, Ontario's electricity sector emitted 436 tonnes (t) of sulpher oxides. It is simply ignorant to claim nearly 10 times that will be displaced by an irrelevant, aside from costs, industrial wind project.
The Air pollutant data for 2015 shows 9,572 tonnes of nitrous oxides emitted in generating electric power, which 7,801 t of that coming from natural gas. In 2017 the IESO reported generation from natural gas down 61% from 2015's level, so if the wind project were to displace 4,100 t of nitrous oxides, it would again be displacing all emissions in the sector.
The claim that the project will displace 851,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is also driven by the fantasy the slow and expensive project participants are displacing coal-fired generation. Assuming coal plants emit 1 tonne of CO2 per MWh, 851,000 MW displaced would be the 851,000 tonnes of CO2 displaced - and it would coincide with an annual capacity factor of 32.4% from the 300 MW wind project, which may be achievable in the mediocre wind setting due to the delay in construction allowing for the project to use much bigger industrial wind turbines newly designed to be efficient in low and mild winds.
But there is no coal to displace, and there's not much gas to displace either.
Ontario's electricity system operator (IESO), reports 5.9 TWh of transmission-connected gas/oil fueled generation in 2017, down sharply from 12.7 TWh in 2016. Preliminary greenhouse gas reporting for 2016[1] shows 4.5 million tonnes CO2e for the electricity sector, so I'd expect 2017's emissions to be roughly half that. It's unlikely this one big, late, unnecessary industrial wind facility will further reduce emissions by 40%, despite the ignorant claim of the proponent.
The biggest reductions due to this project seem to be in honesty.
End-note:
[1] Preliminary 2016 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory tables:
I stayed at the Riverside Inn in Britt for a few days at the beginning of February. The owner is over joyed as before construction started he was faced with paying a monthly electrical bill of $4000 with little business and now the Inn is filled with construction workers and after that maintenance workers for many years. Below the Inn is his general store that also includes all alcoholic beverages. He has got it made. With a 132 meter hub height these turbines are immense.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is some objections being raised with regard to the location of the transmission lines.
Is Tony getting a kick back on this?
You must have seen this.
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Pattern Energy Group LP, a U.S. company headquartered in San Francisco.
Dec 26, 2017, 08:30 ET
"This landmark project is a first on many fronts: largest wind project in Ontario, largest on-reserve wind installation in Canada, highest hub heights in North America, and the first to develop a First Nation Environmental Stewardship Regime under the First Nations Lands Management Act," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development. "We are proud to be partners with Henvey Inlet First Nation. Together we're excited to kick off construction on this historic project that will harness the strong and steady winds blowing across the Georgian Bay to create hundreds of local jobs and provide a significant new source of revenue for Henvey Inlet First Nation."
"This will be the first wind power project on First Nation land, representing an economic turning point in which we are creating a prosperous future," said Chief Wayne McQuabbie of Henvey Inlet First Nation. "This project's watershed permitting and real estate regime sets an example for responsible economic development that protects and preserves First Nation land while also generating revenue for future generations. The project also benefits Magnetawan and Shawanaga First Nations with income and employment opportunities."
"We aren't just building a wind farm, we're building an economy," said Ken Noble, President and CEO, Nigig Power Corporation. "The net proceeds over the next two decades of operations will provide the financial resources to transform the local economy, expand all community services, relieve poverty, and create employment."
Henvey Inlet Wind will utilize 87 Vestas 3.45 MW turbines with a 136-meter rotor diameter and 132-meter hub height. The project has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for 100% of its production.
The project will create up to 500 jobs during construction. Once operational the project will employ approximately 15 permanent full-time workers and also create the need for more than 100 ongoing indirect jobs.
Once operational in the first half of 2019, Henvey Inlet Wind will generate clean power for approximately 100,000 Ontario homes each year. It is expected to generate lease royalties of more than C$8 million annually for the Henvey Inlet First Nation, in addition to significant income from project distributions.
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Out of curiosity, I took the amount of gasoline used in Ontario during 2016 and worked out how many Henvey Inlet size wind farms would be required to replace gasoline vehicles with electric vehicles. If the whole of Southern Ontario was covered with Henvey Inlet size wind farms enough power wouldn’t be generated.
ReplyDelete>
Thank you for the comment.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it is the first project on First Nations land. I've mapped all Ontario wind projects ( https://goo.gl/aFPqTe ) , so anybody familiar with territory could decide for themselves. The one project that springs to mind is the 2-turbine "Mother Earth Renewable Energy Project" which is either on M'Chigeeng Indian Reserve 22, or right beside it.
On a more important note... renewable auctions have seen increasingly low pricing in recent years, and part of the reason is bidders plan on continual rate declines. The 7-year delay from awarding of this very lucrative feed-in tariff contract to the ordering of the 3.45 MW turbines is unique.
In my opinion, uniquely irresponsible.
The Inn owner will not be the only one overjoyed by the financial changes - unfortunately that joy will come due to a little grief on the part of the rest of the province.