Renewable Energy
Known as the Green Province, Prince Edward Island has established itself as a North American leader in wind energy and is positioned for leadership in emerging renewable energies.
Over 30 percent of PEI's electrical needs are furnished by a combination of provincially-owned and private wind developments
Before it was trendy, Prince Edward Island recognized that there was value in the strong winds that blew across the Island. The Atlantic wind test site was established in North Cape, PEI, more than 25 years ago. Since that time, it has evolved into the Wind Energy Institute of Canada, the wind energy industry's new centre of excellence. The institute has vast experience serving the North American wind industry.
Through extensive research and development, Prince Edward Island has become a leader in building wind capacity and combining it with PEI's electricity needs. Over 30% of the province's electrical needs are provided by wind through a combination of provincially owned and private wind developments.
Prince Edward Island is ideally placed to continue to be a leading pioneer in wind energy based on:
- building on research capacity at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada and University of Prince Edward Island.
- a highly skilled and capable workforce with industry specific programming, such as the Wind Energy Technician program at Holland College.
- the province's small size makes it an ideal test site for research and development.
Setting sails beyond wind
Prince Edward Island continues its pioneering tradition in renewable energy and has set its sights on next generation renewable technologies. These will create economic wealth, improve environmental sustainability, operate self sufficiently, and expand the Island's renewable energy cluster.
To further strengthen and diversify the green cluster, the province will build on strengths such as:
- the tradition as the million acre farm to develop sustainable bio-mass and bio fuel initiatives;
- attracting new renewable energy research and development and commercialization activity by combining programming opportunities with the Island's strong research community; and
- exploring opportunities that incorporate sound renewable energy technologies within a sustainable network on PEI.