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globally in terms of new installed
wind energy capacity and global
wind power capacity grew by 21
per cent in 2011, according to
annual statistics released by the
Global Wind Energy Council
(GWEC). The wind industry
installed a record level of just
over 41,000 MW of new clean,
reliable wind power in 2011,
bringing the total installed
capacity globally to more than
238,000 MW at the end of last
year. Today, about 75 countries
worldwide have commercial wind
power installations, with 22 of
them already passing the 1 GW
level.
Canada’s wind energy industry
enjoyed a record year in 2011
with approximately 1,267 MW of
new wind energy capacity added
to provincial grids, representing
an investment of $3.1 billion and
creating 13,000 person-years of
employment. Canada ended 2011
with a total of 5,265 MW of wind
energy installed capacity –
placing Canada 9th globally for
cumulative capacity. In 2011,
new wind energy projects were
built and commissioned in
British
Columbia,
Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, On-
tario, Quebec, New Brunswick,
and Nova Scotia.
“Wind energy in Canada
enjoyed a record year in 2011,
surpassing the 5, 000 MW mile-
stone. Canada, and in particular
Ontario, is emerging as a very
competitive destination for wind
energy investment globally.
Maintaining that position will
require continued commitments
to aggressive targets for wind
energy development and a stable
policy framework. As Canada
continues to renew its electricity
generation resources, wind
energy will play an ever-increas-
ing part in delivering reliable,
economic and clean electricity”,
said Robert Hornung, President
of the Canadian Wind Energy
Association.
CANADA’S WIND ENERGY
INDUSTRY IS ON PACE TO EASILY
SURPASS 10,000 MW OF TOTAL
INSTALLED CAPACITY BY 2015
2012 is expected to be another
record year for wind development
in Canada with approximately
1,500 MW of new developments
expected to come online in
Quebec,
Ontario,
Alberta,
British Columbia, Prince Edward
Island and Nova Scotia. With
similar or higher levels of growth
expected over the next four years,
Canada’s wind energy industry
is on pace to easily surpass
10,000 MW of total installed
capacity by 2015 – keeping the
country on track to meet
CanWEA’s national WindVision
target of supplying 20 per cent of
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GLOBAL RENEWABLES ONLINE - FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
WIND NEWS