How a wind power turbine works
Wind turbines capture the kinetic energy available from wind and convert it into electrical energy. Large blades mounted on tall towers rotate a shaft connected to a gearbox and generator to produce electricity. The clean electricity created is then sent to a transmission line connected to the provincial grid, supplying electricity to homes and businesses.
Among other factors to consider, wind turbines are erected in areas of consistent wind and with consideration of existing transmission lines to transport the electricity to where it is needed.
Turbines usually operate with wind speeds between 15 and 90 kilometres per hour. They cease operating when temperatures fall below -30°C.
Centennial Wind Power Facility
Situated in the hills approximately 25 kilometres southeast of Swift Current, our 150 megawatt (MW) Centennial Wind Power Facility is currently Canada's second largest operating wind facility. With 83 turbines, it can produce enough electricity to serve approximately 69,000 Saskatchewan homes.
Fast facts
- The 150-MW facility was commissioned in March 2006
- Built on 7,500 acres (30-square kilometres) of land
- Each of the 83 Vestas V80 wind turbines generates up to 1.8 MW of power
- Each wind turbine rotor is 80 metres in diameter and weighs 35 tonnes
- Each turbine blade is 39 metres long
- When generating power, blades rotate at a speed of 17 revolutions per minute and the tips of the blades spin at 256 km/hr
- At their highest point, each blade reaches 107 metres—approximately 30 stories above the ground
- The turbines operate between wind speeds of 15 km/hr and 90 km/hr. They reach full power at wind speeds of 50 km/hr
- Each turbine tower is 67 meters tall and weighs 117 tonnes
- Supply and installation of wind turbines completed by Vestas-Canadian Wind Technology, Inc.
- All towers were manufactured by Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. in Saskatoon
- 2,500 truckloads of concrete were used in the pouring of the tower foundations
- The Government of Canada provides approximately $54 million in funding over 10 years through the Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI) program
Location
Our designated point of interest is the best place to see the Centennial Wind Power Facility in operation. It is located on grid road #628 near the northern tip of the facility. For your own safety, and out of respect for local landowners, please do not trespass on private property where the wind turbines are located.
Additional information
To learn more about this project, download a brochure about the Centennial Wind Power Facility.
Cypress Wind Power Facility
The Cypress Wind Power Facility is the first wind generating facility built by SaskPower. In 2002, Cypress was built as a nine turbine, six-megawatt facility. Its clean energy was used for our optional GreenPower product.
Due to the positive response to GreenPower, Cypress was expanded in 2003 by adding seven turbines equalling five megawatts of electricity. Today, 16 turbines with a peak capacity of 11 megawatts are producing green electricity.
Fast facts
- Phase I - nine wind turbines generating six MW were commissioned in 2002
- Phase II - seven wind turbines generating five MW were commissioned in 2003
- Each of the 16 Vestas V47 wind turbines generates up to 660 kilowatts of power
- Each wind turbine rotor is 47 metres in diameter
- Each turbine blade is 23 metres long
- When generating power, blades rotate at a speed of 28.5 revolutions per minute
- The turbines operate between wind speeds of 15 km/hr and 90 km/hr
- The towers are 50 metres high—equivalent to the height of a 12-storey building
- All towers were manufactured by Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. in Saskatoon
- The location for the Cypress Wind Power Facility was chosen based on wind characteristics of the area, as well as proximity to the electrical grid, road access and land availability
- The Government of Canada provided approximately $2.6 million in funding over 10 years for Cypress I and $1.47 million in funding over 10 years for Cypress II through the Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI) program
Location
The Cypress Wind Power Facility is located approximately 12 kilometres southwest of Gull Lake.
Additional information
To learn more about this project, download a brochure about the Cypress Wind Power Facility.
Power Suppliers
We also purchase power from the following suppliers:
Red Lily Wind Power Facility
The Red Lily Wind Power Facility, owned by Concord Pacific Group, operated by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp, is a 26.4 megawatt (MW) wind farm that began operations in February 2011.
Fast Facts
- 26.4 MW
- 16 Vestas V82 wind turbine generators
- 1.65 MW each
- Each rotor is 82 meters in diameter
- Each turbine blade is 40 meters long
- The towers are 80 meters high
- Currently Saskatchewan's tallest wind turbines
Location
The Red Lily Wind Power Facility is located northwest of Moosomin, Saskatchewan.
SunBridge Wind Power Facility
The SunBridge Wind Power Facility opened in 2002 and consists of 17 wind turbines. The facility is owned and operated by a partnership between Suncor Energy Inc. and Enbridge Inc.
We are the only purchaser of the electricity produced at the facility, which we use to provide power for federal government buildings and other customers in Saskatchewan as part of our GreenPower product offering.
Fast facts
- 11.2-megawatt (MW) facility commissioned in 2002
- Each of the 17 Vestas V47 wind turbines generates up to 660 kilowatts of power
- Each wind turbine rotor blade is 47 metres in diameter
- Each turbine blade is 23 metres long
- When generating power, blades rotate at a speed of 28 revolutions per minute
- The turbines begin producing power at approximately 14 km/h; attain full power production at 54 km/h; and shut down at 90 km/h
- The towers are 65 metres high
- The amount of zero-emissions electricity the facility generates offsets an estimated 33,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year—equivalent to heating 5,000 homes
- The initiative was stimulated by a 10-year, $12.4 million federal government commitment in the fall of 2000; to support GreenPower development in Saskatchewan
Location
The 17 wind turbines occupy four sections of land and are located about five kilometres southeast of Gull Lake, Saskatchewan.
Additional information
To learn more about this project, please see suncor.com/renewables and enbridge.com.
