Sunbridge Wind Power Facility

• Located about five kilometres southeast of Gull Lake.
• The facility is owned and operated by a partnership between Suncor Energy Inc. and Enbridge Inc.
• 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 renewable power development in Saskatchewan.

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.