Until the late 1960's, the Sable Island Station was powered by diesel generators located at the West Light base one kilometre away. In 1968, Transport Canada installed independent generating capacity at the Station, and the power distribution situation was reversed with the Station’s diesel generators providing power to West Light. Since then the Station has been the primary source of electricity on the island. In addition to the West Light operations which include the West Light tower (maintained by Canadian Coast Guard), and the Fisheries & Oceans field research facility, the distribution of power generated at the Station now includes the helicopter landing pads and refueling facility, and the Maritime Tel & Tel satellite base. Diesel fuel for the generators (as well as oil-fired furnaces and vehicles) is delivered by a Canadian Coast Guard vessel during the annual resupply, or sealift.

In 2002, the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC, Environment Canada) took several steps to reduce both greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and potential hazards associated with delivery, storage and use of diesel fuel at the Station. To achieve immediate results, energy-efficient appliances and solar domestic hot water heaters were installed. Also, 5% of the diesel fuel supply was replaced by biodiesel. The proportion of biodiesel will likely increase once its operational characteristics have been assessed. At the same time MSC initiated a wind energy project for the Station.

Long-term weather records for Sable Island indicate that the island has “an exceptional wind resource” during most of the year. The annual average wind speed is 25 km/hr (13.5 knots), with gusts as high as 174 km/h (93.7 knots). On a few occasions winds have exceeded the measuring limits of the instrumentation (i.e. >174 km/h). Wind data for Sable is measured at a 10-metre height - the height of the Station’s anemometer - and the calculated maximum speed at the height of the wind turbines is roughly 206 km/h (111 knots). Analysis of the island’s wind regime indicates that wind turbines with a total nominal generating capacity of 37.5 kW would provide sufficient energy to displace about 30% of the fuel used to generate power at the Station.

The primary goal of the MSC windfarm project is reduction of diesel fuel consumption in order to achieve environmental benefits: improved air quality, reduced GHG emissions, and reduced risk of fuel spills during transportation and storage, as well as conservation of non-renewable fuel supplies.

MSC is responsible for the environmental assessment of the full lifecycle of the wind energy project, and this was undertaken in the form of a screening under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). The site chosen for the windfarm is an area of sparsely vegetated terrain just inside low elevation south beach dunes south of the Station. A number of factors determined the choice of site. The best location would be one:

clear of the flight paths of both aircraft and aerological balloons;
relatively flat to facilitate construction;
close to the Station’s utility building to reduce electrical distribution losses;
sufficient distance from the Station to reduce effects of any noise on personnel;
sufficient distance from critical vegetation communities and wildlife habitat to avoid disturbance to flora and fauna.

However, the site necessarily chosen is less than perfect in two respects: it is 400 m from the Station, and this distance results in some energy losses along the distribution cables; and the site is in an area used by nesting terns.

The wind power system installed on Sable Island is comprised of five 7.5 kW turbines, a 120 volt battery bank to store energy, and an inverter to convert stored DC power to AC power.

The Meteorological Service of Canada has indicated that this windfarm project is the first step in establishing a “green island” in which all energy needs on Sable are supplied by renewable energy and advanced energy storage technologies. With this project, MSC demonstrates leadership on integrating renewable energy sources into diesel generating plants. Wind-diesel technology is being used to achieve emissions reductions in the many remote communities in northern Canada and in village electrification projects worldwide. All supplies and equipment associated with the Sable Island wind power project were delivered by Canadian Coast Guard ship and helicopters during the annual resupply operations. It is not likely that this project could have proceeded without the support provided by Coast Guard.


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