The Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan), formerly known as the Atlantic Wind Test, is a wind energy research and testing facility immediately south of North Cape that conceived in the 1970s under a joint project between the Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island. Opened in 1980, the Atlantic Wind Test Site was located on the provincial government's property, it was established as a by-product of the 1970s energy crisis and was one of a number of renewable and alternative energy projects undertaken in Prince Edward Island at that time.
Renamed WEICan in the 2000s, the facility specializes in the development of small wind turbines and provides testing of equipment along with research and certification services for developers. WEICan is Canada's official wind research and development facility. The facility provides a controlled location and support for harsh environment equipment tests, including salt spray, extreme cold and high winds; this is considered ideal for the testing of small turbines designed for farms and isolated areas, particularly in the Arctic. Clients pay an hourly rate in order to cover the costs of running the institute. The first testings of Whalepower blades were done at this site.
A $12 million grant was given to WEICan in order to construct a wind energy storage facility which is used to understand how much energy is lost when storing wind energy over different periods of time. The storage facility was completed in 2011.
- Hydrogen Village
Associated with WEICan's North Cape facility, the Hydrogen Village is Canada's first grid-independent sustainable energy system for northern and remote locations. The site received a $5.1 million grant from the Government of Canada to help supplement $10.3 million provided by Hydrogenics Corporation and the Prince Edward Island Energy Corporation. The site is still in the testing stages. Water molecules are split by electricity produced by wind turbines in order to create hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen molecules are stored in holding tanks for various uses with the system being designed to provide energy, namely in the form of electrical generation. Hydrogen is produced and stored when conditions are windy. When conditions are calm, the hydrogen, mixed with diesel, is used in generators in order to produce electricity.
Read more about this topic: North Cape (Prince Edward Island)
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