P.E.I. to benefit from funding for two clean energy projects

Prince Edward Island will benefit from millions in federal dollars approved Tuesday for two major clean energy projects designed to solve problems facing wind energy production in the province.
The announcements were made Tuesday in Trenton, N.S., by National Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who unveiled a total of four successful Atlantic Canada proposals.
The Wind Energy Institute of Canada in North Cape is getting an infusion of approximately $12 million for a green energy research project directed at enhancing storage capacity for wind production.
The proposal will see additional windmills erected at North Cape to produce nine megawatts at the Wind Technology Research and Development Park. The energy will be used in efforts to increase storage capacity.
The wind park will be the first wind/storage combination in Prince Edward Island.
The second project involves a regional "smart grid." The project has New Brunswick Power Corporation as the lead proponent but involves all three Maritime provinces.
This project will see more than $10 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada. Both the Island government and Maritime Electric are involved in the smart grid concept said P.E.I. Environment, Energy and Forestry Minister Richard Brown. New Brunswick is lead proponent because it is considered the system operator for Atlantic Canada, said Brown.
The two projects fit P.E.I.'s needs regarding storage capacity and a smart grid, said Brown. He said the projects could start by late spring.
The North Cape site will look at storage capacity of wind energy using batteries and increased use of the hydrogen village concept.
"This will solve a big piece of the puzzle for excess power produced when demand is low," said Brown.
"This takes our investment in hydrogen storage to the next step and takes P.E.I. to the cutting edge of hydrogen technology."
The province's financial input will involve loan guarantees but funding details are not finalized and won't be known until full details are worked out with Ottawa, said Brown.
The theory behind the smart grid proposal is to produce the greenest and most efficient energy possible on a regional basis to meet consumer demands.
Getting involved in Quebec hydro is a good idea from P.E.I.'s standpoint, said Brown, because hydro-electricity offers the best load balance with wind production.
Brown said the two projects would help realize price and production stability for Islanders.
"My job as minister is to provide the lowest cost possible using renewable energy options for Islanders."
The smart grid proposal calls for four Maritime communities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to be involved but Brown said because of P.E.I.'s small size, the entire province will be considered as one community.