The Potential for Wind Energy Meeting Electricity Needs on Vancouver Island

Ryan Prescott, Gerrit van Kooten and Hui Zhu

No 37032, Working Papers from University of Victoria, Resource Economics and Policy

Abstract: In this paper, an in-depth analysis of power supply and demand on Vancouver Island is used to provide information about the optimal allocation of power across ‘generating’ sources and to investigate the economics of wind generation and penetrability into the Island grid. The methodology developed can be extended to a region much larger than Vancouver Island. Results from the model indicate that Vancouver Island could experience blackouts in the near future unless greater name-plate capacity is developed. While wind-generated energy has the ability to contribute to the Island’s power needs, the problem with wind power is its intermittency. The results indicate that wind power may not be able to prevent shortfalls, regardless of the overall name-plate capacity of the wind turbines. Further, costs of reducing CO2 emissions using wind power are unacceptably large, perhaps more than $100 per t CO2, although this might be attributable to the mix of power sources making up the Island’s grid.

Keywords: Environmental Economics and Policy; Resource/Energy Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 38
Date: 2006-11
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https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/37032/files/WorkingPaper2006-04.pdf (application/pdf)

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Journal Article: The Potential for Wind Energy Meeting Electricity Needs on Vancouver Island (2007)
Working Paper: The Potential for Wind Energy Meeting Electricity Needs on Vancouver Island (2006)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uvicwp:37032

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.37032

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