Lakeshore Advance, 2013-02-20, Page 2020 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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Gord Potts
Director Business Development
and Project Manager
Grant) Bend Wind Tann tot
Northland Power Inc.
Hydro Ono Network. tot.
The laige't rlu.utcrty trap.,.
distribution..o+upany in Ontario%Ai. ountu+�;
fcu about 9b4ir of the p+ovtnce's ttansnnssion
capacity; a (1O.Vfl corps+talion wholly-owned
by the government of Ontario.
Independent. Ct,•: s t t ',
(IESO).. not,
inanJges the Whttit-N,rie rirtt+tt it 11).11'
oversees the reliable op. i. tion of the
electricity fit id.
Independent Power Producers (IPPS)
' Currently yo%csf the installed power
generation capacity in °maiio is owned
and operated by IPPS, such as out cortlpan\
Northland Power Inc.
Ontario Energy board (0E8) • tegulatc•
the provinces electricity anti natural gas
sectors in the public's interest; promotes .+
viable, sustainable and efficient energy set,tu+
Ontario Power Authority (OPA)
responsible lot the long terrn planning of
the electricity system; contracts elect►ic+t'
supply from numerous resources; trslxmcible
for miscuing Ontario achieve% its anibt,
conservation targets, its elimination or . , a
fired generation; promotes renewable energy.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
t anadas largest owner of nuclear power
plants; owns and operates the Pickering A
Pickering ti and Darlington node.n genera,
stations in Ontario. Also operates none
hydro -electric facilities,
Wind Farm
ommunity News
\ r. w�aYrsr.. w.
.•MM M�'rM•
A Primer on Ontario's
Electrical Grid
Ontatians use more than 141,000,00o kilowatt hours of
electricity per year. It takes a sophisticated, coordinated
system to keep the lights on across Ontario. So how does it
work? And how does wind energy fit in?
Power is generated at the source by an electrical generator.
Mechanical energy is required to spin that generator —
be it a wind turbine, a water wheel in a hydroelectric dam,
a gas turbine or another source. The electricity produced
is then transmitted from the source through a highly
integrated, interconnected system to the load, where
it is used by consumers.
The high interconnectivity of the system increases its
reliability; multiple generation sources and transmission and
distribution routes provide operational flexibility. In Ontario,
there area number of entities, such as the I1:SO, HON I and
OPA that participate in and control our electrical system.
The 1E50 is the heart of Ontario's power system, connecting all
participants generators th.it produce electricity, transmitters
that send it .gross the province, retailers that buy and
sell it, industries and businesses that use it in Targe
quantities and local distribution companies that deliver
it to people's homes. Every five minutes, every single
day, the 11 SO forecasts electricity demand throughout
the province. It then directs generators to provide the
required amount of electricity to meet that demand.
IESO also monitors the quality of the electricity on the
grid. All participants in the Ontario electricity market
must satisfy the requirements of the Market Rules for
the Ontario Electricity Market, published by the IESO.
Intelligent energy for a greener planet
http: //grandbend. northlandpower. ca
by Gord Potts
Over time these requirements have become more
stringent, ensuring that any new power generated is
of the highest quality.
The IESO also plays an essential role in helping bring wind
energy online, by ensuring that the grid can support the
increased levels of wind generation, and managing the
variable nature of its production. To that erid, the IESO
is currently developing centralized wind forecasting; this
will help them balance the province's energy supply with
its demand by accurately predicting what levels of wind
generation can be anticipated. Today, you can visit the
IESO website to see exactly how much electricity wind
energy is generating.
I've only scratched the surface of the key players in Ontario's
electricity system, and how they all work together to keep our
lights on every day. To learn more, I encourage you to visit the
websites of the organizations referenced in the sidebar, or to
contact me at grandbend@northlandpower.ca.
ttrrww Arden*
ext,,
wind Currents
Esxttkar G.rr
Pbwer Urea
Northland Power is an Ontario -based company with over 25 years experience developing,
owning and operating facilities that produce and sell clean and green energy
NORTHLAND
POWER