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Small Wind in Canada

In 2004-2005, Marbek Resource Consultants performed a study entitled Survey of the Small Wind (300 W to 300 kW) Turbine Market in Canada for Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).  Below is the Executive Summary from the study’s final report.  Please contact NRCan for further information on the study, including access to the full final report.

Survey of the Small Wind (300 W to 300 kW) Turbine Market in Canada
- Executive Summary -

© Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 2005

About this Study

In recent years, the Canadian wind energy industry has grown significantly, as evidenced by the increasing number of large utility-scale wind farms appearing across Canada. Large wind turbines are increasingly seen as a mature technology that can provide reliable, clean and economically competitive power. The picture around small wind turbines (SWTs) is much less clear, particularly in Canada. This report is intended to fill this knowledge gap by providing a profile of the Canadian market for SWTs (from 300 W to 300 kW), divided into three categories:

• Mini wind turbines with a rated power output from 300 Watts up to 1000 Watts;
• Small wind turbines (above 1 kW and up to 30 kW), and;
• Medium wind turbines (above 30 kW, up to 300 kW).

The study findings are primarily based on interviews with industry experts, and a comprehensive survey of 135 companies involved in the Canadian SWT industry.