Wind energy leaders convene at summit

TORONTO — The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) recently held its O&M Summit, Canada’s largest annual wind energy operations and maintenance event, showcasing improvements in O&M and the presence of a strong culture of health and safety in the industry.

More than 260 wind energy professionals from across Canada and the U.S. attended the two-day summit held at the Hilton in Mississauga, Ont.

Summit attendees were presented with new ideas from entrepreneurs, exposed to new products and services, invited to participate in a health and safety committee meeting and took part in a “research huddle” to explore the details of current research findings.

According to a release issued by CanWEA, the industry advancements highlighted at the event include: a comprehensive review of icing detectors and forecasting technology for cold-climate operations; the unveiling of a new small crane in a shipping container that can lift a rotor into place on a wind turbine; an analysis of the O&M market in North America going forward; and sessions between speakers and participants on subjects such as protecting bats, the implications of new cannabis legislation and the latest developments in health and safety.

The O&M Summit also featured 25 wind energy exhibitors showcasing their products and services in the largest-ever exhibit space for the annual O&M event, indicates the release.

The winners of the CanWEA awards for excellence in health and safety and innovation were announced at an awards breakfast. TECHEOL Inc. was presented the O&M Outstanding Achievement Award and Vestas Canadian Wind Technology was presented the Health and Safety Excellence Award. Other companies recognized as finalists for the awards were Capstone Infrastructure (Outstanding Achievement) and Kruger Energy Port Alma LP & Chatham LP (Health and Safety).

“Canada’s wind energy industry has created over 58,000 person-years of employment in construction and operations, bringing green jobs to nearly 300 communities,” said Robert Hornung of CanWEA in a statement. “The wind power sector has been the largest source of new electricity generation in Canada for over a decade, and our vision for the industry calls for continued steady growth as Canadians turn to clean and low-cost power.”