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The Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET) has contracted Tacke “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Inc of London, Ontario, to design, construct and evaluate a 600 kW wind turbine for Canadian and world markets. Tacke “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, the Canadian daughter of Tacke Windtechnik of Germany, will redesign the Tacke 600 kW for North American weather conditions.

The turbine's blades will be redesigned and manufactured by Diamond Aircraft Industries of London, Ontario, a subsidiary of HOAC GmbH of Wienerneustadt, Austria. The tower, nacelle cover and other components will be sourced elsewhere in North America.

"Diamond manufactures the DA20 Katana two seater aircraft from composite materials and has developed expertise in design and manufacturing of low cost composite structures. We welcome this opportunity to diversify into the growth industry of wind turbine rotor blades," says Diamond Vice President Helge Wittholz. Blade manufacture is scheduled to start in London in 1995, and series production could begin later.

"Current wind turbines are not specifically adapted for low temperature environments. We will use Canada's extensive experience in designing heavy equipment for operating in the Arctic at temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius and below. This expertise relates to low temperature effects on highly loaded steel structures, hydraulics and transmission systems. Using this knowledge, we will adapt the Tacke German design for cold weather environments," adds Wittholz.

Canadian Agra Corporation, an Ontario-based integrated agricultural production, processing and marketing firm, plans to install the prototype turbine at its proposed wind farm site on the Lake Huron shoreline near Kincardine in southern Ontario (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, June 1994). Agra is negotiating with Ontario Hydro for wind turbine installation and power transmission services. The successful outcome of the talks depends on Hydro's development of coherent policies and programmes favourable to renewable energy.

Agra's 5-10 MW load displacement proposal is a European style co-operative ownership scheme in which local companies and homeowners would become equity investors. Agra already owns and operates a grid connected 18/80 Lagerwey wind turbine imported from the Netherlands, which entered service at Kincardine in mid-1993.

Tacke “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, Diamond Aircraft and Agra collaborated in winning the award from CANMET, which is the research and development arm of Natural Resources Canada. Costs will be shared. Tacke will contribute $0.94 million of the total project cost of $1.29 million, while CANMET will contribute $0.35 million.