The Network

As Canada’s first nation-wide wind energy research group, WESNet is dedicated to excellence in wind energy R&D and to being a model of collaborative research among multiple stakeholders and partners. The WESNet research program consists of 17 collaborative projects organized under the four theme areas, which together span the entire wind energy production chain. Using the thematic scope as its foundation, WESNet has defined four objectives to guide the direction of each research project. The objectives address the overall WESNet goal, which is to develop innovative solutions to key technical issues facing the Canadian wind industry and to answer its human resource needs for highly qualified personnel. A corollary goal is to make Canada a world leader in the field of wind energy research and technology.

• Objective 1: Develop made-in-Canada solutions to wind energy technical challenges within the context of Canada’s distinctive climate and geography.
• Objective 2: Empower the Canadian manufacturing sector to become an international player in the wind turbine and related technologies market.
• Objective 3: Promote wind energy as an economically viable, environmentally beneficial supplement to the energy portfolio of Canada.
• Objective 4: Address the growing demand in Canada for highly skilled personnel with top-quality training in the wind energy field.

The research program is structured along the value chain of wind energy and makes strategic usage of shared research expertise, resources and facilities. It resolves into four complementary themes:

• THEME 1: Wind Resource Assessment
• THEME 2: Wind Energy Extraction
• THEME 3: Wind Power Engineering
• THEME 4: Techno-Economic Aspects of Wind Energy