The production of wind energy in Ontario has doubled in the last four years, according to data from Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

According to the Electricity Data report, the annual production of wind energy in Ontario rose from 2.3 terawatt hours (TWh) to 5.2 TWh between 2009 and 2013. Data from the IESO and the Ontario Ministry of Energy shows that Ontario wind farms produced electricity equivalent to the power needs of about 550,000 average Ontario homes in 2013.

“Ontario’s electricity data for the past year reflects what we are seeing day-to-day on our control room floor — lower demands, increased local generation and an overall greater reliance on base supply,” says Bruce Campbell, president and CEO of the IESO. “Ontario’s electricity system will continue to evolve over 2014 and beyond with the introduction of solar energy to the grid, demand response and wind generation developing critical mass as well as the nuclear refurbishment program.”

The report indicates that Ontario’s reliance on nuclear energy has increased in the last year, amounting to about 60 per cent of the total production. Hydro and wind generation both increased in 2013, to 23.4 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively. Both gas and coal generation output decreased, with coal generation ceasing production in southern Ontario by the end of 2013.

There were a number of unexpected demand reductions throughout the year, including power outages related to the December ice storm. This resulted in a loss of an estimated 1,800 megawatts in demand during the early days of the outage. A blackout resulting from the July 8 floods also lowered demand.