Empowering Wind Energy Innovation through Collaboration

About CWERN

The Canadian Wind Energy Research Network (CWERN) was established by WEICan in 2020, with support from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). CWERN serves as the premier national forum for technical wind energy R&D specifically focused on the needs of Canadian stakeholders. The objectives of the Research Network are to accelerate the uptake and impact of research products and ensure that industry and government have an active role in shaping research direction. The Research Network membership includes representatives from Canadian universities, independent research organizations, industry, and government. The Research Network is interested in all stages of wind energy research, from fundamental to applied, and believes that collaboration will result in the high level of innovation that is required to advance the energy industry.

CWERN meetings have become must-attend events for Canadian wind energy researchers. The Research Network will continue with upcoming Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 meetings. Members of the Research Network share their current and planned research activities or research needs, and actively look for opportunities for collaboration with other members. Members with intersecting areas of interest are encouraged to engage in joint research and to pursue external funding opportunities.

Upcoming Programs

Fall 2024 Meeting

Spring 2025 Meeting

Our Programs

April 4, 2022 – Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Video Recording

  • 1:30 pm – Moderator: David Wood, University of Calgary
  • 1:38 pm – Ryan Kilpatrick – CanMET-NRCan – Steering Committee Message
  • 1:40 pm – David Wood, University of Calgary – Aeroelastic Modeling of Tail Fins for Small Turbines
  • 1:45 pm – Najiba Akther, University of British Columbia – Okanagan – Performance enhancement of small wind turbines via protective leading-edge droops
  • 2:00 pm – Eric J. Limacher, Western Ball Hockey League – Rethinking Turbine Performance Limits
  • 2:15 pm – Dominic Bolduc, Nergica – Marinvent Airfoil Performance Monitor Integration to a Wind Turbine
  • 2:30 pm – Sebastiano Stipa, University of British Columbia – Effect of Gravity Waves in the Flow Solution of Large-Scale Wind Farms
  • 2:45 pm – Leandro Stival, University of British Columbia – Okanagan – Modeling and simulation of an experimental wind turbine wake through LES-IB methods with AMR
  • 3:00 pm – Rad Haghi, University of Victoria – Data-driven surrogate model for wind turbine aerodynamic simulations
  • 3:15 pm – Discussion led by David Wood
April 6, 2022 – Grid Integration, Curriculum Development
Grid Integration

Video Recording

  • 1:30 pm – Moderator: Tim Weis, University of Alberta
  • 1:38 pm – Rupp Carriveau, University of Windsor Steering Committee Message
  • 1:40 pm – Dominic Bolduc, Nergica – Nergica Contributions to IEC Wind Task 41 in 2021-2022
  • 1:45 pm – Abbey Morneau1, Rupp Carriveau1, David S-K Ting1, JJ Davis2, Aaron Coristine3, Niki Bennett3; 1- University of Windsor, 2 -Kruger Energy, 3 – Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers – A Turbine, Tomato, Hydrogen, and Ammonia Go Into A Bar
  • 1:50 pm – Eldrich Rebello, WEICan – Wind Farm Enhanced Capability Demonstration Project
  • 2:05 pm – Sofia Guzman, Mohawk College – Frequency Regulation Support with Fast Energy Storage Systems
  • 2:20 pm – Taylor Pawlenchuck, Timothy M. Weis, Andrew Leach, University of Alberta – The Optimal Geographic Concentration of Alberta’s Wind Energy Fleet
Curriculum Development
  • 2:35 pm – Lindsay Miller, Rupp Carriveau – Improved Wind Energy Curriculum to Support Canada’s Transitioning Energy Sector
  • 2:40 pm Discussion led by Tim Weis
April 8, 2022 – Cold Climate, Forecasting
Cold Climate

Video Recording

  • 1:30 pm – Moderator: Matthew Wadham Gagnon, Québec Department of Energy and Natural Resources
  • 1:38 pm – Charles Godreau – Steering Committee Message
  • 1:40 pm – Charles Godreau, Nergica – Performance of Icing Detectors
  • 1:45 pm – Charles Godreau, Nergica – IEA Wind Task 19 Wind Energy in Cold Climate
  • 1:50 pm – Marc Defossez, Nergica – IEA Wind Task 32 Wind Lidar in Cold Climate
  • 1:55 pm – Fahed Martini, Université du Québec à Rimouski – Development of a Real-Time Ice Prediction System for Wind Turbines
  • 2:00 pm – Andrea Kraj, University of Saskatchewan – Climate Change Impacts on Energy Transitions in the Arctic: Wind
  • 2:05 pm – Patrice Roberge, Université Laval – New tools to evaluate the performance of wind turbines under icing conditions
Forecasting
  • 2:20 pm – Moderator: Liuchen Chang, University of New Brunswick
  • 2:25 pm – Bo Cao, University of New Brunswick – Advanced Wind Forecasting Technologies Based on Limited Historical Data
  • 2:30 pm – Arjun Ajay, University of British Columbia – Okanagan – Predicting wind farm performance in complex terrain via large eddy simulation with overset mesh and immersed boundary method
  • 2:45 pm – Simon-Philippe Breton and Franco Petrucci, Environment and Climate Change Canada – Icing and Wind Forecasts for Wind Energy
  • 3:00 pm Discussion – (Breakout rooms) Cold Climate Led by Matthew Wadham Gagnon; Forecasting led by Liuchen Chang
April 11, 2022 – Offshore Wind, Social and Environmental Integration
Offshore Wind

Video Recording

  • 1:30 pm- Moderator: Curran Crawford, University of Victoria
  • 1:38 pm – Lindsay Miller-Branovacki – Steering Committee Message
  • 1:40 pm – Leandro Stival, UBC – Okanagan Large eddy simulation of the atmospheric flow around wind turbines with the use of immersed boundary method over the NREL 5 MW Offshore
  • 1:45 pm – Jordan Eamer, Geological Survey of Canada – Update on Geological Survey of Canada activities in offshore wind
  • 1:50 pm – Christopher Niezrecki, University of Massachusetts Lowell – WindSTAR Center
  • 1:55 pm – Jinxing Huang, CanmetENERGY-Ottawa – NRCan Preliminary investigation into characterizing a theoretical 900 MW offshore windfarm in Atlantic Canada
  • 2:10 pm – Nathaniel S. Pearre, Lukas Swan, Dalhousie University – Where to build offshore wind in the Maritimes
Social and Environmental Integration
  • 2:25 pm Jamie Baxter, Western University – Local views of community-based wind energy development in Canada
  • 2:40 pm – Discussion led by Curran Crawford
April 13, 2022 – Asset Management

Video Recording

  • 1:30 pm – Moderator: Tom Levy, Office of Energy Research and Development, Natural Resources Canada
  • 1:38 pm – Phil McKay – Steering Committee Message
  • 1:40 pm – Majid Morshedizadeh – WEICan IEA Wind Task 46 Wind Turbine Blade Erosion
  • 1:45 pm – Charles Godreau, Nergica – Experiences installing load measurement system in wind turbine blades
  • 2:00 pm – Olivier Paré-Lambert, Nergica – Collineo’s BladeBrain Project
  • 2:15 pm – Neysa Gunness, Mario Forcinito, Qiao Sun, University of Calgary – A Multiscale Progressive Damage Model to Estimate the Fatigue Life of Wind Turbine Blades
  • 2:30 pm – Murat Inalpolat, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • 2:45 pm – Lawrence Bank, Georgia Tech – Blade Recycling and Repurposing
  • 3:00 pm Discussion led by Tom Levy

March 22, 2021 – Opening Day
  • 1:30 PM – Marianne Rodgers, Scientific Director, WEICan – Introduction to Research Network, Development and Goals
  • 1:40 PM – Jennifer Hiscock, Deputy Director, Smart Grid & Renewable Energy Portfolio, NRCan – Research Network Goals
  • 1:50 PM – Luichen Chang, UNB – NSERC Wind Energy Strategic Network (2008 – 2014)
  • 2:10 PM – Phil McKay, CanREA – Canadian Wind Optimization Opportunities
March 24, 2021 – IEA Wind Tasks, Wind Turbine LES, Wind Farm Modeling, Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Presentation Slides

IEA Wind Tasks
  • 1:30 PM – Ryan Kilpatrick, NRCan – Introduction
  • 1:45 PM – Marc Defossez, Nergica – IEA Task 32: LIDAR: Wind Lidar Systems for Wind Energy Deployment
  • 1:55 PM – Sergio Gualteros, Nergica – IEA Task 41: Distributed Wind
Wind Turbine LES
  • 2:00 PM – Arjun Ajay, UBC – LES Simulation of Flow Over Wind Turbines in Complex Terrain
Wind Farm Modeling
  • 2:05 PM – David Kiefte, Dalhousie University – Wind Farm Capacity Value as a Function of Year, Maintenance Schedule, Data Resolution and Ambient Temperature
Wind Turbine Aerodynamics
  • 2:10 PM – David Wood, University of Calgary – Unsteady Behaviour of Smartfoils
  • 2:15 PM – David Johnson, University of Waterloo – Cyclic Load Alleviation for MW Class Turbines
  • 2:20 PM – Rad Haghi, University of Victoria – Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) Derived Surrogate Models for Wind Turbine Simulations
  • 2:25 PM – Ryan Kilpatrick, NRCan – Discussion
March 26, 2021 – Grid Integration, Asset Management (Blades)

Presentation Slides

Grid Integration
  • 1:30 PM – Eldrich Rebello, WEICan – Introduction
  • 1:40 PM – G Cornelis van Kooten, University of Victoria – Storing Intermittent Wind and Solar Energy Behind Hydroelectric Dams
  • 1:45 PM – Ryan Jansen, Saskatchewan Research Council – Wind-Solar-Battery Hybrid System at the Saskatchewan Research Council
  • 1:50 PM – Tim Weis, University of Alberta – Modelling Market Impacts of Geographic Dispersion of Wind
  • 1:55 PM – Eldrich Rebello, WEICan – Grid Integration Research at WEICan
  • 2:00 PM – Tom Levy, NRCan – IEA Task 25: Design and Operation of Power Systems with Large Amounts of Wind Power
Asset Management – Blades
  • 2:05 PM – Najiba Akther, UBC – Computational Evaluation of Leading-Edge Droop for Performance Enhancement of Wind Turbine Rotor in Delayed Transition Phase
  • 2:10 PM – Patrick Rizk, UQAR – Flaw Diagnosis on Wind Turbine Blade via Hyperspectral Imaging
  • 2:15 PM – Carrie Houston/Marianne Rodgers, WEICan – IEA Task 46: Wind Turbine Blade Erosion
  • 2:20 PM – Carrie Houston, WEICan – Field Study of Blade Leading Edge Protection
  • 2:25 PM – Eldrich Rebello/Carrie Houston, WEICan – Discussion – Two breakout groups will form to discuss research in grid integration (moderated by Eldrich Rebello) and wind turbine blades (moderated by Carrie Houston)
March 29, 2021 – Asset Management

Presentation Slides

Asset Management
  • 1:30 PM – Rupp Carriveau, University of Windsor – Introduction
  • 1:40 PM – Rupp Carriveau, University of Windsor – IEA Task 42: Wind Turbine Lifetime Extension
  • 1:45 PM – Rupp Carriveau/Lindsay Miller/Matt Davison, University of Windsor/University of Western Ontario – Asset Management (Year 21)
  • 1:50 PM – Rupp Carriveau/Ryan Kilpatrick, University of Windsor/NRCan – IEA Task 43: Wind Energy Digitalization
  • 1:55 PM – Claudio Canizares, University of Waterloo – Predictive Maintenance of Wind Generators Based on AI Techniques
  • 2:00 PM – Chris Mechefske, Queens University – Hybrid (Data Drive, Physics-Based, Digital Twin) Mechanical System Fault Detection/Prognosis
  • 2:05 PM – Robbie Sanderson, WEICan – Using Data to Enhance Operational Capabilities and Research Opportunities
  • 2:10 PM – Charles Godreau, Nergica – Strategic Research: Remaining Useful Life of Key Components
  • 2:15 PM – Qiao Sun/Iurii Storozhenko/Joseph Fernando/Neysa Gunness/Ali Hajnaveb, University of Calgary – Building a Wind Turbine System Model to Assist Health Condition Monitoring and Failure Prediction
  • 2:20 PM – Ali Hajnayeb, University of Calgary – Modelling the Effects of Different Types of Faults on the Vibrations of a Wind Turbine Drive Train
  • 2:25 PM – Majid Morshedizadeh, WEICan – WEICan Wind Turbine Drive Train
  • 2:30 PM – Gerry Moschopoulos, University of Western Ontario – A Comprehensive Model for the Study of the Electrical, Mechanical, and Aerodynamic Aspects of Wind Turbine Systems
  • 2:35 PM – Rupp Carriveau, University of Windsor – Discussion
March 31, 2021 – Cold Climate, Climate Change

Presentation Slides

Cold Climate
  • 1:40 PM – Charles Godreau, Nergica – Task 19: Wind Energy in Cold Climate
  • 1:45 PM – Charles Godreau, Nergica – Cold Climate Research at Nergica
  • 1:50 PM – Leidy Tatiana Contreras Montoya, UQAR – Correlations Between Meteorological Conditions and Power Loss in Wind Turbines Under Icing Conditions
  • 1:55 PM – Andrea Kraj, University of Saskatchewan – Community Renewable Energy in Remote Regions and Cold Climates
  • 2:00 PM – Andre Begin-Drolet, Laval University – Towards Improving Wind Energy in Cold Climate: How to Quantify the Use of Alternative Operations Strategies
  • 2:05 PM – Navid Farazmandnia, UQAR – Vibration Control of Wind Turbine Blades Using PZT
  • 2:10 PM – Alexandre Giguere, Enbridge – Pitch Motors High Peak Current During Icing Events
Climate Change
  • 2:15 PM – Tim Jordan, WEICan – WEICan/AWTS Historical Datasets & Climate Change Insights
  • 2:20 PM – G Cornelis van Kooten, University of Victoria – Climate Urgency and the Role of Forestry
  • 2:25 PM – Tim Weis, University of Alberta – Wind Energy’s Historic Emissions Displacement in Alberta
  • 2:30 PM – Cedric Arbez/Ryan Kilpatric, Nergica/NRCan – Discussion – Two breakout groups will form to discuss wind turbine research in cold climates (led by Cedric Arbez) and with regards to climate change (led by Ryan Kilpatrick)
April 6, 2021 – Forecasting, Offshore Wind

Presentation Slides

Forecasting
  • 1:30 PM – Lindsay Miller, University of Windsor – Introduction
  • 1:40 PM – Jamie Baxter, Western University – IEA Task 28: Social Acceptance of Wind Energy Projects
  • 1:45 PM – Sebastiano Stipa, UBC – Modelling Wind Farm Blockage and Interaction Between Sites
  • 1:50 PM – Bo Cao, UNB – Wind Power Ramp Forecasting Using CNN-Based Similarity Search Techniques
  • 1:55 PM – Luichen Chang, UNB – Wind Power and Ramp Event Forecasting Technologies at UNB
  • 2:00 PM – Franco Petrucci, Meteorological Service of Canada – Icing and Wind Forecasts for Wind Energy
  • 2:05 PM – Xander Wang, UPEI – Projecting Future Wind Energy Potential Through a High Resolution Regional Climate Model
Offshore Wind
  • 2:10 PM – Jordan Eamer, Geological Survey of Canada – Offshore Wind Energy in Atlantic Canada – A Preliminary Assessment of Geological Constraints and Opportunities
  • 2:15 PM – Marten Pape, University of Waterloo – Differential Power Processing in Offshore Wind Farms
  • 2:20 PM – Rupp Carriveau/Lindsay Miller/Matt Davison, University of Windsor/University of Western Ontario – Offshore Wind
  • 2:25 PM – Curran Crawford, University of Victoria – Offshore Wind for CCS/CCUS and Renewable Fuels
  • 2:30 PM – Lindsay Miller/Eldrich Rebello, University of Windsor/WEICan, Discussion – Two breakout groups will form to discuss forecasting (led by Eldrich Rebello) and offshore wind (led by Lindsay Miller)

Our Members

Name: Jamie Baxter, PhD
Affiliation: Geography and Environment, Western University
Contact: mocwe.uwo.ca, coarep.uwo.ca
Research Interests:

  • Social aspects of wind energy development (social acceptance)
  • Community-owned wind energy development
  • Environmental justice

Name: André Bégin-Drolet, PhD
Affiliation: Université Laval
Research Interests:

  • Wind energy in cold climate and icy conditions
  • Icing assessment and impact on wind energy production
  • Wind Energy alternative operational strategies (cold climate)
  • Load measurements
  • Mechanical engineering design

Name: Joshua Brinkerhoff, PhD, P.Eng
Affiliation: School of Engineering, UBC Okanagan
Contact: https://cfdlab.ok.ubc.ca/
Research Interests:

  • Wind turbine aerodynamics
  • Modelling induction/blockage effects
  • Wind farm/atmosphere interactions
  • Computational fluid dynamics

Names: Rupp Carriveau, PhD, P.Eng and Lindsay Miller, PhD, P.Eng
Affiliation: University of Windsor
Research Interests:

  • Wind farm lifetime extension
  • Offshore wind
  • Innovative project financing

Name: Curran Crawford, PhD, P.Eng
Affiliation: Institute for Integrated Energy Systems, University of Victoria
Research Interests:

  • Digital twins, ML and UQ for wind energy and battery systems
  • Floating offshore wind energy for CO2 capture and E-fuels production
  • Grid and micro-grid integration of wind energy with E-transport and demand response

Name: Jordan Eamer, PhD
Affiliation: Geological Survey of Canada – Atlantic
Research Interests:

  • Offshore wind installations in Atlantic Canada:
    Infrastructure required
  • Geologically suitable foundation conditions
  • Shallow subsurface geological models
  • Geotechnical characterization of offshore sediment types

Name: Adrian Ilinca, PhD
Affiliation: Ecole de technologie superieure
Research Interests:

  • Adaptation of wind energy to cold climates
  • Wind turbine icing
  • Renewable energy hybrid systems
  • Wind-diesel systems

Name: Andrea Kraj, PhD, P.Eng
Affiliation: CEO and President of the CORE Renewable Energy, Fulbright Arctic Scholar
Website: www.andreakraj.com
Research Interests:

  • Microgrids & virtual power plants
  • Smart cities & sustainable communities
  • Energy security
  • Icing mitigation and innovation of wind turbines in cold climates

Name: Fahed Martini, PhD, P.Eng
Affiliation: Université du Québec à Rimouski, Wind Energy Research Laboratory
Research Interests:

  • Wind turbine icing
  • CFD modelling and simulation
  • Wind energy engineering
  • Computer-aided engineering – ANSYS

Name: Phil McKay, MASc
Affiliation: Canadian Renewable Energy Association
Contact: https://renewablesassociation.ca
Research Interests:

  • Site-wide optimization, aerodynamics, capacity increases, hybrid technologies
  • Grid integration, reliability services, resource forecasting
  • Sustainability, biomimicry, nature-based solutions

Organization: Meteorological Service of Canada

Names: Franco Petrucci, MBA, MSc,; Simon-Philippe Breton, PhD

Research Interests:

  • Icing forecasting
  • Wind ramp forecasting
  • Solar radiation forecasting

Organization: Energy & Power Innovation Centre – Mohawk College
Names: Laith Al-Musawi, MASC, P.Eng,; Mariano Arriaga, PhD, P.Eng,; Patrick McInnis
Website: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/ideaworks/energy-power-innovation-centre-epic
Research Interests

  • Grid integration modelling
  • Protection & control lab

Organization: Nergica
Names: Dominic Bolduc, MASc, ; Marc Defossez, PhD,; Charles Godreau, MEng, P.Eng, ; Oliver Pare-Lambert, MSc, P.Eng,
Research Interests:

  • Distributed wind and hybrid systems
  • Remote sensing (LIDAR)
  • Wind turbines in cold climate and icing forecasting
  • Wind turbine control and end-of-life issues
  • Blade inspection and damage evaluation

Name: Qiao Sun, PhD, P.Eng
Affiliation: University of Calgary
Research Interests:

  • Integrated systems modeling
  • Fault detection and diagnosis
  • Remaining useful life estimation

Name: Lukas Swan, PhD, P.Eng
Affiliation: Renewable Energy Storage Laboratory at Dalhousie University
Contact: resl.me.dal.ca
Research Interests:

  • Battery research at cell, module, pack level
  • Wind, solar, tidal, and electricity grid modelling with energy storage

Organization: Wind Energy Institute of Canada
Names: Paige Gallant, MASc, ; Marianne Rodgers, PhD, ; Robbie Sanderson, PhD
Research Interests:

  • Grid integration of renewable energy
  • Wind energy asset management

Name: David Wood, PhD
Affiliation: University of Calgary
Research Interests:

  • Small wind turbine aeroelastic modelling
  • Fundamental wind turbine aerodynamics
  • Wind power forecasting and wind resource assessment

Who Should Participate?

  • Anyone actively engaged in research and development related to one of the listed research themes

  • Policymakers at the federal or provincial/territorial level with an interest in renewable energy

  • Utilities and system operators

  • Members of the wind energy industry or other renewable energy and energy storage industries

Governance

A Steering Committee, consisting of Academia, Government, and Research Labs will designate research areas or themes, with a leader appointed to each agreed upon area.

Steering Committee

  • Scott Harper, CEO, Wind Energy Institute of Canada
  • Marianne Rodgers, Scientific Director, Wind Energy Institute of Canada
  • Rupp Carriveau, Professor, University of Windsor
  • Lindsay Miller, Instructor and Research Assistant, University of Windsor
  • Phil McKay, Senior Director, Technical & Utility Affairs, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
  • Charles Godreau, Program Manager – Research and Innovation, Nergica

Passionate – Dedicated – Pioneering

Where expertise meets innovation

WEICan advances the development of wind energy across Canada through research, testing, innovation and collaboration.

WEICan envisions a Canada where wind energy leads as a sustainable source of clean power, fostering economic growth, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and securing a cleaner future. Our dedication to pioneering wind energy research, testing, innovation, and collaboration is propelling the transformation of Canada’s energy landscape towards a sustainable and environmentally responsible future.

WEICan champions the development of sustainable wind energy through innovative research, partnerships, and community collaboration. Our goal is to advance environmentally friendly wind technologies, aligning with industry, academia, government, and community partners. We are committed to fostering economic growth and reducing carbon footprints, ensuring our contributions benefit both national interests and community well-being. Through our efforts, WEIC aims to be a leader in renewable energy promoting a cleaner, sustainable future.