generally represents the God of winds, but also the deity of directions. An indispensable component in the development of clean and alternative energy sources, Aeolus blows in the sails of our organization to guide us towards a dynamic and stimulating energy transition.
Discover the fascinating history of Éole, a technological feat in the field of wind energy! Standing at an impressive 110 meters tall, this wind turbine, the tallest in the world at the time, had a rotor weighing over 350 tons and a blade equator 64 meters wide. Its giant 100-ton alternator with a power output of 3.8 megawatts provided electricity to a computerized power plant that operated autonomously, a major innovation for the time. Éole was the first multi-megawatt wind turbine to operate for several years, marking a decisive step in the development of wind energy, but also in the fields of civil engineering, mechanical engineering, construction methods, and industrial computing. Today, it remains the tallest vertical axis wind turbine ever built.
The choice of a vertical axis wind turbine for the Éole project was motivated by several factors. First, its generator located at the base of the tower ensured a more stable structure, thanks to a lower center of gravity. Second, the use of accessible materials such as steel was a wise choice, as higher-performance composite materials were not yet mature enough for large-scale industrial production. Third, the vertical axis wind turbine's ability to capture wind omnidirectionally was a considerable asset before the automation of wind turbine positioning systems. Finally, the Darrieus wind turbine design, with its curved blades, enabled efficient rotation thanks to a momentum effect optimized by their curvature reminiscent of a skipping rope, optimizing wind capture once rotation speed was reached.
Cap-Chat, the birthplace of wind power in Quebec, has played a crucial role in advancing wind energy research in Canada. Project Éole, the result of a National Research Council of Canada (NRC) research program, benefited from the expertise of Hydro-Québec and the Institut de Recherche en Électricité au Québec (IREQ), leaders in the field. The Cap-Chat region, with its exceptional wind resources, has proven to be an ideal location for developing and testing innovative wind technologies, contributing to the growth of this form of energy in Canada.
The Le Nordais wind farm, surrounding Éole, marked a milestone in the history of wind energy in Canada. At the time, with its 133 wind turbines, it was the largest wind farm in Canada and the first in Quebec. This ambitious project demonstrated the potential of large-scale wind energy and contributed to the establishment of essential infrastructure for the development of this renewable energy source. The legacy of the Le Nordais wind farm and Projet Éole is a testament to the vision and innovation that shaped the wind industry in Quebec and Canada.
