A wind turbine for wastewater treatment can turn one of a municipality’s significant operating expenses into an opportunity to generate clean energy on site. The Town of Kensington, Prince Edward Island, chose this approach to help control the electricity costs of its wastewater treatment plant while supporting its commitment to sustainability.
Located in the heart of Prince Edward Island (PEI), Kensington operates essential municipal infrastructure that requires a reliable supply of electricity. The wastewater treatment plant represented a significant energy expense for a small community, with annual electricity costs reaching approximately $50,000.
The solution was a 100 kW NPS 100-21 wind turbine installed on a 37-meter tower. With an average site wind speed of 5.3 m/s (12 mph), the turbine produces approximately 168,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually, meeting around 60% of the wastewater treatment plant’s electrical needs.
With a strong local wind resource available, Kensington identified wind energy as an opportunity to reduce its dependence on grid electricity and make better use of its municipal budget.
The Challenge: Reducing Wastewater Treatment Energy Costs
Wastewater treatment is an essential public service, but operating pumps, aeration equipment and other electrical systems can create substantial and recurring energy costs.
For a community of only around 1,500 residents, a $50,000 annual electricity bill represented a significant expense. Reducing these costs meant finding a renewable energy solution capable of delivering meaningful power generation while fitting naturally within the surrounding community.
The project therefore required a wind turbine that could combine reliable energy production, a community-friendly design and long-term operational performance.
Wind Turbine for Wastewater Treatment: The NPS 100-21
Kensington selected a Northern Power Systems NPS 100-21 wind turbine for its wastewater treatment facility. The 100 kW turbine was installed on a 37-meter tower to harness Prince Edward Island’s wind resource and generate renewable electricity directly where it was needed.
With an average wind speed of 5.3 m/s (12 mph), the installation generates approximately 168,000 kWh annually and meets around 60% of the facility’s electrical needs.
“The NPS 100 fits our facility like a glove—it matches our load perfectly.”
— Geoff Baker, Town Manager, Kensington PEI
The solution offered several important advantages:
- Right-sized power generation: with approximately 168,000 kWh of annual energy production, the NPS 100 meets around 60% of the wastewater treatment facility’s electrical needs.
- Community-friendly design: its relatively low profile, quiet operation and design made the turbine suitable for a municipal installation.
- Direct-drive technology: the gearless architecture reduces the number of moving components compared with conventional geared turbine designs.
- Designed for long-term operation: the NPS 100’s advanced gearless design was engineered for reliable energy production over a 20+ year operating life.
| Location | Kensington, Prince Edward Island, Canada |
| Application | Wastewater Treatment Plant |
| Wind Turbine | NPS 100-21 |
| Rated Power | 100 kW |
| Tower Height | 37 m |
| Average Wind Speed | 5.3 m/s (12 mph) |
| Annual Energy Production | 168,000 kWh |
| Electrical Needs Met | 60% |
| Annual Carbon Offset | 133 tons |
Municipal Wind Energy in Prince Edward Island
Wind energy is particularly relevant to Prince Edward Island, where the local wind resource creates opportunities for renewable electricity generation.
According to the Town of Kensington’s Official Plan, a 100 kW wind turbine was added to the wastewater treatment site in 2009 to help stabilize the energy costs associated with wastewater treatment.
For Kensington, municipal wind energy offered more than an environmental benefit. Generating electricity at the wastewater treatment facility created an opportunity to control an important operating expense and redirect municipal resources toward other community priorities.
The project demonstrates how distributed wind generation can be integrated into public infrastructure rather than being limited to large utility-scale wind farms.
Wind Power for Wastewater Treatment: From Expense to Opportunity
The Kensington installation demonstrates the potential of wind power for wastewater treatment facilities with suitable wind resources.
Instead of treating electricity exclusively as a recurring operating cost, municipalities can evaluate whether on-site renewable generation can offset part of their grid consumption.
With approximately 168,000 kWh of annual energy production, the NPS 100 meets around 60% of the wastewater treatment facility’s electrical needs while delivering an annual carbon offset of approximately 133 tons.
The project also represented an important milestone for the community. Kensington became the first community in Canada with a wind-powered wastewater utility, demonstrating how local governments can take an active role in the transition toward cleaner energy infrastructure.
A Renewable Energy Investment for the Community
The benefits of the project extend beyond the wastewater treatment facility itself.
The project also benefited from government incentives that offset 50% of the project costs. However, according to Kensington Town Manager Geoff Baker, the financial benefits would still have been significant without this additional support.
Reducing the cost of operating essential infrastructure can free municipal resources for other priorities, while renewable energy generation supports broader sustainability objectives.
The turbine also provides a visible example of how communities can use locally available renewable resources to address real operational challenges.
Kensington’s project shows that a wind-powered wastewater treatment facility can combine environmental responsibility with practical energy management.
Northern Power Systems for Municipal Wind Energy Projects
Northern Power Systems develops wind energy solutions for municipalities, businesses, institutions and other organizations looking to generate renewable electricity on site.
With direct-drive wind turbine technology and decades of experience in distributed wind applications, NPS supports projects from technology selection and engineering through installation and long-term operation.
Looking for a Wind Energy Solution for Your Facility?
If your municipality, wastewater facility or public infrastructure project is evaluating on-site renewable energy, Northern Power Systems can help assess the site’s requirements and identify the most appropriate wind energy solution.