Enbridge Inc. and EDF EN Canada Inc. have signed a deal with Greengate Power Corporation to buy a construction-ready wind farm, which is expected to be the largest project of its type in Western Canada upon completion in 2014.
“The Blackspring Ridge project presents a unique opportunity to establish EDF EN Canada in Western Canada and specifically in Alberta – a province with a promising electricity market,” said Cory Basil, vice president of development at EDF EN Canada.
“Securing this project builds upon our relationship with Vestas and Enbridge and adds to our existing portfolio of over 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects in Canada.”
Some of the details about the purchase agreement for Blackspring Ridge wind project, which will be located in Vulcan County, Alberta about 50 km north of Lethbridge, were released on April 8.
EDF EN Canada and Enbridge will each own 50 per cent of the 300 megawatt (MW) project, which is in late stage development.
“The sale of Blackspring Ridge to Enbridge and EDF EN Canada ensures that Western Canada’s largest wind energy project will be constructed and that the associated economic and environmental benefits will be realized,” said Dan Balaban, president and CEO of Greengate Power Corporation.
The project will be comprised of 166 Vestas V100-1.8 MW wind turbines.
EDF EN Canada has awarded a fixed price engineering, procurement and construction contract to Mortenson Construction, with construction expected to start in the second quarter of 2013.
Greengate will provide development services to Enbridge and EDF EN Canada during the construction, which is scheduled for completion in 2014.
In addition, the project is also expected to have a positive impact on Alberta’s environment by supplying enough clean energy to serve about 140,000 homes.
The project represents the largest investment in wind energy in Alberta at about $600 million.
EDF EN Canada was incorporated in 2008 and is a subsidiary of EDF Énergies Nouvelles, which is a French renewable energy corporation, half owned by French electric utility Électricité de France.
EDF Énergies Nouvelles is primarily involved in the production of wind power in Europe and the U.S.
But, it is investing heavily in solar energy and also has interests in ocean power and biofuels.
EDF EN Canada is involved in project management and site implementation for a number of wind and solar opportunities in Ontario and Quebec.
For example, EDF EN Canada is currently constructing Lac Alfred Phase 2 (150 MW) with an expected completion date of December 2013.
It also started commercial operation of the Massif du Sud Wind Project (150 MW) in January 2013.
Both of these projects have a combined investment of close to $700 million and will create more than 600 jobs during the construction phase.
Massif du Sud and Lac Alfred represent two of the seven wind energy projects in total awarded to the company in 2008 and 2010 through Hydro-Quebec distribution calls for tenders.
By the end of 2015, EDF EN Canada will have developed and built a total of 1,003.2 MW in the province.
The sale of Blackspring Ridge by Greengate follows the sale of the construction-ready 150 MW Halkirk Wind Project in June 2011.
Capital Power LP acquired 100 per cent of Halkirk I Wind Project LP and Halkirk I Wind Project Ltd in central Alberta in May 2011.
Capital Power hired Renewable Energy Systems Canada Inc. (RES Canada) as the main contractor for construction of the Halkirk Wind project.
The project involved the construction of 83 V90 Vestas turbines, each rated at 1.8 MW, for a total installed capacity of 150 MW.
The project began commercial operation in December 2012.
Halkirk is currently the largest operating wind energy project in Alberta, but will be surpassed by Blackspring Ridge once it is operational.
These two projects will provide a clean source of power to about 200,000 homes and result in nearly $1 billion of investments in wind energy in Alberta.
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