Evwind, Wind Energy

EDF Energies Nouvelles commissions the most powerful wind farm in Western Canada, of 300 MW

Continuing its development in Canada, EDF Energies Nouvelles is announcing the commissioning of the Blackspring Ridge wind farm by its local subsidiary EDF EN Canada. This facility, which has 300 MW in installed capacity, is now the most powerful in Western Canada.

Located close to Lethbridge in Alberta province, the Blackspring Ridge wind farm is jointly owned (50%) by EDF EN Canada and Enbridge Inc., and consists of 166 wind turbines supplied by Vestas.

The electricity to be generated by the wind farm, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of around 140,000 homes, is sold into the Alberta power pool. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are contracted by Pacific Gas and Electric under a 20-year purchase agreement.

The facility generated 350 jobs during the construction phase. A total of 20 long-term jobs will be created for Operations & Maintenance activities.

EDF Energies Nouvelles has developed a portfolio of wind and solar projects in Canada with a total of 1,374 MW in capacity to be installed by 2015. Blackspring Ridge is the fourth wind farm to have been commissioned by its local subsidiary with its joint shareholder Enbridge. The other projects are part of a Gigawatt programme assigned to EDF EN Canada through the Hydro-Quebec Distribution calls for tenders. Since 2012, half of this programme has been commissioned in Quebec, including a first wind farm at Saint-Robert-Bellarmin (80 MW), followed by the Massif du Sud (150 MW) and Lac Alfred (300 MW) facilities.

EDF Energies Nouvelles is a market leader in green electricity production, with a portfolio of 6,611 MW of gross installed capacity focused for the most part on wind and solar photovoltaic energy. Mostly operating in Europe and North America, the company recently entered new promising markets: Israel, Morocco, South Africa, Poland and India. Highly expanding its business in offshore wind energy, the Company is also present in other segments of the renewable energy market: marine energy, biogas and biomass as well as in distributed energies. EDF EN manages renewable energy projects’ development and construction as well as operation and maintenance for its own account and for third parties. EDF Energies Nouvelles is a subsidiary of the EDF Group dedicated to renewable energy.