Enbridge, partner inaugurate $700M, 300-MW Quebec wind project
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Lac-Alfred Wind project is duo's third in Quebec, bringing total installed wind capacity to 530 MWs
AMQUI, Que.—Enbridge Inc. and partner EDF EN Canada Inc., a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, have inaugurated a $700-million, 300-megawatt wind project in southeastern Quebec.
The Lac-Alfred Wind project is the duo’s third to be placed into service in Quebec, bringing their total installed wind capacity in the province to 530 MWs.
“A project of this magnitude comes as a result of several years of work by a dedicated team of professionals, a quality relationship with Hydro-Quebec and more importantly the support and involvement of the local communities,” EDF Energies Nouvelles CEO Antoine Cahuzac said in a statement.
Construction of Lac-Alfred launched in June 2011, with commercial operation reached in two phases.
The 150-MW first phase went live in January 2013, and the second phase—with another 150 MWs of capacity— in August.
With an investment of about $700-million, the project created more than 350 jobs during peak construction, and around 15 permanent operation and maintenance jobs.
The two firms said Lac-Alfred generates enough power to meet the needs of about 70,000 Quebec homes.
“With all 300 megawatts of Lac-Alfred now online, more than one-third of Enbridge’s total wind power capacity is now in Quebec,” Enbridge vice-president of green power and transmission Don Thompson said.
“This reflects our view of Quebec as an attractive place to do business and we continue to investigate opportunities to expand our investments in the province.”
Lac-Alfred consists of 150 wind turbines supplied by REpower, with a portion of the equipment built in the Gaspésie-Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.
In total, EDF EN Canada will develop and build seven wind energy projects producing 1,003.2 MWs of power.