Wind projects of 763 MW win Alberta renewables tender

The Canadian province of Alberta has selected 763 MW of wind projects at a weighted-average price of CAD 39 (USD 29.1/EUR 25.7) per MWh in its latest call for renewable energy capacity.

The proposals were selected under Rounds 2 and 3 of the state’s Renewable Energy Programme (REP). Both of them were held by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) and aim to support the state in its efforts of adding 5,000 MW of renewables by 2030.

Round 2 of the programme, which sought to award up to 300 MW of projects, was closed with 363 MW of wind proposals, three of which are partnerships with Indigenous communities. The weighted average bid in the competition was CAD 38.69/MWh. Round 3, meanwhile, was won by 400 MW wind projects at a weighted average bid price of CAD 40.14/MWh. The targeted capacity was 400 MW.

More details about the winners and their projects can be seen in the table.

The selected projects represent a combined investment of around CAD 1.2 billion and are expected to open about 1,000 jobs. All of them have to begin construction in 2020 and be commissioned by the middle of 2021. The output of the wind farms will be enough to meet the demand of almost 300,000 homes.

The Canadian wind energy association (CanWEA) said the new plants will lift Canada's installed wind power capacity by 10% from the current 13,000 MW. In Alberta alone, the country has 1,483 MW of operational wind turbines as of end-August 2018.

(CAD 1.0 = USD 0.746/EUR 0.658)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!