The developers plan to build the 398.5MW Forty Mile wind farm in south-eastern Alberta, but with the expected phase-out of clean energy tenders in the province, they will need to make the project commercially viable in a merchant environment.
An expected commissioning date or turbine supplier remains unknown, but added the companies are currently "looking for partners in long-term power purchase agreements".
In April, Alberta’s United Conservative Party government pledged to end renewable energy auctions in the province and instead encourage "market-driven green power", prompting developers to seek ways of supporting non-subsidy projects.
Evan Wilson, the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s (CanWEA) regional director for the prairies — which includes Alberta — told “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç at the time wind could still compete in a merchant environment.
He suggested PPAs with large-scale energy users — increasingly common in the US — or trading accredited offsets could help wind power in Alberta.
With a total capacity of 398.5MW, the Forty Mile wind farm would be the largest operational wind farm in Canada if commissioned, according to “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Intelligence, the research and data division of “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç.
Rattlesnake Ridge
BHE Canada and RES have found an unnamed "large Canadian corporate partner" to sign a long-term PPA for output from its newly announced 117.6MW Rattlesnake Ridge wind farm in Alberta, however.
They plan to break ground on the up-to 28-turbine site in 2020, and expect to commission the project in December 2021, the partners stated.
BHE Canada financed Rattlesnake Ridge through a combination of equity and debt, they added.
A turbine supplier is yet unnamed.
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