"Following closely on the heels of the successful completion of our 80-MW Sarnia Solar Project, we’re pleased to add another 20 MW of solar generating capacity to our renewable energy portfolio," said Al Monaco, President, Gas Pipelines, Green Energy & International, Enbridge Inc. "We think the fundamentals of the renewable energy business are strong as electricity demand will continue to grow, and renewable energy is well positioned to meet a significant portion of the demand."
"These agreements demonstrate continued momentum in First Solar’s project development business," said Frank DeRosa, First Solar Senior Vice President of North American project development. "We are very pleased to extend our relationship with Enbridge that began with Sarnia, and to work together to increase renewable energy generation in Canada."
The 5-MW Tilbury Solar Project is located in Tilbury, Ontario. First Solar completed construction on this project in December 2010.
The Amherstburg II Solar Project is located in Amherstburg, Ontario, which is about 70 kilometers from Tilbury. It consists of two separate facilities that, together, total 15 MW. Construction is expected to begin in March 2011, and to be completed in Q3 2011.
Under the terms of the agreements, First Solar constructed (and, in the case of the Amherstburg II Solar Project, will construct) the projects under fixed-price engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, utilizing its advanced thin film photovoltaic technology. First Solar will also provide operations and maintenance services to Enbridge under long-term contracts. Enbridge will sell the facilities power output to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year Power Purchase Agreements under the terms of the Ontario Government’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.
TILBURY SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT AT A GLANCE:
(data provided by Enbridge)
Capacity peak: about 5 MW
Project area: 87 acres (35 hectares)
Net area of solar panels on site: 15 acres (6.1 hectares)
Approximate number of solar panels: 89,000
Annual yield: around 7 million kWh (corresponding to the annual consumption of about 800 homes)
CO2 savings: about 2,500 tonnes per year
Estimated Peak work force: about 300
AMHERSTBURG II SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT AT A GLANCE:
(data provided by Enbridge)
Capacity peak: about 15 MW
Project area: 154 acres (62 hectares)
Net area of solar panels on site: 43 acres (17 hectares)
Approximate number of solar panels: 244,000
Annual yield: around 23 million kWh (corresponding to the annual
consumption of about 2,400 homes)
CO2 savings: about 7,500 tonnes per year
Estimated peak work force: 300 to 400
Enbridge Inc., a Canadian company, is a North American leader in delivering energy and one of the 2011 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. As a transporter of energy, Enbridge operates, in Canada and the U.S., the world’s longest crude oil and liquids transportation system. The Company also has a growing involvement in the natural gas transmission and midstream businesses, and is expanding its interests in renewable and green energy technologies including wind and solar energy, hybrid fuel cells and carbon dioxide sequestration. As a distributor of energy, Enbridge owns and operates Canada’s largest natural gas distribution company, and provides distribution services in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. Enbridge employs approximately 6,500 people, primarily in Canada and the U.S. and is ranked as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, and one of the Top 100 Companies to Work for in Canada. Enbridge’s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB.
First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology and provides comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions. By continually driving down manufacturing costs, First Solar is delivering an economically viable alternative to fossil-fuel generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and recycling, First Solar is focused on creating cost-effective, renewable energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment.
