03/08/2005
Contracts for eight wind projects completed by GE Energy in Canada
Completing an agreement first announced by GE Energy and Hydro-Québec in October, GE Energy has signed contracts with two developers to supply up to 660 wind turbines for eight projects in the province of Quebec. When the projects come on line between 2006 and 2012, they will add 990 MW of wind-generated electricity to the power grid of Hydro-Québec, an international leader in power generation, transmission and distribution. The contract signings follow a memorandum of understanding signed in October, naming GE Energy as the turbine supplier for the projects. It marks the largest single award for wind generation capacity in the history of the global wind energy industry.
GE will supply up to 740 MW of wind turbines to Cartier Wind Energy and up to 250 MW of wind turbines to Northland Power Inc./Northland Power Income Fund. Both were winning bidders in a solicitation for awards initiated by Hydro-Québec, under a 2003 request for proposals to supply 1,000 MW of new wind power capacity by 2012. GE will support the projects with a significant portion of the contracts supplied locally in the Province of Quebec.
The wind turbines for the new projects will be GE's 1.5 MW machines, which are among the largest wind turbines assembled in North America and among the most widely utilized megawatt-class wind turbines in the world, with more than 2,500 installations. Over the course of six years, GE's wind turbines will be installed at eight potential locations including Anse-a-Valleau, Baie-des-Sables, St.-Ulric/St.Léandre, Carleton, Les Méchins, Mont Louis, Montagne - Seche, and Gros Morne I and II. The power generated will be provided to Hydro-Québec Distribution, the utility's retail division, for distribution throughout Quebec. As of December 2004, Canada's installed wind energy capacity was 444 MW. Forecasts by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWEA) anticipate the installation of 10,000 MW of wind power across the country by 2010. According to CANWEA, projects such as the Hydro-Québec effort are evidence of wind energy's growing momentum in the country.
GE will supply up to 740 MW of wind turbines to Cartier Wind Energy and up to 250 MW of wind turbines to Northland Power Inc./Northland Power Income Fund. Both were winning bidders in a solicitation for awards initiated by Hydro-Québec, under a 2003 request for proposals to supply 1,000 MW of new wind power capacity by 2012. GE will support the projects with a significant portion of the contracts supplied locally in the Province of Quebec.
The wind turbines for the new projects will be GE's 1.5 MW machines, which are among the largest wind turbines assembled in North America and among the most widely utilized megawatt-class wind turbines in the world, with more than 2,500 installations. Over the course of six years, GE's wind turbines will be installed at eight potential locations including Anse-a-Valleau, Baie-des-Sables, St.-Ulric/St.Léandre, Carleton, Les Méchins, Mont Louis, Montagne - Seche, and Gros Morne I and II. The power generated will be provided to Hydro-Québec Distribution, the utility's retail division, for distribution throughout Quebec. As of December 2004, Canada's installed wind energy capacity was 444 MW. Forecasts by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWEA) anticipate the installation of 10,000 MW of wind power across the country by 2010. According to CANWEA, projects such as the Hydro-Québec effort are evidence of wind energy's growing momentum in the country.
- Source:
- GE Energy
- Author:
- Edited by Trevor Sievert, Online Editorial Journalist
- Email:
- press@windfair.net
- Keywords:
- GE Energy, Canada, wind energy, wind power, wind turbine, wind farm, renewable energy, offshore, onshore, rotor blade