Toronto: Trillium Power Wind Corporation, which is planning to build Ontario’s first offshore wind-power facility in Lake Ontario, and one of the largest in the world, “regretfully” announced on February 25 that it would not be placing equipment orders with AREVA-Multibrid GmbH, a German-based firm that builds offshore wind-power components, turbines and other equipment.
In June, 2008, Trillium Power announced the formation of the TaiWind purchasing consortium, a collection of North American offshore wind power developers committed to using Ontario-based manufacturing facilities to supply its projects with equipment and technology. At the time, AREVA-Multibrid had indicated that it was strongly favouring establishing a North American headquarters in Ontario along with fabrication facilities to supply TaiWind members with the necessary equipment. AREVA-Multibrid recently announced that it would be establishing its Canadian headquarters in Montreal, Quebec.
“I’m disappointed that AREVA-Multibrid has decided to establish its main Canadian presence outside of Ontario,” said Trillium Power President and Chief Executive Officer John Kourtoff. “From our perspective, their decision puts them out of reach to the areas where offshore wind-power development is scheduled to take off in a major way over the next few years, namely The Great Lakes.”
He added that Trillium Power is in discussions with several other offshore wind-power suppliers to establish facilities in Ontario, and the interest has been outstanding. One conservative estimate suggests that the potential orders for offshore wind-power turbines, towers, equipment and material costs from Ontario based offshore wind developments could amount to well over $7 billion in the next 10 years.
Trillium Power remains committed to “helping boost Ontario’s green-collar economy by recasting existing manufacturing facilities to produce equipment and components for renewable energy projects such as offshore wind power.”
“One thing is abundantly clear: Ontario’s transportation infrastructure, skilled labour force, access to capital and existing industrial capacity combines to make it the best suited jurisdiction to handle the construction and design of equipment for the burgeoning renewable energy sector,” Mr. Kourtoff said. “We feel strongly that the firms that supply Trillium Power’s offshore wind activities should not only have their manufacturing facilities based in Ontario, but their head offices and research and development arms as well.”
Trillium Power Wind Corporation is planning a 710 MW offshore wind facility in the middle of Lake Ontario, 28 kilometers away from the mainland of Prince Edward County. Known as Trillium Power Wind 1, the facility will produce enough electricity to power at least 300,000 typical homes in Ontario, and offset nearly 1.7 million tons of carbon emissions each year.