Guelph, Ontario: Canadian Solar Inc. announced October 16 that its subsidiary, Canadian Solar Solutions Inc., had begun construction of the 100 MW Grand Renewable Solar Project solar farm, billed as Canada’s largest photovoltaic generating station. The project is being financed by Connor Clark & Lunn Infrastructure and developed by Samsung Renewable Energy Inc.
.jpg "Part of Canadian Solar’s 144 MWac Meuro solar farm in Brandenburg, Germany")
When fully operational in 2015, the power plant is expected to produce approximately 165,000 megawatt-hours of emission-free electricity a year. The agreement is expected to generate revenue of approximately $310 million for Canadian Solar, including Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services, which were awarded to Canadian Solar by Grand Renewable Solar LP in June 2013.
The 100 MW utility-scale solar power plant, located in Haldimand County, will include approximately 440,000 Canadian Solar CS6X high performance modules. The PV modules and Medium Voltage Power Stations will be manufactured in the partnership’s new London, Ontario, Canada facility, which will also supply other Samsung solar projects in Ontario. The facility alone is expected to bring 200 local manufacturing jobs to London by the end of 2013, as promised in the Green Energy Investment Agreement (GEIA) between Samsung and the Government of Ontario. In total, Samsung’s GEIA project is expected to create 9,000 renewable energy jobs across the province.
Canadian Solar Solutions announced the selection November 5 of ABB Inc. and its consortium partner Bondfield Construction Company Limited for the turnkey services.
ABB will provide a balance of system solution comprising a broad range of power and automation products. In addition, ABB is also responsible for engineering, electrical installation, commissioning, and performance testing of the plant. Ontario-based Bondfield will be responsible for all aspects of the civil works, including the foundation design and installation, along with all mechanical installation and assembly.