Toronto: Samsung Renewable Energy, Inc. and Pattern Energy Group Inc. announced April 14 that construction was complete on the South Kent Wind project and that the facility was fully operational. The 270 MW wind project is billed as the largest in Canada. (The Gros Morne project in Quebec is actually larger, but it is composed of several phases.)
“South Kent Wind is our first in a series of wind projects in Ontario and we’re proud it has been delivered on time and within budget, despite a very harsh winter,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. “This project was truly a collaborative effort – a total of 15 banks providing financing for an effort that involved 500 workers constructing 70 kilometers of roads, 124 wind turbines and 283 kilometers of electrical cable. Along with our partner, Samsung, we’d like to thank the very dedicated construction crew and the fantastic community of Chatham-Kent. We’re proud this project will now be providing real benefits to the local economy, including more than $7 million in direct spending each year.”
South Kent Wind uses 124 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines, with blades and towers that were made in Ontario. Siemens’ turbine blade facility in Tillsonburg manufactured the blades and CS Wind’s facility in Windsor manufactured the turbine towers, using Ontario-made steel. RES Canada managed construction of the project.
The project features some of the most advanced wind technology, the partners say, including TowerTEX’s TowerSHADE, which is used to mitigate the impact of night lights required by aviation regulations. The tower shades completely eliminate light visibility from below the turbine out to 1.5 km, while allowing the light to be seen from above by aircraft.
Samsung and Pattern Energy are also building the 150 MW Grand Renewable Energy Park in Haldimand County, Ontario. The companies are also making significant progress on two other wind energy projects in Ontario, including the 180 MW Armow Wind project in the Municipality of Kincardine and the 270 MW K2 Wind project in the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh. The latter project began construction in March and is being developed with Capital Power. Altogether, the four projects will produce 870 MW of renewable energy under power purchase agreements with the Ontario Power Authority.