REpower will deliver the first turbines, each with a rated output of two megawatts (MW) and a hub height of 80 metres, from early 2012, with the commissioning of the wind farm planned for autumn of the same year. REpower will then also be responsible for maintaining the turbines.
With the projects Lac Alfred and Saint-Robert-Bellarmin and now Massif du Sud, EDF EN has already released 530 MW from the framework agreement covering up to 954 MW. Andreas Nauen, CEO of REpower Systems SE, commented: “Canada is one of the world’s strongest growing wind power markets and is of great importance to our business as well. We are delighted to be realizing numerous high-output projects in the Québec region with EDF EN Canada Inc.”
REpower has adapted its two-megawatt onshore turbines to Canada’s demanding grid conditions and is using special cold climate versions (CCV). Helmut Herold, Managing Director of the Canadian subsidiary REpower Systems Inc., said: “Our cold climate wind turbines, which are particularly suited to the climatic conditions in Canada, have proven themselves in pilot projects and sell themselves very well.”
The terms of tendering procedures in the Province of Québec specify that 30% of the value creation related to the production of the turbines must be realized in the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region and in the administrative district of Matane. For this purpose, REpower has concluded long-term contracts with local suppliers for towers, blades and converters.
By José Santamarta, www.evwind.com
