EDF EN Canada, a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles Group, announced the closing of the transaction by which it divested 15% undivided interests in the 350-MW Rivière-du-Moulin Wind project. The interests has been acquired by the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Charlevoix and Fjord-du Saguenay (5%), the Innu of Mashteuiatsh and Essipit First Nations (5%), and the Huron Wendat Nation (5%).
The 350-MW Rivière-du-Moulin wind farm is the largest in Canada. The project comprises a total of 175 turbines with a nameplate capacity of 2 MW each.
EDF EN Canada maintains a 42.5% ownership position in the project and provides management services. EDF Renewable Services will continue to provide a portion of the O&M service, as well as 24/7 remote monitoring from its Operations Control Center.
“We are very happy with this historic agreement signed between our Nation and EDF EN Canada,” said Konrad Sioui, Chief of the Huron-Wendat First Nation. “This agreement fits perfectly with the Huron-Wendat Council vision to partner in major economic development projects located in our territory. This partnership is in accordance with our traditions and customs and will provide significant benefits for the development and well-being of the Huron-Wendat Nation family.”
Located in the unorganized territory (UT) of Lac-Pikauba in the RCM of Charlevoix and the UT of Lac-Ministuk in the RCM of Fjord-du-Saguenay, the wind project achieved commissioning in two phases: 150 MW in November 2014 and 200 MW in November 2015.
With an investment of approximately $800 million, the project employed over 585 workers during peak construction.
“This partnership demonstrates the commitment by EDF EN Canada and our community to ensure the development of our territory is undertaken with complete respect for the environment and is sensitive to our ancestral practices,” said the Chief of the Innu of Essipit First Nation, Martin Dufour, and Vice-Chief for Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, Stéphane Germain (who is representing Chief Gilbert Dominique).
“The RCM Fjord-du-Saguenay has supported the Rivière-du-Moulin wind project since the first steps of its development phase and we are very pleased to see that all of our efforts will create revenue from harnessing the power of our wind. These profits will be invested in the territory to put in place projects that will boost our economic development,” added Gérald Savard, Prefect of the MRC of Fijord-du-Saguenay.
The Rivière-du-Moulin Wind Project represents the largest wind energy facility in Canada under a single Power Purchase Agreement and the largest of eight wind energy projects awarded to EDF EN Canada in 2008, 2010, and 2013 through Hydro-Quebec Distribution call for tenders. The project further represents the largest onshore wind facility to be developed, built and put into service by the EDF EN Group globally.
“EDF EN Canada is very proud of the relationships developed with the host communities of Rivière-du-Moulin. This transaction demonstrates the importance we place on developing infrastructure projects in accordance with the community needs,” commented Alex Couture, Director of Generation for EDF EN Canada.
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