Samsung and Pattern Energy close financing for 150MW wind project in Ontario

Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy Group have completed financing for the 150MW Grand Renewable Wind (GRW) project in Haldimand County, Ontario.

The GRW project will utilize 67 Siemens 2.3MW wind turbines, which will be manufactured in Ontario. The blades will be manufactured at Siemens’ turbine blade facility in Tillsonburg and CS Wind’s facility in Windsor is using Ontario-made steel to manufacture the turbine towers.

The project will produce clean enough energy to meet the needs of approximately 50,000 Ontario homes each year. The power generated from the project will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority under a power purchase agreement.

The wind energy project, compared to coal-fired generation, will offset approximately 423,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum, which is the equivalent of taking nearly 83,000 cars off the roads, and conserve enough water to meet the needs of approximately 12,000 Ontarians.

The construction of the project will begin construction soon and is scheduled to be completed in late 2014. The project will create more than 1,000 jobs during construction.

The GRW project will be accompanied by Grand Renewable Solar, a 100MW solar power project, with both projects providing a combined capacity of 250MW of renewable energy.

Samsung C&T executive vice president KJ Kim said, "The Grand Renewable Wind project, along with our other projects in the province, is creating thousands of high-skilled jobs that will benefit real people in this community and across Ontario."

The GRW project will support the local economy with more than $4m in direct spending each year of project operations. This includes funding for community initiatives with a contribution of approximately $10m over a period of 20 years to a Community Vibrancy Fund.