Enbridge to buy Solar Power Projects from First Solar

Enbridge has inked deals to purchase two new solar power projects, the Amherstburg II Solar Project and the Tilbury Solar Project, from First Solar. Both the projects are located in Ontario, Canada, and have a total power production capacity of 20 MW. Enbridge has invested about C$90 million in both the projects.

The Tilbury Solar Project situated in Tilbury, Ontario, has an installed capacity of 5 MW. First Solar completed construction of this project in December 2010. The Amherstburg II Solar Project is situated in Amherstburg, Ontario and comprises two separate plants with a total capacity of 15 MW. Construction is anticipated to commence in March 2011 and to be completed in the third quarter of 2011.

As per the agreement requisites, First Solar built (or will build in the case of Amherstburg II Solar Project) the projects using its sophisticated thin film photovoltaic technology under fixed-price EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) deals. First Solar will also offer operations and repair services to Enbridge as per the long-term deals. Enbridge will market the output power of the facilities to the Ontario Power Authority in accordance with a 20-year power purchase deal under the conditions of the Ontario Government's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.