Jul 4 2014
After three years of construction, Boralex Inc. ("Boralex"), Gaz Métro Limited Partnership ("Gaz Métro") and Valener Inc. ("Valener") are pleased to officially open Phase I of the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms, a 272-MW project commissioned in December 2013 and one of the biggest wind farms in Canada.
In recognition of this important milestone, a ceremony was held at the foot of one of the project's tallest turbines earlier today in the presence of Caroline Simard, Member for Charlevoix-Côte-de-Beaupré, representing the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan, Pierre Arcand, Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Gaz Métro, Patrick Lemaire, President and CEO of Boralex, and Jacques Roberge, General Superior of the Séminaire de Québec, as well as numerous elected officials, entrepreneurs representing the region and special guests.
"We are very proud to celebrate the entry into service of Phase I of the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms, particularly in light of the project's substantial economic spin-offs. Our 100% Quebec-based consortium has invested over $750 million to carry out this project, and over $360 million has been invested in other homegrown companies. The success of this initiative can be gauged by the logistical efforts made, but especially by the remarkable degree of cooperation shown by all project stakeholders," stated Sophie Brochu and Patrick Lemaire.
"I would like to congratulate the promoters of this project, which was developed in an environmentally responsible manner and is a significant project for the Côte-de-Beaupré region. The two wind farms alone will be able to generate enough clean energy to supply annually 50,000 households. This is green energy that will be renewable for years to come," said Caroline Simard.
With a total installed capacity of 272 MW, the 126 turbines that make up Phase I have been supplying renewable energy to Québec's power grid since they were commissioned in late 2013 and are expected to continue doing so for the next 20 years.
Key figures on Phase I (272 MW) of the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farm:
- The project generates enough electricity to power 50,000 Québec homes.
- It took more than 1.5 million person-hours to erect the 126 turbines.
- Phase I represents a total investment of $750 million, including $360 million in Québec, $205 million in the Capitale-Nationale region and $28 million in the Côte-de-Beaupré region.
- Over 30 companies from the Côte-de-Beaupré region took part in construction of the project's first 272-MW phase.
- 140 kilometres of roads were built to provide access to the 126 wind turbines
- 60,000 tonnes of concrete were used to lay the foundations, and 43 cranes were needed to erect them.
- A 180-kilometre underground collector system to carry the electricity to a single 315-kV substation.
The project's 68-MW second phase is expected to be commissioned in 2014, with the 25-MW community project anticipated to come online in 2015. Once completed, the development will be one of Canada's biggest wind farms.
For more information, please visit the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms site at: www.seigneuriedebeaupre.com