Sharp Hills Wind Farm commences operations near Sedalia and New Brigden
EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA), a leading renewable energy developer and a top five renewable energy operator in the United States, alongside EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. (EDPR Canada), celebrates Sharp Hills Wind Farm becoming operational near the hamlets of Sedalia and New Bridgen.
The energy offtaker for the project is Calgary-based TC Energy, one of North America's leading energy infrastructure companies with operations in natural gas, oil, and power industries. The launch of the project follows an agreement made by EDPR NA when it joined Invest Alberta Corporation in signing a memorandum of understanding, committing both parties’ collaboration in spurring economic growth and high-quality job creation within the renewable energy sector in Alberta.
The energy generated by the wind farm will be transported to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES) grid through the new Sedalia 363S substation.
Sharp Hills Wind Farm represents an estimated capital investment of over $600M CAD and contributes to the local economy through job creation and funding to the community. During construction, the project created more than 400 full-time equivalent jobs and currently employs 7 permanent positions to operate and maintain the project. Sharp Hills has contributed millions of dollars of spending within 50 kilometres of the project, supporting local businesses such as restaurants, gas stations, hotels, shops, and service providers. In addition, the wind farm will disperse millions to landowners through land lease payments and pay millions more to the Special Areas Board and communities in the heart of eastern Alberta’s grasslands, enhancing funding for schools, emergency services, and infrastructure.
“Less than one year after Invest Alberta and EDP Renewables signed an agreement to spur economic growth and create high-quality jobs within the renewable energy sector in Alberta, we are celebrating the successful launch of the Sharp Hills Wind Farm. This $600 million project is a big win for Alberta’s economy, having created more than 400 new jobs that bring economic vitality to rural Alberta and diversification to Alberta’s energy industry,” stated Rick Christiaanse, Invest Alberta CEO.
The Sharp Hills Wind Project continues a long and rich legacy of energy production in the Special Areas of Alberta. Through the development of wind energy in the Special Areas, the project aims to elevate Alberta’s status as a renewable energy leader in Canada as well as to diversify the energy resources in the province, through investment in its power infrastructure and empowerment of its energy security.
“I’m extremely proud of this milestone, as it marks the largest single-phase wind farm developed by EDP Renewables to date in North America,” stated Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDPR NA.“Starting in 2015, we committed to our stakeholders to make this project operational, believing in its ability to spur the Special Areas’ local economy, provide workforce development, and build grid resiliency through Albertan home-grown energy.”
Sharp Hills Wind Farm is EDPR Canada’s third renewable energy site in Canada, with 427 MW of operating capacity in the country.