- News
7 December 2010
NextEra buys 40MW of Canadian PV projects from First Solar
NextEra Energy Resources LLC (the competitive-energy subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc of Juno Beach, FL, USA, and the largest generator in North America of renewable energy from the wind and sun) has agreed to purchase four solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 40MW in Ontario, Canada from First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe).
As a provider also of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, First Solar is continuing with development and construction of the Sombra and Moore Solar Energy Centers (in Sombra and Moore Townships, Ontario) using its thin-film solar modules. Each Solar Energy Center will consist of two 10MW PV projects. Once operational, NextEra Energy Resources’ Canadian subsidiary, NextEra Energy Canada, will own and operate all four projects. All of the power from them will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority under long-term contracts.
The Solar Energy Centers will each use thin-film technology on a fixed tilt system. Each 10MW project will consist of more than 172,000 panels. Collectively, the centers will provide enough power to serve about 6440 homes, and are expected to help avoid nearly 45,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually (equivalent to removing nearly 8600 cars from the road every year for the life of the project).
Pending the necessary government approvals, construction on all four projects is expected to begin in first-quarter 2011, with commercial operation expected by the end of 2011.
“We’re pleased to expand our position as North America’s leading generator of solar power through the addition of our first Canadian solar projects,” says NextEra Energy Resources’ president & CEO Mitch Davidson. “Solar power will help promote a clean-energy economy in Ontario, reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, and address global climate change through the production of emission-free energy,” he adds.
“We’re pleased to forge this new customer relationship with NextEra Energy Resources, a company that shares our strong commitment to developing renewable energy in North America,” says Frank DeRosa, First Solar’s senior VP of North American project development.
First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe
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