12 March 2012

NextEra completes acquisition of 40MW Ontario solar 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 completed its acquisition of two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 40MW (AC) in Ontario, Canada from First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe).

Located in St. Clair, the projects were designed, developed and constructed by First Solar, and began commercial operation in February. The two projects are owned and operated by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources’ Canadian subsidiary NextEra Energy Canada ULC, and provide enough power to serve about 6440 homes. Each year the solar generation is expected to help avoid nearly 45,000 tons of carbon dioxide emission (equivalent to removing nearly 8600 cars from the road every year for the life of the projects). The power is being sold to the Ontario Power Authority via long-term contracts under its Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP).

“This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to add fully contracted renewable assets to our portfolio,” says NextEra Energy Resources’ senior VP of development Mike O’Sullivan. “Solar power will help promote a clean-energy economy in Ontario and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels,” he adds.

“The completion of the St. Clair projects helps Ontario meet its economic and renewable energy goals,” comments Peter Carrie, First Solar’s VP for business development, Canada. “The projects employed 800 construction workers, including local First Nations workers, and are the first large-scale solar facilities permitted under the Province’s Renewable Energy Approval process.”

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

Visit: www.NextEraEnergyResources.com

Visit: www.firstsolar.com