Saskatchewan’s newest wind power facility is now operational. Located northwest of Moosomin, the Red Lily Wind Project is adding another 26.4 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable power to the province’s electricity system.
“Pursuing the development of cleaner power sources, such as wind, is a key priority for this government and for SaskPower,” said the Honourable Rob Norris, Minister responsible for SaskPower. “With the addition of Red Lily, Saskatchewan now has approximately 200 megawatts of available wind power. That’s among the highest percentages of installed wind capacity in Canada.”
The Red Lily Wind Project was selected through a SaskPower solicitation to partner with independent power producers to build and operate small-scale electricity generation projects that produce no new greenhouse gas emissions. SaskPower has a 25-year agreement with the Red Lily Wind Energy Partnership, which is owned by Concord Pacific, to purchase power from the facility. Operation and supervision of the facility will be provided by Algonquin Power Co.
“Through this project, and the projects in development through our Green Options Plan and Green Options Partners Program, wind power will make up about 8.5 per cent of SaskPower’s total generating capacity,” said Robert Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer, SaskPower. “These renewable power projects will reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by about 225,000 tonnes each year – that’s an environmental benefit equivalent to removing about 57,000 vehicles from Saskatchewan roads.”
SaskPower is currently in the midst of a competitive solicitation to procure up to 175 MW of wind power from one or two large-scale wind facilities through the Green Options Plan. An additional 30 MW of wind from three projects will also be added through the SaskPower Green Options Partners Program.
SaskPower has been laying the foundation for adding more wind power to the province’s electricity supply mix by installing more natural gas generation. Natural gas is an ideal back up to wind power when the wind isn’t blowing.
For more information about SaskPower’s sustainable plan to power the province, visit saskpower.com/future.