For Shear Wind’s Mike Magnus, the heavy lifting is about to begin.
The Bedford renewable energy company signed a contract Friday with Enercon Canada Ltd. for wind turbines and a 20-year operational and maintenance agreement for an estimated $100 million. (Enercon Canada Ltd. is a subsidiary of German-based Enercon GmbH.)
"This is the biggest commitment you have to make as a developer," said the president of Shear Wind Monday. "It’s a big commitment into the renewable energy business (in) Nova Scotia."
The company is developing the $170-million Glen Dhu wind power project that straddles Antigonish and Pictou counties. It is scheduled to start generating electricity later this year.
Magnus said the company will take delivery of between 26 and 28 Enercon E-82 turbines, starting in July and August. The turbine parts are manufactured in Germany and Canada, he said.
The turbines, which generate 2.3 megawatts, have been described as a "gearless turbine" that emits no mechanical sounds.
"We spent a lot of time looking at different options. We’re certainly happy with the decision. It’s more than just making a one-off decision. We analyzed about half a dozen different options and Enercon kept scoring well," Magnus said.
After delivery, installation of the state-of-the-art turbines will begin this fall, he said.
Electricity from the wind farm will be sold to Nova Scotia Power under an agreement signed in 2008 with the utility for 20 megawatts of energy. If the company does not meet the in-service deadline, it faces a $1-million security performance penalty.
Glen Dhu was supposed to be operating by now, but Shear Wind was not able to secure financing until late last year when Inveravante, a privately held Spanish utility conglomerate, bought a 62 per cent stake in Shear Wind for $27 million.
The company had to forfeit a $500,000 performance deposit to Nova Scotia Power after it failed to deliver electricity to the power company by the end of last year.
A strong Canadian dollar and Enercon’s Halifax maintenance office were key factors in the company winning the major contract, said Magnus.
Enercon’s local office provides servicing and supplies to its wind turbines operating in Canada. There are 14 turbines operating in Nova Scotia, 40 in Ontario and 28 in Alberta, according to the company’s website.
"That was a big part of our consideration, the suitability of the site to operate on an ongoing basis and we don’t really want to see our turbines down at all," said Magnus.
Construction at the Glen Dhu site has seen roads cleared and turbine sites completed.
Shear Wind, a publicly traded company formed in 2004, has a number of wind farm projects in various stages of development in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1185194.html
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