Enbridge, First Solar Complete the Largest PV Facility in the World

Enbridge Inc. and First Solar, Inc. have achieved commercial operation of the 80-megawatt (MW) Sarnia Solar Project, making it the largest operating photovoltaic facility in the world.

The project complements Enbridge’s significant and growing portfolio of green energy assets that includes interests in seven wind farms, a geothermal project, four waste heat recovery facilities and a commercial application of integrated energy recovery and fuel cell technology.

“Our investments in green energy are an increasingly important part of Enbridge’s business,” said Al Monaco, executive vice president, major projects and green energy, Enbridge Inc. “Over the last year, we added four new projects totaling $1.5 billion, increasing our total green energy investment to $2 billion and establishing a solid platform for attractive and sustainable long-term growth with a risk-return profile consistent with our Liquids Pipelines and natural gas businesses.

“At the same time, our green energy assets deliver strong environmental benefits,” added Monaco. “Enbridge intends to stabilize our environmental footprint at 2009 levels under a program that includes a commitment to generate a kilowatt of renewable energy for every kilowatt of power our operations consume. We will achieve this goal through projects like the Sarnia Solar Project.”

The total generating capacity (in operation and under construction) of the green energy projects in which Enbridge has invested is almost 850 MW, which is enough energy to meet the needs of about 292,000 homes.

First Solar, a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and provider of solar solutions, will operate and maintain the Sarnia Solar Project for Enbridge under a long-term contract. First Solar developed, engineered, and constructed the facility, using its advanced thin film solar panels.

“Completing the world’s largest PV power plant demonstrates the migration of solar PV toward utility scale,” said Frank De Rosa, First Solar’s senior vice president of North American project development. “With this project, we expect to install 145 MW this year in North America.”

In addition to generating about 120,000 MWh per year of emissions-free power, the Sarnia Solar Project produces no waste and uses PV technology that was designed to create the smallest carbon footprint of any PV technology available. Enbridge expects the facility to generate enough power to meet the needs of about 12,800 homes.

Enbridge will sell the power output of the facility to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year Power Purchase Agreements under the terms of the Ontario government’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.

Development of the Sarnia Solar Project aligns not only with Enbridge’s and First Solar’s objectives, but with those of the Government of Ontario.

“The Sarnia Solar Project is an example of the kinds of renewable energy projects that have been developed under the Government of Ontario’s Green Energy Act,” said the Honourable Brad Duguid, Ontario minister of energy. “Ontario can now boast the largest solar farm in North America – it is projects like this one that are making us a leader in renewable energy and helping us all move towards a cleaner energy future.”

“This is a significant project that not only helps power local homes and businesses with clean, renewable energy, but improves our air quality at the same time,” said Maria Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “I’m proud that a McGuinty government policy is helping Sarnia-Lambton take the lead on solar power.”