Leading North American offshore wind developer Trillium Power Wind Corporation forms a definitive strategic relationship with Vestas Offshore, a subsidiary of the world’s largest wind turbine supplier, Vestas Wind Systems, for its offshore wind developments in The Great Lakes.
TORONTO (February 9, 2010) – Trillium Power Wind Corporation, the leading offshore wind developer in The Great Lakes, announced today that it has designated Vestas Offshore as its ‘Preferred Supplier’ for all four of its offshore wind projects currently under development on the Ontario side of The Great Lakes.
Combined, Trillium Power’s four projects, Trillium Power Wind 1, Trillium Power Wind 2, The Great Lakes Array and The Superior Array will generate approximately 3,700 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy. Developing Trillium Power’s four unique sites will require private sector investment of $14.8 billion over a 10 to 12 year period.
Trillium Power has agreed to deploy Vestas V112 3.0 MW turbines for their first offshore wind development, Trillium Power Wind 1, located 17 to 28 km off the mainland in northeastern Lake Ontario. As part of its strategic agreement, Vestas will become the exclusive provider of up to 740 turbines, as well as a wide range of other services. Vestas will assist Trillium Power in determining the appropriate mix of turbines to optimize the power production at each Trillium Power site.
“When Vestas approached us early last summer, they didn’t just try to sell us their turbines, they asked how they could assist us in meeting the present challenges in the North American offshore wind market. They recognized that Trillium Power was developing a unique set of optimal offshore wind sites on the Canadian side of The Great Lakes and wanted to be part of what we were doing. They were tremendously honest and open during our discussions and made it clear they were looking to go beyond other suppliers in terms of forging a strategic partnership, which was refreshing,” said Trillium Power President and CEO, John Kourtoff.
An independent report on offshore wind in North America released in late 2009 noted that 6,300 MW of offshore wind development had been announced. Taken together with Trillium Power’s three additional sites that were announced shortly after the report‘s release, a total of 9,481 MW of planned offshore wind capacity has been announced in North America thus far in 2010. Combined, Trillium Power’s developments represent approximately 40% of this total.
A high-level report released in January 2010 noted that offshore zones already applied for in Ontario hold 17,090 MW of shallow-water offshore wind potential, in addition to sites already reserved and announced by Trillium Power. On an aggregate basis, Ontario presently holds 78% of North America’s reserved offshore wind potential.
“Vestas has demonstrated its full-spectrum offshore wind solution capabilities by being the only turbine manufacturer in the world to design, build and install offshore wind farms. Their extensive experience is a significant asset for Trillium Power to draw on as we continue to lead the North American offshore wind market, which we started doing nearly 15 years ago,” said Kourtoff.
As the pioneer in wind turbine manufacturing, Vestas holds a 20% share of the global wind turbine market, operates in 68 countries, employs over 20,000 people, has installed over 41,000 turbines worldwide – and installs nearly 1 turbine every 3 hours.
“Our agreement with Vestas is founded on the regulatory certainty of Ontario’s recently enacted Green Energy and Green Economy Act and system of Feed-in Tariffs that is unique in North America. The Green Energy Act strongly recognizes the reliability of offshore wind in addition to the economic, social and environmental benefits for Ontario that will flow from its prudent development. Vestas has demonstrated that it is acutely aware of the vast offshore wind potential throughout the bi-national Great Lakes region,” said Kourtoff.
“John and I have always agreed on the undeniable fact that Ontario’s economy was built on renewable energy and the stability it has provided us for the past century. A large project such as Sir Adam Beck’s Niagara Falls was necessary to anchor our sustainable energy sector nearly 100 years ago and Trillium Power’s large offshore wind developments will be the anchor to Ontario’s sustainable economic development as we go forward with the Green Energy Act. The strategic relationship between Vestas and Trillium Power is an important recognition of how far Ontario has come in creating the framework for a sustainable energy economy and the vast renewable energy potential that remains to be developed”, said Marion Fraser, energy consultant and former advisor to Ontario Energy Ministers.
Trillium Power Wind Corporation is a privately owned company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario focused on the development of unique renewable energy sites that meet a comprehensive set of environmental, social and financial criteria.
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Source: Trillium Power Wind Corporation
