Canadian Solar has sold its stake in two solar projects, Hays and Jenner, to BluEarth Renewables. Both of the solar projects have an installed capacity of 23 MW each and are slated to be operational by 2021. The management responsibilities of this project will also be taken up by BluEarth.
The projects are located in southeast Alberta and are co-owned by Conklin Métis Local 193, an indigenous community based in the rural hamlet of Conklin and part of the Athabasca Oil Sands region in eastern Alberta. The Hays project is located on privately owned land in the M.D. of Taber in Alberta, while the Jenner project is located on privately owned land in Special Areas Board No.2 in Alberta. Both projects will produce enough energy to power approximately over 7,300 homes annually. BluEarth has signed a power purchase agreement with Alberta Infrastructure for power offtake from these projects.
The projects will involve the installation of bifacial solar photovoltaic panels, single-axis trackers, panel racking systems, internal access roads, cabling, electrical inverters and other related electrical equipment. Among these, Canadian Solar’s bifacial modules and single-axis trackers will be used. The technology has previously been deployed in the company’s Suffield solar project, which is now under BluEarth’s ownership.
This would mark Canadian Solar’s third transaction with BluEarth and given their strong Alberta presence and deep experience in operating and maintaining large-scale clean energy projects. BluEarth is an independent power producer that acquires, develops, builds, owns and operates wind, hydro and solar facilities across North America. Its portfolio includes 418 MW net (513 MW gross) of nameplate capacity in operation and under construction and over 2,000 MW under development.