News

Algonquin Power to Develop 150-MW Wind Project in the U.S.

Algonquin Power & Utilities jointly developed the 150-MW Deerfield wind power project with Renewable Energy Systems Americas. The project will utilize turbine technology comprised of 44 Vestas V110-2.0 wind turbines and 28 Vestas V110-2.2 turbines and is estimated to generate 555.2 GW-hrs annually. Deerfield has a 20-year PPA with Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative.

Arizona Public Service Company Expands PCI Software Platform for the California ISO Energy Imbalance Market

Arizona Public Service Company (APS) initiated an expansion of its existing PCI platform to prepare for the California ISO energy (CAISO) imbalance market (EIM). PCI will provide APS with all major system upgrades to fully participate in CAISO EIM. The system upgrades include the EIM software platform that will fully support all APS bid-to-bill and scheduling needs for marketing and trading activities and balancing authority operations.

Siemens to Provide New Switchgear Technology for National Grid Substation Project

National Grid chose Siemens to provide its 63 kA arc-resistant switchgear technology for the utility's new electric substation in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Siemens' 63 kA type GM-SG-AR switchgear is designed to improve power reliability and includes arc-resistant features that increase safety conditions for workers and operators. The technology's design will also allow National Grid and contractor TRC Companies to reduce the project's physical footprint.

EDF Renewable Energy Enters into Partnership with Procter & Gamble to Supply Electricity

Via its subsidiary EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE), the EDF Group entered into a partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G) to supply electricity to all North American manufacturing sites for P&G laundry and household products using wind energy. The electricity sold to P&G, within the context of a long-term PPA, will be generated by a wind power farm due to go into operation at the end of 2016 in Cooke County, Texas.

Google to Buy into Africa’s Largest Wind Farm in Northern Kenya

Google plans to buy Vestas’ 12.5 percent share in Lake Turkana Wind Power, Africa’s largest wind park, when the project is complete in 2017. The share purchase agreement is in connection with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's Climate and Clean Energy Investment Forum and builds on a relationship between Google and Vestas, which also includes the 270-MW Alta Wind Energy Centre in southern California and the powering of a Google data centre in Finland. The Lake Turkana wind park is owned by Lake Turkana Wind Power.

Panda Power Funds Finances Coal-to-Natural Gas Power Conversion Project

Panda Power Funds financed the 1,124-MW Panda Hummel Station power plant, one of the largest coal-to-natural gas power conversion projects in the United States. The plant will be located at the site of the retired Sunbury coal-fired power plant near Shamokin Dam in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. The 400-MW, 65 year old plant was shuttered in 2014. The Panda Hummel generating station will be fueled with Marcellus Shale gas.

Southern Company Subsidiary and Turner Renewable Energy Acquire Morelos Del Sol Solar Facility in California

Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy acquired the 15- MW Morelos del Sol Solar Facility from Solar Frontier Americas. Southern Power's eighth solar acquisition in California. DEPCOM Power is providing EPC services and will also operate and maintain the facility for Southern Power. Construction of the plant began in July, and commercial operation is expected in late November.

GE Completes Acquisition of Alstom Power and Grid Businesses

GE completed the acquisition of Alstom's power and grid businesses. The completion of the transaction follows the regulatory approval of the deal in over 20 countries and regions including the EU, U.S., China, India, Japan and Brazil. It is GE's largest-ever industrial acquisition. GE reached an agreement with Alstom in 2014 to purchase Alstom's power and grid businesses for $12.35 billion.

PPL Electric Utilities Seeks Approval for First Segment of Proposed New Transmission Line

PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation began the application and approval process for the first segment of Project Compass - a new transmission line proposed by PPL Electric Utilities. The first segment is a 95-mile, $500-million to $600-million line between Blakely, Pa., and Ramapo, N.Y. The proposed 345-kV line links the PJM Interconnection and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).

E.ON Solar Completes the Maricopa West Facility Located in Southern California

E.ON Solar, a subsidiary of E.ON SE, completed the construction phase of Maricopa West, a 20-MW solar project located in Southern California. The complex has obtained a conditional use permit from Kern County, an incidental take permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a habitat conservation plan under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Maricopa West solar project will utilize single-axis tracking and consist of 89,000 photovoltaic panels.