The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has invited proposals for procuring 700 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity in support of Alberta’s target of reaching 30 percent renewable energy by 2030.
AESO has opened Rounds 2 and 3 of the Canadian province’s Renewable Energy Program (REP) by calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested parties. While Round 2 will have procurement target of up to 300 megawatts, Round 3 will have a procurement target of up to 400 megawatts.
Candidates are expected to be announced in December 2018.
AESO said that Alberta has initiated Round 2 and Round 3 of REP following the success of Round 1, which delivered close to 600 megawatts of wind power generation at an average bid price of CAD37 ($28.73) per MWh.
A total of four projects were selected by AESO for Round 1, and all projects are expected to start service by 2019.
These include the 248.4-megawatt Sharp Hills Wind Farm developed by EDP Renewables Canada in Oyen, the 115-megawatt Riverview Wind Farm and the 30.6-megawatt Phase 2 of Castle Rock Ridge Wind Power Plant developed by Enel Green Power Canada in Pincher Creek, and the 201.6-megawatt Whitla Wind project in Medicine Hat developed by Capital Power.
