Canadian Solar Inc. today announced that it has signed an agreement for the purchase of electricity from its 32MW/23MW Suffield solar facility with Direct Energy. The Suffield project, located in Southeast Alberta, enters operation in 2020.
"We've enjoyed partnering with Direct Energy to develop creative solutions like the long-term electricity off-take agreement signed on the Suffield solar project," said Shawn Qu, chairman at Canadian Solar. "We're proud to bring some of the latest solar technology to Alberta, the Canadian province known for its energy leadership. The Suffield project will utilize bifacial solar modules, which are well-suited to operate not only in the heat of summer when air conditioning drives electricity demand, but also in cloudy or even snowy weather."
"With increased customer demand in summer, the addition of 23 megawatts of solar output will help Direct Energy build renewable power supply options for our customers and provide an alternative to traditional market-based hedges," said David Brast, Senior Vice President, North America – Power & Gas, Direct Energy Business. "We are also proud that our long-term agreement with Canadian Solar on the Suffield project is the first major step in Alberta towards Centrica's global commitment to provide products and services that lead to a lower carbon future."
Suffield will employ approximately 250 people during construction and will power approximately 7,400 households annually once it enters operation in 2020.