The 224.25 MW Nicolas-Riou Wind Project was inaugurated in Quebec on Tuesday. Owners Quebec–Régie intermunicipale de l’énergie du Bas-Saint-Laurent (RIÉBSL), the Régie Intermunicipale de l’Energie Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (RIÉGÎM) and EDF Renewables, along with around 170 guests, were on hand to celebrate the inauguration.
Located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent on the public and private lands of TNO Boisbouscache and the municipalities of Sainte-Françoise, Saint-Mathieu-de-Rioux, Saint-Médard (regional county municipality [RCM] of Basques) and Saint-Eugène-de-Ladrière (RCM of Rimouski-Neigette), the Nicolas-Riou Wind Project represents an investment of nearly C$500 million.
The wind farm, owned 50% by EDF Renewables, 33% by RIÉBSL and 17% by RIÉGÎM, is made up of 65 Vestas V117 wind turbines with a capacity of 3.45 MW each. The construction phase began in June 2016 and involved more than 400 workers at its peak. Since its commissioning in January 2018, the project has employed 10 full-time operations and maintenance personnel.
Nicolas-Riou is one of eight wind projects awarded to EDF Renewables in the context of Hydro-Québec Distribution’s 2008, 2010 and 2013 tenders. It is also the company’s fifth project held in partnership with RCMs or aboriginal communities. The other four are La Mitis (24.6 MW), Le Granit (24.6 MW), Rivière-du-Moulin (350 MW) and Lac Alfred (300 MW). To date, EDF Renewables has commissioned 1.6 GW of wind and solar projects in Canada.
“Pride is the word that sums up the last nine years of commitment to build Canada’s largest community wind farm. This is a very nice private-public achievement resulting from the pooling of the skills of both partners,” says Michel Lagacé, president of RIÉBSL. “It is estimated that 50 percent of the hours worked resulted from Bas-St-Lauren contractors, half of whom are based in one of the two RCMs that host the project. During the 18 months of construction, the Nicolas-Riou wind farm generated direct benefits of approximately C$31 million in wages and purchases of services and materials in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, of which more than half was in the RCMs of Basques and Rimouski-Neigette.”
Simon Deschênes, president of RIÉGÎM, adds, “In addition to the profits distributed to public shareholders (forecast of C$8 million annually over the next 25 years), annual contributions of C$1.1 million will also be paid to the two RCMs during the life of the project. These are considerable sums that can be used at the discretion of communities, particularly as levers for development projects.”
Today RIÉBSL, RIÉGÎM & EDF Renewables celebrated the inauguration of the Nicolas-Riou #Wind Project in Bas-Saint-Laurent. “Pride is the word that sums up the last nine years of commitment to build #Canada’s largest community wind farm.” https://t.co/GzC9KrasBE #NicRiouWindProject pic.twitter.com/kuT5nFDad3
— EDF Renewables (@EDF_Renewables) June 5, 2018
