Pattern launches 270MW Ontario wind project

OREANDA-NEWS. June 11, 2015. Pattern Energy Group and its partners have started commercial operations of the 270MW K2 Wind farm in southwestern Ontario, making it among the largest operational wind projects in the Canadian province.

Pattern developed the project in the municipality of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh with Samsung Renewable Energy and Capital Power. Each company has a 90MW stake in K2, which is expected to power 100,000 households annually.

"K2 Wind is the result of Ontario's commitment to green energy, providing the province with a strong new addition to its renewable energy fleet," Pattern chief executive Mike Garland said.

Generation produced by K2 will be sold under a 20-year power purchase agreement with regional wholesale provider Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). Samsung and Pattern have jointly developed several Ontario wind projects, including the 100MW North Kent wind farm, which also has a 20-year deal with IESO.

The Ontario projects are a part of Samsung's \\$5bn Green Energy Investment fund to grow renewables in the province.

New projects developed jointly by Pattern and Samsung in 2015 appear poised to nearly double the province's installed wind capacity.

Wind in Ontario totaled about 425MW in the fourth quarter of 2014, contributing 5.7pc of the province's generation output, according to IESO. The province relies largely on nuclear and hydroelectric generation, which satisfy about 62pc and 24pc of the load, respectively.