BluEarth Renewables commissions Hand Hills wind farm in Alberta

BluEarth Renewables inaugurates a 145 MW wind farm in Alberta, demonstrating the effectiveness of renewable energies. With a capacity of 29 turbines, the facility represents a $250 million investment in the region.

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BluEarth Renewables (“BluEarth” or “the company”) announced today that it has achieved commercial operation of its 145 MW Hand Hills wind farm (“Hand Hills” or “the facility”) located near Drumheller, Alberta.

Renewable energy developer BluEarth confirms the efficiency of renewables with Hand Hills, a 145 MW wind farm

Comprising 29 slender turbines, along with a substation and integrated infrastructure, this park represents a $250 million investment in the Alberta region. During the construction phase at its peak, it generated over 175 job opportunities. In operation, the project generates a substantial amount of clean, renewable energy, enough to supply around 68,000 households with electricity every year, underlining its positive impact on regional energy sustainability.

“BluEarth is a long-term developer and operator of renewable energy projects in North America, and Hand Hills is another excellent example of our ability to bring this approach to life,” said Grant Arnold, BluEarth’s President and CEO. “Hand Hills demonstrates how renewable energy offers a sustainable and competitive form of power generation.”

BluEarth has over 1 GW of projects in operation, under construction and in contractual pre-construction, as well as a secure development pipeline of over 4 GW of wind projects and over 4.5 GW of solar and storage projects actively advancing in North America.

Shell Energy North America signs long-term PPA for 100 MW of Hand Hills capacity

In April 2021, BluEarth signed a long-term purchase agreement with Shell for 100 MW of green electricity.

Grant Arnold added: “We are very grateful to Shell Energy North America, the landowners, the community as well as Starland County and Special Areas 2 for their support of this project, and we look forward to working with them and contributing to the community for decades to come.”

Hand Hills, as well as BluEarth-owned facilities, is monitored in real time by the Remote Operations Centre in Calgary. BluEarth has been operating the facility and developing Hand Hills since its acquisition in 2012 from Joss Wind Power Inc.

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