Wind resource in Hecate Strait could provide excess of 2 GW of power
NaiKun Wind Energy Group executed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with DONG Energy to advance its offshore wind project, proposed in Hecate Strait between Haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert, according to a press release.
DONG Energy, based in Denmark with North American headquarters in Boston, owns and operates 22 offshore wind farms in Europe.
“We are very excited about our agreement with DONG Energy,” said Philip Hughes, Chairman of the Board for Naikun. “This agreement takes us one major step closer to developing the first-ever offshore wind project in Canada.”
Naikun’s offshore wind project would be a significant contributor to the reduction of GHG emissions in Canada and supports BC as a leader in the generation of cost-competitive green renewable power.
One potential pitfall is that British Columbia is currently in the middle constructing Site C, a new $8 billion dollar hydro-power plant which skeptics say is much more electricity than B.C. needs or can export. The project is currently on hold while the new NDP government studies the feasibility of the project.
The offshore wind project has the Environmental Assessment Certificates from the Provincial and Federal Governments for the first phase of the project, 300 MW to 400 MW.
“This agreement effectively connects the largest offshore wind developer in the world with a project that offers one of the strongest, most-consistent wind resources in the world,” said Michael O’Connor, President and CEO of Naikun.
When approved, it would take 3 years to build and commission. Fully developed in phases over many years, the wind resource in Hecate Strait could provide in excess of 2 GW of power.
“Offshore wind is a reliable home-grown energy source and we are excited to explore the Canadian market,” he said. “We see this opportunity as a first step to bringing offshore wind power to Canada in what could become a strategic partnership with the nation’s front-runner project,” Thomas Brostrøm, President for DONG Energy.
