US developer Pattern Energy expects to complete the 180MW Meikle wind project in northeast British Columbia by the end of the year despite some delays.
“There have been many challenges” in building at the remote site, about 30km north of Tumbler Ridge in the mountains of the Peace Region, Pattern project manager Michael Thompson told reNEWS.
Construction got under way in 2015. After a winter break crews were able to re-open the site early due to the warm, dry spring. Forest fire became a threat, however, and within weeks the site was on high fire risk warning and construction slowed.
More recently, heavy rains caused delays. The pace is now back to normal and the project is on schedule, said Thompson.
“All major site civil works are complete and we are now shifting to turbine installation,” he said.
Delivery began this month of 61 GE turbines, a mix of 3.2MW-103 and 2.75MW-120 machines.
“Components have been sourced from four different continents and all need to be brought to the site eventually by either road or rail,” said Thompson.
Larger components were shipped to the newly constructed Port of Stewart near Alaska, Canada’s most northerly ice-free port, and then trucked about 1000km through the mountains. The Meikle project is one of the port’s first customers.
“Tower installation commences this month and blades will start to be attached within a few weeks,” said Thompson. “We expect the project to be fully on line by the end of the year.”
When complete, Meikle will be the largest wind farm in the province.
Canadian outfit Borea Construction is the general contractor for Meikle, which has a 25-year electricity purchase agreement with BC Hydro.
Image: Pattern Energy
