Westbridge Energy Corporation has acquired a 75% controlling interest in Sunnynook Solar Energy which is developing a new 236MWdc solar and 100MW battery energy storage system project in Alberta, Canada.
The deal is pursuant to a definitive agreement dated 30 November 2021.
The project has secured site control in the form of a long-term solar lease covering approximately 940 acres.
It is currently in Stage 1 of the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) interconnection process, with environmental studies underway in accordance with Alberta Environment and Parks guidelines.
Westbridge chief operating officer and director Maggie McKenna said: “The acquisition of Sunnynook significantly expands Westbridge’s footprint in Alberta from 278MWdc to 514 MWdc and further demonstrates the Company’s ability to originate and acquire utility-scale development assets in leading jurisdictions for solar project development.
“This acquisition confirms Westbridge’s position as one of the largest, fastest-growing solar PV developers in Canada by MW, and further diversifies its renewable energy portfolio in terms of asset location and the enabling technologies utilized.
“The Sunnynook project will provide clean, renewable energy to Albertans and benefit the local economy by creating new jobs in a fast-growing industry.”
Westbridge chief executive Stefano Romanin added: “Sunnynook will employ leading-edge technologies, pairing solar PV generation with an advanced battery energy storage system, mitigating the intermittency of solar power.
“The importance of BESS is underlined by the recent Energy Storage Roadmap (ES Roadmap) that sets out the AESO’s plan to facilitate the reliable integration of energy storage technologies across the Alberta Interconnected Electric System.”
Westbridge now controls three utility-scale solar PV development projects totalling 735MW, including two Alberta solar PV projects and the recently announced 221MW development project in Accalia Point, Texas.
The Company has also initiated two BESS projects in Alberta which could add an additional 200MW of battery storage capacity.
Westbridge said it was on track to meet or exceed management’s target of 1GW of development assets in the first year of operations post RTO.