French energy company EDF Energies Nouvelles, through its North American subsidiary EDF Renewable Energy has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency to buy 100MW of clean energy from Stoneray wind project.
Construction of the Stoneray wind project is due to start next year. It is located in Pipestone and Murray, counties in southwest Minnesota. It will consist of up to 50 turbines and the commissioning is scheduled between 2018 and 2019.
The construction phase of the wind farm could generate about more than 150 construction jobs and 10 full-time positions. At full capacity, the energy generated from the wind farm is enough to satisfy the power needs of about 47,000 average Minnesota homes.
The company said: “The United States represents a major market for the EDF Group, which is aimed at doubling its renewable energy capacity by 2030 under its CAP 2030 strategy.“
EDF has a combined portfolio of 9GW in the countries of US, Canada and Mexico.
The French energy company has been actively pursuing renewable projects in the recent times. It recently acquired 115MW solar project in Brazil through its Brazilian subsidiary.
The company has a portfolio of 489MW of renewable projects under construction including 183MW in wind power and the remaining 306MW in solar power.
More recently, the parent company acquired majority of stake in Futuren, an independent power producer operating in Germany, France, Morocco and Italy.
In March, the company had joined the Masdar-led consortium to develop phase 3 of the 800MW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.