Question re Energy Projects

[Anthony Light]

How are large energy projects put together?

Lets say I want to build a wind farm in Ontario, Canada for example. What are the steps in sequence typically?

Lets assume the capital requirements are not a problem and also pretend everything is going to go smoothly and according to plan for the purpose of discussion:)

Also, assume I don't know anything but what type of wind turbine equipment I want to use

Thanks for any help. I really want to learn.

[Rob Beckers]

Anthony, there are businesses, collectively known as "EPC" (for Engineering, Procurement, Construction") that can be hired to take a project to completion. Generally the project proponents secure the basics (access to the grid, financing etc.), then hire an EPC firm to implement.

-RoB-

[Anthony Light]

Hey Rob,

Would you know how one typically goes about accessing the grid. For example is the power purchase agreement done with the government or a utility and is it through a bidding process or a negotiation?

Thanks

Anthony

[Rob Beckers]

Anthony, that's all over the place.
I've heard of every variation you mentioned, and there are probably a few more I don't know about. It's really up to the local utility and government to arrange how that's organized.

Over here, in Ontario, we had a bidding process for 10MW solar farms. The smaller stuff was simply through applying for a contract, where the government set the rate (declining every year, as PV got cheaper). All that's going away come January, only existing contracts will be honored. However, as far as I understand anyone can start a "utility" to produce power and sell it to the grid; it'll just be at the regular whole-sale rates (which are pretty low). Not that the latter is easy, it requires lots of paperwork and approvals.

-RoB-

[Anthony Light]

Thanks Rob. Do you know what the regular wholesale rates are near you?