The Alberta Utilities Commission on Nov. 13 granted a timing break to Eolectric Development for a 69-MW wind project.
Eolectric Development has a prior approval to construct and operate the 69-MW Welsch Wind Farm Project and the Welsch Wind Farm substation in the Pincher Creek area. Eolectric on Oct. 27 requested approval of a time extension, from Dec. 31, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2016, in order to complete construction.
Eolectric stated that in order to take changes to the local transmission system into account, the Alberta Electric System Operator requested an amendment to the connection proposal for the Welsch Wind Farm Project. As a result, Eolectric prepared a new engineering study report with a revised connection in-service date of June 2016. Eolectric also stated that a further 12-week delay is expected because there is an ongoing study assessing an alternate transmission route for the project.
Eolectric submitted that the commissioning of the 26 wind turbines that make up the 69-MW wind farm could only be started once the transmission facilities have been energized. Eolectric stated that it is expected to take approximately 10 to 12 weeks to complete the commissioning process. Eolectric concluded that the construction schedule for the Welsch Wind Farm Project should be prolonged until the end of 2016, to ensure the infrastructure required for transmission system stability and reliability is in place and in-service, and the wind turbines have been commissioned.
