Neoen Signs 25-Year PPA For 157 MWp Solar Project In Saskatchewan – energynews

Neoen, a France-based independent renewable energy producer, has finalized a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower). The agreement covers the entire output of the Mino Giizis solar facility, with a capacity of 157 MWp and 100 MWac. The installation will be located in the Rural Municipality of Lajord No. 128 in south central Saskatchewan.
The project partners Neoen with the Anishinabek Power Alliance (APA), which will hold 50% equity in the asset. This alliance brings together four Treaty 4 Nations: Zagime Anishinabek Nation, Kinistin Saulteaux First Nation, Cote First Nation, and The Key First Nation. The Yorkton Tribal Council also participates in the project at a political level. Neoen will retain its role as long-term operator and owner of the facility.
The tender was co-led by SaskPower and the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA). According to Neoen, the construction phase would mobilize up to 350 workers at peak activity. Commissioning is expected in 2028. The company indicates the facility would produce approximately 228,000 MWh of electricity annually, equivalent to powering approximately 30,000 homes.
This transaction is part of Neoen’s development strategy in Canada. The company established its Canadian office in Calgary in 2022 before expanding to Toronto. Its Canadian portfolio includes the 93 MWp Fox Coulée solar farm located in Starland County, Alberta, which began commercial operations in June 2024. According to the company, it is currently developing several solar, storage, and wind projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
SaskPower has set a target of net-zero emissions for its power system by 2050. The public utility specifies it has 300 MW of solar capacity under development. The minister responsible for SaskPower, Jeremy Harrison, described this project as an example of economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The contract represents Neoen’s first equity partnership with an Indigenous community, according to Emmanuel Pujol, Regional CEO of Neoen Americas.
The Mino Giizis facility, whose name means “good sun” in Ojibwe language, will be Saskatchewan’s largest solar farm according to the data provided. The project responds to growing demand for renewable electricity from commercial and industrial businesses in the province. The 25-year PPA guarantees a stable offtake for production, while the equity structure ensures direct economic benefits for the participating First Nations communities.

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