The Madawaska wind farm is a 274MW onshore wind development in Quebec, Canada.
The project is being advanced through a three-way partnership between EDF, l’Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est and Société de gestion éolienne Madawaska, each holding a 33.33% stake.
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The scheme is intended to support decarbonisation in Quebec and to provide local economic returns. Across the life of the project, member communities of l’Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est are expected to receive around C$181m ($132.3m), while the host municipalities of Dégelis and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande are set to share more than C$25m.
Early works began in January 2026, followed by financial close in March 2026. The project has moved into the construction phase, with more than 300 jobs due to be created.
On completion, the wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to supply more than 44,000 homes each year.
Commissioning is targeted for the third quarter of 2027 (Q3 2027) with an operating life expectancy of approximately 30 years.
Development background
In March 2023, Hydro-Québec selected three wind projects totalling 570MW for supply contracts awarded under two tender rounds launched in December 2021.
The chosen developments were the Madawaska wind project, the 180MW Forêt Domaniale wind project and the 120MW Haute-Chaudière wind project. The projects accounted for three of the seven wind awards issued, representing close to half of the capacity allocated.
Government authorisation was issued in December 2025, enabling the remaining approvals and permitting steps to be completed ahead of full construction.
Madawaska wind project location
The Madawaska wind project is located in the municipalities of Dégelis and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande within the Témiscouata regional county municipality in Quebec, Canada. The project footprint covers a mix of provincial public land and privately owned parcels.
Project details
The Madawaska wind project will comprise 45 Vestas EnVentus wind turbines, split between 25 V162-6.0MW units and 20 V162-6.2MW units.
The EnVentus V162-6.2MW model is designed for low-to-medium wind sites, with operational modes spanning 5.6MW to 6.5MW. It has a rated power of 6,200kW and is designed for International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) S wind class conditions, with cut-in and cut-out wind speeds of three metres per second (m/s) and 25m/s, respectively.
The standard operating temperature range is -20°C–+45°C. The 162m rotor provides a swept area of 20,612m2, with aerodynamic braking via full blade feathering using three pitch cylinders and a two-stage planetary gearbox.
Grid connection
Power generated will be delivered to Hydro-Québec’s grid under a 30-year power purchase agreement via a collector system using a combination of underground and overhead cabling and an electrical substation.
The layout for the evacuation of power is designed to limit impacts on the environment and other land uses where possible.
Madawaska wind project financing
The required capital for the Madawaska wind project was arranged by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada, Desjardins Group and KfW IPEX-Bank, with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce acting as administrative agent.
The facility was structured in line with the Green Loan Principles, with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada and Desjardins Group serving as coordinators for their implementation.
Contractors involved
In May 2026, PEC Construction Management, a construction management company, was appointed by EDF power solutions North America, operating in Quebec as EDF solutions électriques, to provide on-site owner’s representative services.
Operating locally as PEC Gestion de la construction, PEC’s scope of work includes oversight of engineering, procurement and construction delivery and monitoring compliance with safety and quality requirements.
Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas secured the turbine supply contract in August 2025, which includes a ten-year active output management 5000 service agreement.
Stikeman Elliott advised the project on the transaction ahead of the final investment decision, while Blake, Cassels and Graydon acted for the lenders.
