Neoen (French independent power producer) has secured two 20-year contracts from Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for a pair of solar farms totalling 318 megawatts peak capacity, with both projects to be developed in 50-50 equity partnerships with First Nations communities.

The Contracts and Project Details

Ontario's grid operator awarded the contracts through its second Long-Term Energy Supply procurement process, covering 100 per cent of the output of both facilities. The larger of the two projects, sized at 253 MWp or 200 MWac, will be built near Dunns Valley and is set to become Ontario's largest solar farm.

That plant will be co-owned by Garden River First Nation through a 50 per cent equity partnership. The second project, located near Paradis Bay and sized at 65 MWp or 50 MWac, will be co-owned by Matachewan First Nation under the same equity structure.

Neoen described the partnership arrangements as a direct response to calls for Indigenous leadership in Canada's clean energy sector. The company said the agreements demonstrate its commitment to meaningful First Nations participation and outcomes in its development activities.

Together, the two solar farms are expected to generate a combined 475 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, which Neoen said is the equivalent of powering more than 50,000 Ontario homes.

Construction of both facilities is scheduled to begin in 2028. The 65 MWp plant near Paradis Bay is targeted to begin operations in 2029, while the larger 253 MWp Dunns Valley project is expected to come online in 2030.

Ontario as a Strategic Market

The awards bring Neoen's total secured portfolio in Canada to 968 megawatts of solar and battery storage capacity since the company entered the Canadian market in 2022.

That portfolio now includes the Fox Coulée operating solar farm in Alberta, rated at 93 MWp; the 157 MWp Mino Giizis solar facility in Saskatchewan, being delivered in partnership with the Anishinabek Power Alliance; and a 400-megawatt, four-hour battery storage project in Ontario located in Saugeen Ojibway Nation's traditional territory, in addition to the two newly awarded projects.

Emmanuel Pujol, Neoen's Regional CEO for the Americas, said the new contracts reflect the company's broader strategy in Canada, which centres on building a diversified portfolio of renewable energy and storage assets.

"Ontario is a key market for us, and we thank IESO, Ontario's grid operator, for their renewed trust," Pujol said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "We are proud to be delivering these projects in partnership with Garden River First Nation and Matachewan First Nation, and together to be contributing to a more sustainable and resilient energy future."

Pujol also highlighted the pace at which Neoen has built its Canadian position, noting that the team had secured close to one gigawatt of capacity in under four years.

First Nations Equity Partnerships at the Core

The structure of the two new projects places Indigenous co-ownership at the centre of each development. Garden River First Nation holds a 50 percent equity stake in the Dunns Valley project, while Matachewan First Nation holds the equivalent share in the Paradis Bay solar farm. Neoen said these arrangements directly address broader calls within Canada for Indigenous communities to play a leading role in the country's transition to clean energy.

The company did not disclose the financial terms of the contracts or the equity arrangements, nor did it provide details on the specific mechanisms through which the First Nations communities would hold and manage their respective ownership stakes.

Neoen's Position in Canada and the Americas

Xavier Barbaro, Group CEO of Neoen, said the awards place the company among Canada's leading renewable energy developers. "They demonstrate our ability to rapidly develop competitive, large-scale projects while building meaningful partnerships with First Nations communities," Barbaro said.

He added that the Americas represent one of Neoen's fastest-growing regions and that the company intends to play a significant role in the energy transition across the region and globally.

Neoen said it is actively developing a pipeline of solar, storage, and onshore wind projects across Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the three Canadian provinces in which it currently operates. The company did not provide specific figures or project names from that development pipeline in its announcement.

The Paris-based company, which describes itself as one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, entered Canada in 2022 and has since moved from its initial Alberta solar project to a broader national footprint spanning three provinces and multiple technology types, including utility-scale battery storage.

Powering Smarter Decisions Across Canada's Energy Landscape

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