Wind power in Texas: Difference between revisions
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Completed in February 2005, the [[Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center]] has added 114 MW of wind capacity to the Texas grid. The facility is owned by FPL Energy and uses 76 GE Energy 1.5 MW wind turbines. The project is thought to cost around $100 million. It is built on a 6,000-acre site in Taylor County, about 12 miles southwest of Abilene.<ref>Power Technology. [http://www.power-technology.com/projects/callahan/ Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center]</ref> |
Completed in February 2005, the [[Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center]] has added 114 MW of wind capacity to the Texas grid. The facility is owned by FPL Energy and uses 76 GE Energy 1.5 MW wind turbines. The project is thought to cost around $100 million. It is built on a 6,000-acre site in Taylor County, about 12 miles southwest of Abilene.<ref>Power Technology. [http://www.power-technology.com/projects/callahan/ Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center]</ref> |
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==Sand Bluff Wind Farm (90 MW)== |
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The [[Sand Bluff Wind Farm]] is currently under construction and is expected to begin operations during 2007. The wind farm is located southeast of the City of Big Spring in the heart of West Texas. It consists of 45 Gamesa turbines, each rated at 2.0 MW, for a total installed capacity of 90 MW. This project will provide clean electricity for up to 90,000 homes.<ref>Airtricity. [http://www.airtricity.com/england/wind_farms/usa/in_construction/sand_bluff/ Sand Bluff]</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 23:29, 7 August 2007
Wind power in Texas consists of many wind farms with a total installed capacity of 2,749 megawatts (MW). Texas is firmly established as the leader in wind power development in the USA, followed by California with 2,361 MW.[1]
Several forces are working to the advantage of wind power in Texas: the wind resource in many areas of the state is very large, large projects are relatively easy to site, and the market price for electricity is relatively high because it is set by natural gas prices.[2] The wind power industry is also creating many jobs and farmers may earn extra income by leasing their land to wind developers.[3]
The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center (735 MW) in Taylor and Nolan counties is the world's largest wind farm. Other large wind farms in Texas include: the Sweetwater Wind Farm, King Mountain Wind Farm, Roscoe Wind Farm, Desert Sky Wind Farm, Woodward Mountain Wind Ranch, and the Brazos Wind Ranch. As of 2007, 942 MW of wind power is currently under construction in Texas.[4] This expansion will help Texas meet its renewable energy goal of 5,000 new megawatts of power from renewable sources by 2015.[5]
Overview
There are dozens of wind farms in Texas, with a total installed capacity of 2,749 MW, and Texas is firmly established as the leader in wind power development in the USA, ahead of California.[1] As of 2007, 942 MW of wind power is currently under construction in Texas[4] and this expansion will help Texas meet its renewable energy goal of 5,000 new megawatts of power from renewable sources by 2015.[5]
The table below lists the larger wind farms in Texas, currently operating or under construction. Wind farms which are smaller than 80 MW in capacity are not shown.
| Wind farm | Installed capacity (MW) |
Turbine Manufacturer |
County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center | 735 | GE Energy/ Siemens | Taylor/ Nolan |
| Sweetwater Wind Farm | 585 | GE Energy/ Siemens/ Mitsubishi | Nolan |
| Buffalo Gap Wind Farm | 353 | Vestas | Taylor/ Nolan |
| King Mountain Wind Farm | 278 | Bonus/ GE Energy | Upton |
| Roscoe Wind Farm | 209 | Mitsubishi | |
| Desert Sky Wind Farm | 160 | GE Energy | Pecos |
| Wildorado Wind Ranch | 161 | Siemens | Oldham/ Potter/ Randall |
| Woodward Mountain Wind Ranch | 159 | Vestas | Upton/ Pecos |
| Trent Wind Farm | 150 | GE Energy | Taylor |
| Champion Wind Farm | 126 | ||
| Forest Creek Wind Farm | 124 | Siemens | Glasscock/ Stirling |
| Sand Bluff Wind Farm | 90 | ||
| Indian Mesa Wind Farm | 82 | Vestas | Upton |
| Brazos Wind Ranch (also known as Green Mt. Energy Wind Farm) | 160 | Mitsubishi | Scurry/ Borden |
| Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center | 114 | GE Energy | Taylor |
| Red Canyon Wind Farm | 84 | GE Energy | Borden/ Garza/ Scurry |
- Source: Texas operational wind plants
Several forces are working to the advantage of wind power in Texas: the wind resource in many areas of the state is very large, large projects are relatively easy to site, and the market price for electricity is relatively high because it is set by natural gas prices.[2] The broad scope and geographical extent of wind farms in Texas is considerable:
"Wind resource areas in the Texas Panhandle, along the Gulf Coast south of Galveston, and in the mountain passes and ridge tops of the Trans-Pecos offer Texas some of the greatest wind power potential in the United States. Currently there are over 2,000 wind turbines in West Texas alone. Most of the new wind capacity added in the last two years has been in the Abilene-Sweetwater area. The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center is the largest wind power facility in the nation with a total capacity of 735 MW. It is spread across approximately 47,000 acres in Taylor and Nolan County near Abilene."[6]
Texas farmers may lease their land to wind developers for either a set rental per turbine or for a small percentage of gross annual revenue from the project. Although leasing arrangements vary widely, the U. S. Government Accountability Office reported in 2004 that a farmer who leases land to a wind project developer can generally obtain royalties of $3,000 to $5,000 per turbine per year in lease payments. These figures are rising as larger wind turbines are being produced and installed.[3]
The wind power industry is also creating thousands of jobs for communities and for the state. Wind technology and the various aspects of producing electricity from wind power can help to keep employment in the area after the rigs stop producing oil.[6]
In June 2007, Texas was selected by USDOE to be home to one of two large-scale wind turbine research and testing facilities, which aims to accelerate the commercial availability of wind power. The facilities are expected to conduct blade testing and be operational in 2009.[6]
Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center (735 MW)
The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center is the world's largest wind farm at 735.5 MW capacity. It consists of 291 GE Energy 1.5 megawatt wind turbines and 130 Siemens 2.3 megawatt wind turbines spread over nearly 47,000 acres (190 km²) of land in Taylor and Nolan County, Texas.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page).
The first phase of the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center consisted of 213 MW was completed in late 2005; phase two consisted of 223.5 MW was completed in the second quarter of 2006; and, phase three consisting of 299 megawatts, was completed in September 2006.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page). FPL Energy (through its subsidiaries) currently operates Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center.
Sweetwater Wind Farm (585 MW)
Construction of the Sweetwater Wind Farm has proceeded in five stages and some of the generating capacity is still being built. Sweetwater stage 4 employs 135 Mitsubishi 1.0 megawatt turbines and 46 Siemens 2.3 megawatt turbines. Its output is being sold to San Antonio’s CPS Energy, a municipally owned energy company providing both natural gas and electric service, under a 20-year purchase agreement. Construction of Sweetwater stage 5 began in February 2007, with completion expected by December 2007. Using 35 Siemens turbines, Sweetwater 5 will have a capacity of 80 MW.[7]
Buffalo Gap Wind Farm (353 MW)
Buffalo Gap 1
Buffalo Gap 1 is a 120.6 MW wind power station located in Nolan and Taylor Counties, about 20 miles south west of Abilene. The facility consists of 67 Vestas V-80 wind turbines, each rated at 1.8 MW. The facility was developed by SeaWest WindPower and is currently owned by AES Wind Generation. The power is sold to Direct Energy under a 15-year power purchase agreement.[8]
Buffalo Gap 2
Buffalo Gap 2 is a 232.5 MW expansion of the Buffalo Gap Wind Farm consisting of 155 GE wind turbines, each rated at 1.5 MW. The facility was developed by AES Wind Generation and went into commercial operation in June 2007. The power is sold to Direct Energy under a 10-year power purchase agreement.[8]
King Mountain Wind Farm (278 MW)
The King Mountain Wind Farm is a 278.2 MW wind farm, with 214 wind turbines in rows along the south-eastern and north-western edges of a mesa (tabletop mountain) surrounded by deep ravines.[9] Dust, sand and high temperatures place extraordinary demands on the wind turbines. Consequently, the design was modified for the desert-like conditions, providing additional cooling and protection against wind-blown sand. Annual electricity production is more than 0.75 TWh.[9]
Roscoe Wind Farm (209 MW)
The 209 MW Roscoe Wind Farm is scheduled for completion by the end of 2007 and will cost $300 million.[10] It will cover nearly 30,000 acres and stretch into three counties.[5] The Roscoe Wind Farm, Airtricity's third Texas project, will use 209 Mitsubishi 1000A turbines each rated at one MW. Airtricity's fourth Texas wind farm, the 126 MW Champion Wind Farm project, recently commenced construction five miles from the Roscoe site.[5]
Wildorado Wind Ranch (161 MW)
The Wildorado Wind Ranch is located near Amarillo and consists of 161 MW of wind turbines (70 Siemens Mk II turbines each with a rating of 2.3 MW). These turbines have the capacity to meet the electricity demand of more than 50,000 households. The Wildorado Wind Ranch was developed by Cielo Wind Power, of Austin, Texas, in conjunction with Edison Mission Group of Irvine, California.[11]
Brazos Wind Ranch (160 MW)
The Brazos Wind Farm, also known as the Green Mt. Energy Wind Farm, has 160 wind turbines, each rated at one MW and supplied by Mitsubishi, and was completed in December 2003. The wind farm sells generated power on a long-term basis, to a local power distributor, TXU Energy, to supply approximately 30,000 homes in Texas. Fifty per cent of the Brazos Wind Farm is owned by Shell Wind Energy Inc.[12]
Desert Sky Wind Farm (160 MW)
The Desert Sky Wind Farm is a 160.5 MW wind farm located near the far West Texas town of Iraan, in Pecos County. The site consists of 107 GE turbines, each rated at 1.5 megawatts, spread over a 15 square-mile area. American Electric Power (AEP) owns the facility and CPS Energy of San Antonio purchases all power.[13]
Woodward Mountain Wind Ranch (159 MW)
The Woodward Mountain Wind Ranch in Pecos County has an installed capacity of 159.7 MW and is owned by FPL Energy. The wind farm uses Vestas V47 turbines, each rated at 660 kW, and the project became fully operational in July 2001.[14]
Trent Wind Farm (150 MW)
The Trent Wind Farm is a 150 MW wind farm located between Abilene and Sweetwater in West Texas. The wind farm consists of 100 GE wind turbines each rated at 1.5 megawatts. American Electric Power owns the Trent Wind Farm and TXU purchases the electricity produced under a long-term agreement.[15]
Champion Wind Farm (126 MW)
Airtricity's fourth Texas wind farm, the 126 MW Champion Wind Farm project, recently commenced construction five miles from the Roscoe Wind Farm site.[5]
Forest Creek Wind Farm (124 MW)
Airtricity North America has officially opened its 124 MW wind farm at Forest Creek. TXU will purchase the electricity generated by the wind farm, which entered commercial operation in March 2007.[16]
Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center (114 MW)
Completed in February 2005, the Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center has added 114 MW of wind capacity to the Texas grid. The facility is owned by FPL Energy and uses 76 GE Energy 1.5 MW wind turbines. The project is thought to cost around $100 million. It is built on a 6,000-acre site in Taylor County, about 12 miles southwest of Abilene.[17]
Sand Bluff Wind Farm (90 MW)
The Sand Bluff Wind Farm is currently under construction and is expected to begin operations during 2007. The wind farm is located southeast of the City of Big Spring in the heart of West Texas. It consists of 45 Gamesa turbines, each rated at 2.0 MW, for a total installed capacity of 90 MW. This project will provide clean electricity for up to 90,000 homes.[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b American Wind Energy Association (2007). Annual U.S. wind power rankings track industry's rapid growth
- ^ a b Wind Riding Favorable Policy Breeze Toward Record Year Renewable Energy Access, 5 June 2007.
- ^ a b State Energy Conservation Office. The New Cash Crop
- ^ a b American Wind Energy Association. Texas Wind Energy Development
- ^ a b c d e Airtricity Finalizes 209-MW Wind Project in Texas Renewable Energy Access, 16 May 2007.
- ^ a b c State Energy Conservation Office. Texas wind energy
- ^ GE Energy. GE unit expands wind energy portfolio
- ^ a b Direct Energy to Buy 233 MW from AES' Wind Project in Texas Renewable Energy Access, 1 September 2006.
- ^ a b Siemens. King Mountain Wind Farm
- ^ GE Investing In Texas Wind Farms Manufacturing.Net, 25 May 2007.
- ^ Siemens Receives 70-Turbine Order for Texas Project Renewable Energy Access, 22 March 2006.
- ^ Mitsui. Mitsui USA's Advance in Wind Power Generation
- ^ Desert Sky Wind Farm
- ^ Woodward Mountain Wind Ranch
- ^ Trent Mesa Wind Project
- ^ Airtricity Opens 124 MW Forest Creek Wind Farm in West Texas Renewable Energy Access, 1 June 2007.
- ^ Power Technology. Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center
- ^ Airtricity. Sand Bluff
External links
- Compressed air storage
- Texas Wind Energy Projects
- What Texas stands to gain with renewable energy ranking
- Perry Dedicates Expansion of Buffalo Gap Wind Farm
- Texas agency okays 8 zones for new wind projects
- Texas wind energy