A contract with CPV Renewable Energy Co. will provide up to 165 megawatts of wind energy from the Cimarron project in Gray County, Kan., beginning as early as January 2012. A fourth contract, with Iberdrola Renewables Inc., will deliver up to 300 megawatts from the Streator Cayuga Ridge project in Illinois, starting in mid-2010. Construction is scheduled or under way on all of these projects. Power delivery is subject to environmental requirements and firm transmission paths being secured.
The purchases result from a request for proposals TVA issued in December 2008, in an effort to add 2,000 megawatts of new renewable or clean energy resources to the generating system. With the new contracts, TVA has purchased up to 1,265 megawatts toward that goal, enough power to serve more than 300,000 average-size homes in the Tennessee Valley.
CPV Renewable Energy Company to Supply 165 Megawatts
CPV Renewable Energy Company will supply 165 megawatts of wind energy from its Cimarron wind farm in Gray County, Kansas. The wind power will come from Siemens Power Generation SWT-2.3-93 2.3-megawatt wind turbines. Construction is planned to start in 2011, with generation beginning in early 2012. CPV will manage the facility.
Iberdrola Renewables to Supply 300 Megawatts
Iberdrola Renewables will supply 300 megawatts of wind energy from its Streator-Cayuga Ridge wind farm in Livingston County, Illinois. The wind energy will come from Gamesa G87 2.0-megawatt wind turbines. Construction is near completion, with generation beginning in mid-2010. Streator-Cayuga Ridge Wind Power LLC will manage the facility.
Invenergy Wind Affiliates to Supply 350 Megawatts
Invenergy Wind’s affiliate, Bishop Hill Energy LLC, will supply 200 megawatts of wind energy from its Bishop Hill Wind Energy Center in Henry County, Illinois. The wind energy will come from General Electric 1.5-megawatt class wind turbines. Generation will begin in January 2012.
Invenergy Wind’s affiliate, White Oak Energy LLC, will supply 150 megawatts of wind energy from its White Oak Energy Center in McLean County, Illinois. The wind energy will also come from General Electric 1.5-megawatt class wind turbines. Generation will begin in January 2012.
Both the Bishop Hill and White Oak facilities will commence construction in 2010 and once placed in service, will be managed by Invenergy.
Background
A wind energy system transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical or electrical energy. The output of a wind turbine depends on the turbine’s size and the wind’s speed through the rotor. Wind turbines being manufactured today have power ratings from 1 to 3 megawatts. These can be used as a single unit or grouped together to form large-scale wind farms.
The capacity factor, or productivity, of a wind turbine normally ranges from 25% to 40%, although higher capacity factors can be achieved during windy periods. The capacity factor is determined by comparing actual production with the amount of power that would have been produced if the turbine were able to operate at maximum output 100% of the time.
Information about the wind turbines that will be used for the new developments can be found at:
Siemens Power Generation 2.3 MW wind turbines
http://www.powergeneration.siemens.com/products-solutions-services/products-packages/wind-turbines/products/swt-2-3-93/
General Electric 1.5 MW wind turbines
http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/wind_turbines/en/downloads/GEA14954C15-MW-Broch.pdf
Gamesa Wind Turbines
http://www.gamesacorp.com/en/products/wind-turbines/catalogue/gamesa-g87-20-mw
