Summary
The Dry Lake Wind Power Project in Navajo County is the first utility-scale wind farm in the U.S. state of Arizona. Starting in 2009, it was constructed in two phases having a total generating capacity of 128.1 megawatts (MW), and is selling the electricity to the Salt River Power District (SRP).
| Dry Lake Wind Power Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | between Holbrook and Heber, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34°38′N 110°13′W / 34.633°N 110.217°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | October 2009 |
| Owner(s) | Iberdrola Renewables |
| Operator(s) | Avangrid |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Onshore |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 61 turbines |
| Make and model | Suzlon S88-2.1 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 128.1 MW |
| Capacity factor | 20.7% (average 2011–2017) |
| Annual net output | 232 GW·h |
History edit
Around 2003, rancher Bill Elkins began working with developer John Gaglioti and Northern Arizona University scientists to erect measurement towers on his land to measure wind speeds. He studied the local power grid to determine the feasibility of connecting a wind farm. Navajo County and Iberdrola officials credit Gaglioti and Elkins with attracting the first wind farm to Arizona.[1]
Project details edit
Phase 1 (34°39′36″N 110°17′03″W / 34.66000°N 110.28417°W) consists of 30 Suzlon 2.1 MW wind turbines, for a total nameplate capacity of 63 MW.[2] Iberdrola Renewables built the wind farm for $100 million. Based on wind measurements before construction began, Iberdrola estimated phase 1 would produce an average of 132,450 MWh annually. Depending on actual performance of phase 1, the company planned to install up to 209 more turbines in future construction phases.[1]
Phase 2 (34°36′22″N 110°10′24″W / 34.60611°N 110.17333°W) consists of 31 additional Suzlon turbines for a combined nameplate capacity of 65.1 MW.[3] The location of phase 2 is about seven miles (11 km) northwest of Snowflake and three miles (5 km) southeast of phase 1.[4]
Electricity production edit
| Year | Dry Lake 1 (63 MW) [5] |
Dry Lake 2 (65.1 MW) [6] |
Total Annual MW·h |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 29,545* | – | 29,545 |
| 2010 | 118,777 | 16,139* | 134,916 |
| 2011 | 124,401 | 124,330 | 248,731 |
| 2012 | 112,688 | 114,097 | 226,785 |
| 2013 | 107,393 | 110,934 | 218,327 |
| 2014 | 117,246 | 121,525 | 238,771 |
| 2015 | 104,882 | 107,261 | 212,143 |
| 2016 | 112,321 | 116,380 | 228,701 |
| 2017 | 123,484 | 127,022 | 250,506 |
| Average Annual Production (years 2011-2017) ---> | 231,995 | ||
| Average Capacity Factor (years 2011–2017) ---> | 20.7% | ||
(*) partial year of operation
Environmental effect edit
According to the USDOE, each 1000 MW of wind power capacity installed in Arizona will save 818 million US gallons (3,100,000 m3) of water per year and eliminate 2.0 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.[7] Phase 1 of Dry Lake Wind Power Project would then eliminate:
of carbon dioxide, and save:
of water annually.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Randazzo, Ryan (2009-05-12). "Harvesting Arizona wind". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
- ^ "Dry Lake (US)". thewindpower.net. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ "Dry Lake II (US)". thewindpower.net. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ "SRP Buys Entire Output of Iberdrola Renewables' Dry Lake 2 Wind Power Project". businesswire.com. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ "Dry Lake 1, Annual". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ "Dry Lake 2, Annual". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ Lantz, Eric; Tegen, Suzanne (October 2008). "Economic Benefits, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions Reductions, and Water Conservation Benefits from 1,000 Megawatts (MW) of New Wind Power in Arizona" (PDF). EERE, NREL. DOE/GO-102008-2670. Archived from the original (PDF, 514kB) on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
External links edit
- Salt River Project – Dry Lake Wind Power Project
- Video: Dry Lake Wind Power Project