TVA Purchases Renewable Energy
The Tennessee Valley Authority is adding 1,380 megawatts of wind energy to its
renewable portfolio. A total of six contracts will provide enough energy to serve about
350,000 average size homes in the TVA service area.
The first of these new contracts will begin providing 415 megawatts of wind energy from wind farms
in Illinois and Iowa to the Tennessee Valley in 2010. Additional contracts will supply wind from Kansas,
North and South Dakota and Illinois in 2012. These purchases were all a result of a request for
proposals that TVA issued in December 2008.
CPV Renewable Energy Company
CPV Renewable Energy Company will supply 365 megawatts of wind
energy. Two hundred megawatts will come from its Ashley wind farm
in McIntosh County, North Dakota, generated by 87 Siemens Power
Generation 2.3-megawatt wind turbines.
One hundred sixty-five megawatts will come from its Cimarron wind farm in Gray
County, Kansas, generated by Siemens Power Generation SWT-2.3-93 2.3-megawatt wind turbines. At both sites,
construction is planned to start in 2011, with generation beginning in early 2012. CPV will manage the facilities.
Horizon Wind Energy LLC
A 20-year agreement with Horizon Wind Energy LLC will supply 115 megawatts of wind from its
Pioneer Prairie wind farm in Howard and Mitchell counties in Iowa. The energy will come from
70 existing Vesta 1.65-megawatt wind turbines. Generation is expected to begin in fall 2010.
Iberdrola Renewables
Iberdrola Renewables will supply 300 megawatts of wind energy from its Streator-Cayuga Ridge wind
farm in Livingston County, Illinois. The wind energy will be produced from Gamesa G87 2.0-megawatt
wind turbines. Construction is near completion, with generation beginning in mid-2010. StreatorCayuga Ridge Wind Power LLC will manage the facility.
Invenergy LLC
Invenergy LLC and its divisions will supply 600 megawatts of wind energy. Two hundred megawatts will come
from its Bishop Hill Wind Energy Center in Henry County, Illinois. This wind energy will be generated from
134 General Electric 1.5-megawatt SLE wind turbines.
One hundred fifty megawatts will come from its White Oak Energy Center in McLean County, Illinois. One
hundred General Electric 1.5-megawatt SLE wind turbines will produce this energy. Construction is under way,
with generation beginning in January 2012. Invenergy will manage the facilities.
Invenergy/Hurricane Lake Wind Energy I LLC will supply 250 megawatts of wind energy from its Hurricane Lake
Wind Energy Center in Roberts County in northeast South Dakota. The wind energy will come from 167 General
Electric 1.5-megawatt wind turbines. Construction is planned to start in 2011, with generation beginning in early
2012. Invenergy will manage the facility.
All new wind contracts are competitive with forecasted electricity market prices. The renewable energy credits will
belong to TVA. All contracts are contingent on meeting applicable environmental requirements and obtaining firm
transmission paths to TVA.
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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/
Vesta 1.65 MW wind turbines
http://www.vestas.com/en/wind-power-solutions/wind-turbines/1.65-mw.aspx
Gamesa Wind Turbines
http://www.gamesacorp.com/en/products/wind-turbines/catalogue/gamesa-g87-20-mw
General Electric 1.5 MW wind turbines
http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/wind_turbines/en/downloads/GEA14954C15-MW-Broch.pdf