Biggest Wind Farm in World — in Texas

October 3rd, 2009 by Zachary Shahan

European energy giant E.ON “turned on” what is reported to be the largest wind farm in the world this week, in Texas.

The farm contains 627 wind turbines on almost 100,000 acres of land near Roscoe, Texas.

The wind turbines were built by Mitsubishi, General Electric and Siemens. In total, they could power more than 230,000 homes.

The project was a huge investment and a complicated task. Steve Trenholm, North American chief executive of E.ON’s Climate and Renewables sector, said: “Completing the world’s biggest wind farm took more than a billion-dollar investment, co-ordination with more than 300 landowners and management of more than 500 workers.”

Texas governor Rick Perry took this opportunity to highlight Texas’ commitment to renewable energy. He said: “Texas continues to lead the nation in the development of renewable energy and has more wind-generation capacity than any other state and all but four countries.”

This project continues to show the world’s confidence in US wind energy and will help to keep wind energy the fastest growing energy source in the nation.

Additionally, Texas gets to claim that it has the biggest of something again.

via BusinessGreen

Image Credits: chemisti; the russians are here; ninjawil; cobalt123

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Tags: GE, general electric, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Texas

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

Don Lieske

Why not have a 50%/50% trade policy that would balance foreign manufactured wind farms with US. 50% local content could develop the US work force, keep some technology at home and reduce carbon foot print by reducing long haul ocean transportation from the Far East.

Its a no brainer! Split the pie.
Don Lieske

Why not have a 50%/50% trade policy that would balance foreign manufactured wind farms with US. 50% local content could develop the US work force, keep some technology at home and reduce carbon foot print by reducing long haul ocean transportation from the Far East.

Its a no brainer! Split the pie.
J Smith

What is the capacity factor on these turbines?
J Smith

What is the capacity factor on these turbines?
- http://twitter.com/aligatorhardt Allen Gerhardt
  
  Capacity factor is a irrelevant measure invented by fossil fuel and nuclear supporters. They take the maximum allowable speed of operation in wind speed mph, then figure the average operating speed in service, then claim that the turbine is not providing sufficient output. This is nonsense. No one expects to have gale force winds every day, but the turbine must be able to survive high wind speeds without damage. The turbine is built to survive and operate in high wind conditions, but there is a safe limit, just as there is a “red line” safe limit on a car engine. Many turbines are set to stop at around 55 mph wind speed to prevent damage to turbine components. Most turbines require a minimum of 7 mph average wind speeds for electric production. Wind resource maps are available to see which areas have sufficient wind resources for the use of wind turbines. Individual manufacturers can provide the exact specs for particular models of turbines.
- Anonymous
  
  Texas wind from 2004 through 2005 had an average 39% capacity factor.
  
  Nuclear in the US 1971 to 2009 had an average 70% capacity factor.
  
  In the US in 2009 these were the capacity factors for other types of electricity generation.
  
  Coal 63.8%
  Natural gas, CCGT 42.2%
  Other NG 10.1%
  Conventional hydro 39.8%
  
  Other NG is largely gas peaker plants so it’s understandable why their capacity is low.
  
  Looks like wind is about the same as CCGT and hydro.
  
  (Just the numbers I found quickly, not cherry-picked.)
  
  http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat5p2.html
  
  http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/renewable/wind.php
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacity_factor#Capacity_factor_and_renewable_energy
Yolanda Arellano

Maybe…. maybe there is hope after all.
Yolanda Arellano

Maybe…. maybe there is hope after all.
Joe

Yes, Texas has wind incentives and is spending 10 billion on building transmission lines.
Joe

Yes, Texas has wind incentives and is spending 10 billion on building transmission lines.
Jim

Did the state of Texas actually have anything to do with organizing, building, and funding this, or are they just taking credit for a private project?
Jim

Did the state of Texas actually have anything to do with organizing, building, and funding this, or are they just taking credit for a private project?
http://www.housedoctorspei.com/ William White

Congratulations Texas, good on ya. Now if you could just get rid of all those crooked lying sleazy Republican sons a bitches you’ll be all right.
http://www.housedoctorspei.com/ William White

Congratulations Texas, good on ya. Now if you could just get rid of all those crooked lying sleazy Republican sons a bitches you’ll be all right.