Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm

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Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm

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Aerial view of the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm
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Location of Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm
Country United States
Location Tehachapi Pass, Kern County, California
Coordinates 35°06′08″N118°16′58″W / 35.10222°N 118.28278°W / 35.10222; -118.28278 Coordinates: 35°06′08″N118°16′58″W / 35.10222°N 118.28278°W / 35.10222; -118.28278
Status Operational
Construction began 1980s
Wind farm
Type Onshore
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 705 MW

Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm is one of the first large-scale wind farms installed in the U.S., with around 700 MWcapacity. [1] [2]

Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity, or maximum effect, is the intended full-load sustained output of a facility such as a power plant, electric generator, a chemical plant, fuel plant, metal refinery, mine, and many others. Nameplate capacity is the number registered with authorities for classifying the power output of a power station usually expressed in megawatts (MW).

Contents

Overview

Wind development in the Tehachapi Pass began in the early 1980s by James Dehlsen and Zond Corporation. The first set of wind turbines installed were of American-made Storm Master brand, however they proved troublesome and eventually had to be replaced. Dehlsen quickly turned to Danish-built machines later, thus comprising the majority of the turbines at the pass. [3] The area hosts a multitude of wind farms, comprising one of California's largest wind resource areas. The pass is undergoing much repowering activity. The area has multiple generations of wind turbine technology installed, including both single and double-blade turbines, as well as the more modern three-blade horizontal axis design. The older generation turbines generate kilowatts, and the modern turbines installed generate up to 3 megawatts, depending on the specific turbine and manufacturer. The Tehachapi wind resource area is a net exporter of generation to other parts of the state of California. A state initiative to upgrade the transmission out of Tehachapi (Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project) began in 2008 and was expected to be completed by 2012. This has opened the door to further regional wind power development and multiple projects are expected to be installed to utilize that capacity. A prime location for viewing the turbines is off of State Route 58 and from Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road.

Tehachapi Pass

Tehachapi Pass is a mountain pass crossing the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, California in the United States. Traditionally, the pass marks the northeast end of the Tehachapis and the south end of the Sierra Nevada range.

James G.P. Dehlsen is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He is a pioneering figure in wind power and renewable energy development in the United States.

Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project

The Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project is a project involving the construction of approximately 173 miles of new and upgraded high-voltage transmission lines for transmission of electricity from wind farms and other generating units in southeastern Kern County, California to Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County.

Further development

One proponent for further regional wind power development is Southern California Edison, which executed power purchase agreements for up to 1,500 megawatts (MW) or more of power generated from new projects to be built in the Tehachapi area, of which the Alta Wind Energy Center was developed. The 2006 contract, which more than doubles SCE’s wind energy portfolio, envisions more than 50 square miles (130 km2) of wind parks in the Tehachapi region, which is triple the size of any existing U.S. wind farm. [4]

Southern California Edison electrical utility in Southern California, USA

Southern California Edison, the largest subsidiary of Edison International, is the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California. It provides 14 million people with electricity across a service territory of approximately 50,000 square miles. However, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, San Diego Gas & Electric, Imperial Irrigation District, and some smaller municipal utilities serve substantial portions of the southern California territory. The northern part of the state is generally served by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company of San Francisco.

Alta Wind Energy Center

Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC), also known as Mojave Wind Farm, is the third largest onshore wind energy project in the world. The Alta Wind Energy Center is a wind farm located in Tehachapi Pass of the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern County, California. As of 2013, it is the largest wind farm in the United States, with a combined installed capacity of 1,547 MW (2,075,000 hp). The project, being developed near Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm— site of the first large-scale wind farms installed in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s—is "a powerful illustration of the growing size and scope of modern wind projects".

Other well-known wind turbine locations in California include the adjacent Alta Wind Energy Center, the Altamont Pass Wind Farm and the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm, near Palm Springs.

Palm Springs, California City in California, United States

Palm Springs is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 55 mi (89 km) east of San Bernardino, 107 mi (172 km) east of Los Angeles, 123 mi (198 km) northeast of San Diego, and 268 mi (431 km) west of Phoenix, Arizona. The population was 44,552 as of the 2010 census. Palm Springs covers approximately 94 square miles (240 km2), making it the largest city in the county by land area.

Tehachapi Pass Wind Turbines Tehachapi wind farm 3.jpg
Tehachapi Pass Wind Turbines

See also

Tehachapi Wind Resource Area

Tehachapi Wind Resource Area, also known as TWRA, is considered the largest wind resource area of California.

Wind power in the United States

Wind power in the United States is a branch of the energy industry that has expanded quickly over the latest several years. For the twelve months through November 2017, 254.2 terawatt-hours were generated by wind power, or 6.33% of all generated electrical energy.

Wind power in California

Wind power has a long history in the state of California, with the initiative and early development occurring during Governor Jerry Brown's first two terms in the late 1970s and early 1980s. California's wind power capacity has grown by nearly 350% since 2001, when it was less than 1,700 MW. In 2016, wind energy now supplies about 6.9% of California's total electricity needs, or enough to power more than 1.3 million households. Most of California's wind generation is found in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, California, with some big projects in Solano, Contra Costa and Riverside counties as well. California is among the states with the largest amount of installed wind power capacity. In recent years, California has lagged behind other states when it comes to the installation of wind power. It was ranked 4th overall for wind power electrical generation at the end of 2016 behind Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. As of December 31, 2016, California had 5,662 megawatts (MW) of wind powered electricity generating capacity.

Related Research Articles

Wind farm group of wind turbines

A wind farm or wind park is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other purposes. A wind farm can also be located offshore.

Arklow Bank Wind Park

Arklow Bank Wind Park is a 25 megawatt offshore wind farm generating electrical power for the Wicklow region in Ireland. It is the first offshore wind farm in Ireland, and the world's first erection of wind turbines rated over 3 MW. It is located on the Arklow Bank, a shallow water sandbank in the Irish Sea, around 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) off the coast of Arklow with an area of 27 by 2.5 kilometres.

Wind power in South Australia South Australian use of wind turbines to generate electricity

Wind power has become a significant energy source within South Australia over the past decade. As of 2015, there was an installed capacity of 1,475 MW, which accounts for 34% of electricity production in the state. This represents 35% of Australia's installed wind power capacity.

Wind power in Texas

Wind power in Texas consists of many wind farms with a total installed nameplate capacity of 22,637 MW from over 40 different projects. Texas produces the most wind power of any U.S. state. According to ERCOT, wind power accounted for at least 15.7% of the electricity generated in Texas during 2017, as wind was 17.4% of electricity generated in ERCOT, which manages 90% of Texas's power.

Wind power in Ohio

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Wind power in Iowa

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Biglow Canyon Wind Farm

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Wind power in New York

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Hadyard Hill Wind Farm

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to wind energy:

References

  1. ↑ Terra-Gen bags $631m for more phases at California's Alta Wind Renewable Energy World, 29 July 2010.
  2. ↑ World's Largest Wind Project is Underway Recharge, June 3, 2011
  3. ↑ "25th Anniversary Special - An American Memoir - Winds raced and storms faced". www.windpowermonthly.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  4. ↑ Southern California Edison Signs Largest Wind Energy Contract in U.S. Renewable Industry History
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