Dry Lake Wind Power Project
CountryUnited States
Locationbetween Holbrook and Heber, Arizona
Coordinates34°38′N 110°13′W / 34.633°N 110.217°W / 34.633; -110.217
StatusOperational
Commission dateOctober 2009
Owner(s)Iberdrola Renewables
Operator(s)Avangrid
Wind farm
TypeOnshore
Power generation
Units operational61 turbines
Make and modelSuzlon S88-2.1 MW
Nameplate capacity128.1 MW
Capacity factor20.7% (average 2011–2017)
Annual net output232 GW·h

The Dry Lake Wind Power Project in Navajo County is the first and the largest 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).

History

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

Phase 1 (34°39′36″N 110°17′03″W / 34.66000°N 110.28417°W / 34.66000; -110.28417 (Dry Lake Wind Power Project phase I)) 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 / 34.60611; -110.17333 (Dry Lake Wind Power Project phase II)) 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

Dry Lake Wind Project Electricity Generation (MW·h)
YearDry Lake 1
(63 MW) [5]		Dry Lake 2
(65.1 MW) [6]		Total Annual MW·h
2009 29,545*– 29,545
2010 118,77716,139* 134,916
2011 124,401124,330 248,731
2012 112,688114,097 226,785
2013 107,393110,934 218,327
2014 117,246121,525 238,771
2015 104,882107,261 212,143
2016 112,321116,380 228,701
2017 123,484127,022 250,506
Average Annual Production (years 2011-2017) --->231,995
Average Capacity Factor (years 2011–2017) --->20.7%

(*) partial year of operation

Environmental effect

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

References

  1. 1 2 Randazzo, Ryan (2009-05-12). "Harvesting Arizona wind". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  2. ↑ "Dry Lake (US)". thewindpower.net. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  3. ↑ "Dry Lake II (US)". thewindpower.net. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  4. ↑ "SRP Buys Entire Output of Iberdrola Renewables' Dry Lake 2 Wind Power Project". businesswire.com. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  5. ↑ "Dry Lake 1, Annual". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  6. ↑ "Dry Lake 2, Annual". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  7. ↑ 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.
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