Flat Ridge Wind Farm
{{short description|Wind farm in Kansas, USA}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Flat Ridge Wind Farm
| name_official = Flat Ridge Wind Farm
| image =
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| coordinates = {{coord|37|21|59|N|98|15|40|W|type:landmark_scale:10000_region:US|display=inline,title}}
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| country = United States
| location = {{convert|50|mi|km|-1}} southwest of Wichita, Kansas
| status =
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| commissioned =
| decommissioned =
| cost =
| owner = Flat Ridge 1: Westar Energy (50%), BP Alternative Energy (50%)
Flat Ridge 2: Sempra Energy (50%), BP Alternative Energy (50%)
| operator = BP Alternative Energy
(dba AE Power Services)
| ps_units_operational = 334 turbines
| ps_units_manu_model = Clipper C96-2.5 MW,
GE 1.6 MW
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| wind_farm_type = Onshore
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| ps_electrical_capacity = 570.4 MW
| ps_electrical_cap_fac = 41.8% (average 2013-2017)
| ps_annual_generation= 2,091 GW·h
| website =
| extra =
}}
The Flat Ridge Wind Farm is an electricity generating wind facility spanning the intersection of Barber, Harper and Kingman County in the U.S. state of Kansas, located about {{convert|50|mi|km|-1}} southwest of the city of Wichita. It was constructed in two phases and has a total generating capacity of 570.4 megawatts (MW), becoming the largest such facility in the state upon its completion in 2012.{{Cite web |url=http://openei.org/wiki/Flat_Ridge_Wind_Farm |title=Flat Ridge Wind Farm |publisher=openei.org |access-date=April 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.semprarenewables.com/project/flat-ridge-2/ |title=Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm |publisher=Sempra Renewables |access-date=April 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2012/12/26/kansas-largest-wind-farm-about-to.html |title=Kansas' largest wind farm about to come online |publisher=Wichita Business Journal |date=December 26, 2012}}
Facility details
Flat Ridge 1 was jointly developed, financed, and continues to be jointly owned by BP Alternative Energy and Westar Energy. BP is also selling its share of the power generated to Westar, which is the largest electricity distributor in Kansas.{{Cite web |url=http://www.westarenergy.com/content/aboutus/ourcompany/generatingfacilities/windfacilities |title=Wind Generating Facilities |publisher=Westar Energy |access-date=April 2, 2019}} This initial phase consists of 40 Clipper Liberty C96 wind turbines, each rated at 2.5 MW, for a total capacity of 100 MW.
Construction began in May 2008 covering about 5,000 acres of farm and ranch land in eastern Barber County. Signal Wind Energy was awarded the contract to erect the turbines and build the balance of the plant; including all access roads, turbine foundations, and the electrical collection and transmission system.{{Cite web |url=http://www.signalenergy.com/in-the-news/signal-wind-energy-selected-as-balance-of-plant-contractor-for-the-flat-ridge-wind-farm |title=Signal Wind Energy Selected as Balance of Plant Contractor for the Flat Ridge Wind Farm |publisher=signalenergy.com |date=June 10, 2008}} Flat Ridge 1 was fully online by the middle of 2009, and is operated and maintained by BP's AE Power Services.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thewindpower.net/windfarm_en_4323_flat-ridge-i.php |title=Flat Ridge I |publisher=thewindpower.net |access-date=April 2, 2019}}
Flat Ridge 2 was initially developed by BP Alternative Energy for a capacity of 419.2 MW, and was then expanded by 51.2 MW to meet further demand.{{Cite web |url=http://openei.org/wiki/Flat_Ridge_2 |title=Flat Ridge 2 |publisher=openei.org |access-date=April 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=http://openei.org/wiki/Flat_Ridge_2_Expansion |title=Flat Ridge 2 Expansion |publisher=openei.org |access-date=April 2, 2019}} This phase consists of 294 GE 1.6 MW wind turbines.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thewindpower.net/windfarm_en_19315_flat-ridge-ii.php |title=Flat Ridge II |publisher=thewindpower.net |access-date=April 2, 2019}} The electricity is being sold under separate power purchase agreements to utilities in Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. BP and Sempra Energy jointly own and financed the nearly $800 million project.
Blattner Energy was awarded the construction contract for phase 2. It is thus far one of the largest projects in the U.S. to be built in a single phase, creating about 500 construction jobs, and 30 long-term positions.{{Cite web |url=http://www.power-technology.com/projects/flat-ridge-2-wind-farm/ |title=Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm |publisher=power-technology.com |access-date=April 2, 2019}} In addition to the 66,000 acre plant, a new 46 mile transmission line was built to a 345kV substation in Sumner County.{{Cite web |url=http://blattnerenergy.com/projects/flat-ridge-ii-transmission-line/ |title=345KV Transmission Line and Substation |publisher=Blattner Energy |access-date=April 2, 2019}} Flat Ridge 2 reached full capacity in December 2012, and is also operated and maintained by AE Power Services.
Electricity production
(*) partial year of operation
(NR) not yet reported
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Kansas|Weather|Renewable energy}}}}
References
External links
- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0ChUL4Fda0 BP's Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Kansas]
- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGK84hDIBZ8 Largest Single-Build Wind Farm in U.S. History: Flat Ridge 2, Kansas]
{{BP}}
{{Wind power in the United States}}
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2009
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2012
Category:Buildings and structures in Barber County, Kansas
Category:Buildings and structures in Harper County, Kansas