For the second phase of the project, Minnesota Power has commissioned Allete, an energy service provider, to install 15 new 3MW turbines manufactured by Siemens instead of the 17 turbines of 2.3MW originally planned, to generate an additional 10,000MWh of annual energy.
Siemens’ new SWT-3.0-101 direct drive wind turbines feature a permanent magnet generator but no gearbox and have the potential to reduce maintenance time with reduced number of parts in the turbine, resulting in higher turbine availability.
Bison Project, which will deliver energy to Minnesota Power’s customers in northeastern Minnesota, over a 465-mile direct current transmission line it purchased on 31 December 2009, complements Minnesota’s renewable energy mandate to deliver 25% of its energy from renewable sources.
Minnesota Power senior vice president of strategy and planning Eric Norberg said that the company is very excited to apply this leading-edge technology to the Bison Wind Project the first phase of which is operational with 16 turbines.
"Our customers will benefit from the additional energy production and the likelihood of improved efficiency for many years," Norberg said.
