After more than two years of planning, permitting, construction and testing, Great River Energy’s Elk River Peaking Station has finally begun commercial operation. The 175MW natural gas peaking plant uses a Siemens simple-cycle combustion turbine-generator, and can generate electricity that can cater to the needs of approximately 175,000 homes. Located in Sherburne County, Minnesota, the facility can also be used to provide voltage support to the area’s transmission grid or for other grid support functions.
The plant will be fueled with natural gas from April to October and with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel oil the rest of the year. Great River Energy anticipates Elk River Peaking Station’s total operating time to average 500 to 1,100 hours a year. The majority is expected to occur during summer, periods of high air conditioner use.
Vince Herda, Project Manager of Great River Energy, said: “We are proud that the Elk River Peaking Station is doing what it was built to do and already has provided power during some of our hottest days this summer. It already is serving our member cooperatives by providing power into the MISO market very quickly and cost effectively.”
Great River Energy is a not-for-profit cooperative which provides wholesale electricity to more than 1.7 million people through 28 member distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
