BP completed a technology upgrade at its Fowler Ridge 1 wind farm in northwest Indiana, enabling the site to produce more power efficiently and with greater reliability, according to a Nov. 20 press release.
The project involved upgrading 40 turbines, including installing 120 individual blades and 40 new nacelles, which house power generation equipment and transformers atop the wind towers. According to BP, capital investment towards the project came to approximately $100 million and meets the company’s expected returns for renewables.
The new Vestas turbines are expected to produce up to 40% more energy and are estimated to generate an average of 314,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually—enough renewable electricity to potentially power around 27,000 homes—the release stated.
"This project is a substantial upgrade for the wind farm and another investment in BP’s low-carbon energy future,” said Orlando Alvarez, chairman and president of BP. “It shows BP’s strategy in action—contributing to a more secure, affordable and lower carbon energy mix while pursuing our net zero ambition."
BP plans to recycle the decommissioned blades by shredding and blending them with raw materials to make cement products, the release added.
“Repowering wind projects offers an optimal solution for ageing fleets by increasing the annual energy production and expanding the lifespan of a project—a critical component of the clean energy transition,” said Ramit Bajaj, senior vice president of construction and operations for Vestas.
BP operates three Fowler Ridge wind farms, which collectively have 355 turbines generating enough power to support approximately 195,000 Indiana homes annually, the release added.
Recommended Reading
What's Affecting Oil Prices This Week? (May 6, 2024)
2024-05-06 - Stratas Advisors forecast that oil demand for 2024 will increase by 1.41 MMbbl/d in comparison to 2023 and that oil demand will increase by 810,000 bbl/d in comparison to 2Q23.
TC Energy Preparing for Natural Gas Demand Surge
2024-05-06 - TC Energy executives expect data centers in Wisconsin and Virginia to drive as much as 8 Bcf/d of natural gas demand for power generation.
It’s Complicated: E&Ps Find Some Financial Tailwinds, But It’s Not All Smooth Sailing
2024-05-03 - Relatively stable WTI prices in the $80s/bbl provide some breathing room as companies allocate cash for operations, and pragmatism is seeping into the energy transition movement.
Pitts: US, Qatar Face off in LNG ‘Olympics’
2024-05-03 - In the LNG exporting space, the U.S. is squaring off with its fiercest competitor, Qatar, with both countries expected to outpace Australia
US Oil Stockpiles Surge as Prices Dip, Production Remains Elevated
2024-02-14 - EIA reported crude oil stocks increased by 12.8 MMbbl as February began, far outstripping expectations.