Minnesota Power has reached a significant milestone in its energy supply diversification strategy with the completion of phases two and three of the company’s Bison Wind Energy Center. The 210-megawatt (MW) renewable energy installations near New Salem, N.D., are now operational and the commissioning process has been completed.
Bison 2 and 3 consist of 70 wind turbine generators, each capable of producing three MW of electric power by way of direct-drive turbines manufactured by Siemens AG. The turbines are installed atop 265- foot towers in south-central North Dakota.
Minnesota Power is moving the wind energy from North Dakota to Duluth over a 465-mile direct current transmission line that the company purchased in 2009. That purchase enabled Minnesota Power to phase out a long-term contract to buy coal-based electricity from the Young Station in Center, N.D., and replace it with wind energy.
A meticulous commissioning process for Bison 2 and 3 involving personnel from Minnesota Power and Siemens was recently completed. The final stage of the launch involves control testing that demonstrates that the Bison project can function as a “wind park,” with all three phases working together.
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