blade design that optimizes energy output. These advancements make it possible to bring wind power into locations that normally would be unsuitable for development.
Exergy Development Group will install 18 Gamesa turbines on 78-meter towers at its 36 MW Big Blue Wind Farm in the city of Blue Earth, near the state’s border with Iowa. Minnesota is among the top six states for installed wind power capacity, but this is the first commercial wind farm to be built in Faribault County.
This is also Gamesa’s first wind farm project with Exergy.
“This is a new collaboration that brings Gamesa’s innovative wind turbine technology into Exergy’s expanding renewable energy development portfolio, and it enables us to showcase a new turbine model that can increase the potential for wind development across the United States,” said David Rosenberg, Vice President of Marketing for Gamesa North America.
Meanwhile, Dustin Shively, Exergy’s lead project engineer on the Big Blue Project, “The G97 is a very efficient turbine and perfect for this site. We are excited to be working with Gamesa and look forward to having the turbines installed and fulfilling our mission to provide wind energy to the Blue Earth community.”
The construction for the project will create approximately 60 jobs locally and is already under way. Exergy recently finished building the roads and foundations. Gamesa is handling the logistics and installation of the turbines, with nacelles, blades towers and rotors set for delivery in September.
Upon completion, the wind farm will be owned by Exergy’s subsidiary, Big Blue Wind Farm, LLC. Northern States Power will purchase the offtake, which is enough to power about 20,000 homes per year.
The wind farm will be completed and operational by the end of the year.
For additional information:
