Macho Springs Wind Energy Facility in New Mexico to See 50-Megawatt Solar Addition

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (SugarLand, Texas)--Element Power Americas (Portland, Oregon) is working toward a Phase II to the already operational site at Macho Springs Wind Energy Facility in Luna County, New Mexico. Phase II, reported to be a solar addition, will consist of thin-filmed photovoltaic solar panels. Once completed, an additional 50 megawatts (MW) will be introduced to the local grid system.

Bids have not been sent out for the balance-of-plant contractor, but are expected to be released by late summer. Construction is expected to start late in the fourth quarter of 2012, and project completion is expected before the end of 2013.

The Point of Interconnection for Phase II is at the existing 345-kilovolt (kV) Macho Springs Station. There will not be any needed system upgrades necessary to interconnect this solar facility at the Macho Springs Station.

Phase I at Macho Springs consisted of 28 Vestas V100-model wind turbine generator sets. Each turbine is capable of producing 1.8 MW at full operating capacity. Phase I of the wind facility will provide 50.4 MW of renewable energy to the local grid system.

Tucson Electric Power has signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the wind energy produced at this facility. Mortenson Construction (Minneapolis, Minnesota) was the general contractor overseeing the development and operational status of the facility.

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