North Dakota's Bison Wind Energy Center Expands with 70 Turbines

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Bison Wind Energy Center (New Salem, North Dakota) went into commercial operation in 2010. Since then, Minnesota Power has expanded the facility to accommodate its renewable energy portfolio. Phase II and Phase III went into commercial operations recently, and the facility is supplying energy to the local grid system.

Phase II and Phase III consists of 35 Siemens wind turbines of 3 megawatts (MW) each, for a total of 70 Direct-Drive wind turbines. With the Direct-Drive wind turbines, the gearbox is no longer needed and the magnets' size increases. In other words, there are now fewer parts and lower maintenance costs.

These turbines will produce 210 MW of renewable energy. The entire wind energy facility will generate 292 MW. Phase I consisted of 31 turbines that generated 82 MW of "green," renewable energy.

Michels Wind Energy (Brownsville, Wisconsin) provided the construction services and was the general contractor overseeing all aspects of the construction, from site preparation to the commercial operations of Phase II and Phase III. Siemens was the technology provider, delivering 3-MW wind turbines with Direct-Drive. The enclosed structural steel towers are 265 feet tall, and the turbines are perched on top of the towers. It is expected that this wind energy facility will supply cost-effective, emission-free renewable energy to approximately 150,000 customers.

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