The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a federal power marketing agency and utility system operator in the Pacific Northwest, notched a new system wind generation record of 4,344 megawatts (MW) on January 29 at 7:15 p.m. Pacific time.
The new record surpasses BPA’s old wind generation mark of 4,289 MW, and came in the middle of a period of more than 60 hours during which wind generation never fell below 3,400 MW. It was the latest in a series of new highs being set around the country as new wind farms installed last year begin churning out electricity.
Under typical conditions, one MW of electricity can power approximately 800 homes, so wind output of 4,344 MW would be enough to power roughly 3.5 million homes.
Related articles:
ERCOT sets wind generation record on Christmas Day, January 14, 2013
Southwest Power Pool achieves wind penetration record, December 20, 2012
ERCOT, SPP systems see record wind generation levels, November 21, 2012
Texas system operator tallies new record: 8,368 MW, June 21, 2012
WINDPOWER 2012 Update: Xcel Colorado sets new mark with 56.7% wind, June 5, 2012
Wind generation sets new records in Texas, Spain, May 22, 2012
Across the U.S., wind power sets new generation records, February 13, 2012
Xcel sets world record with 55.6% wind penetration, November 28, 2011
After a scorching week, wind power lessons from the Texas heat wave, August 11, 2011
Wind energy integration: Some fundamental facts, June 23, 2011
By Michael Goggin, AWEA Manager-Transmission Policy.
