BP improves efficiency at Benton County wind farm
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A wind farm in Benton County will produce about 40% more energy after BP installed updates increasing the project’s efficiency and lifespan.
The Fowler Ridge 1 wind farm now features new Vestas turbines, which can generate 314,000 kilowatt-hours each year or enough energy to power about 27,000 homes. The company said the new technology means it will be more efficient with lower wind speeds.
The upgrade included the installation of 40 turbines, 120 blades and 40 nacelles. The 3.3 million pounds of decommissioned blades are set to be recycled.
“This project is a substantial upgrade for the wind farm and another investment in BP’s low-carbon energy future,” Orlando Alvarez, chairman and president of BP America, said in a news release. “It shows BP’s strategy in action – contributing to a more secure, affordable and lower carbon energy mix while pursuing our net zero ambition.”
Overall, the farm has 355 turbines, powering about 195,000 homes annually.