Enel Green Power scores another point. The Enel Group company that deals with the development and management of renewable sources all over the world, commenced construction on the Cimarron Bend wind farm expansion in Clark Country, Kansas, making it the largest wind farm in Enel's North American portfolio. For an investment of more than 281 million dollars, construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2020.
The expansion involves the installation of 74 turbines which will increase the overall capacity of the project, moving from the current ones 400MV to 599MW, so as to achieve more sustainable operations for the benefit of customers.
The first two phases of the project began in 2016, and since 2017 have already involved a total investment of over 891 million dollars. The enlargement will allow for avoid the emission of 1,8 million tons of CO2.
The expansion operation is based on a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from 150 MV, lasting 15 years, with the electric utility company Evergy, which already last January pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80% (below 2005 levels by 2050).
In addition, this PPA will include support for Evergy's Renewables Direct program, which allows commercial and industrial customers to offset a percentage of their energy use through renewable sources. A joint action agency of the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA), the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (MJMEUC), will purchase the production of a portion from 30MV of the 12-year project.
As for the energy and related renewable credits deriving from the original portion (400MV), they will be sold under long-term PPA with Google and the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
The whole in full compliance with the anti-Covid regulations. At the Cimarron Bend site, crews are implementing safe working measures and operations have been structured to maintain social distancing and follow other best practices. In addition, as part of a $1,3 million pandemic response effort in the U.S. and Canada, the company has provided $69 to first responder food safety organizations in Kansas.
An important project for the company which it is building in the USA and Canada nearly 1GW of new wind and solar capacity in 2020. Other Enel Green Power projects under construction include the second phase of the 245MV Roadrunner solar farm in Texas, the 236,5MV White Cloud wind farm in Missouri and the 299MV Aurora wind farm in North Dakota.
“The expansion of Cimarron Bend demonstrates both the maturity of our wind operations and our commitment to growing our portfolio of state-of-the-art renewable plants that will generate value for many years to come while providing sustainable energy”- he has declared Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of Enel GP.
"Adding Cimarron Bend wind power to our energy portfolio provides our member utilities with greater stability in energy prices and lower costs," he added. Ewell Lawson, Vice President External Affairs of MPUA – “This will increase the diversity of energy sources by supplying the 35 community-owned utilities, adding an additional 50% to their renewable portfolio”.
“As we continue to implement a greater proportion of renewables in our overall generation mix, Evergy is pleased to work in partnership with Enel on this expansion project to increase our total wind capacity,” he said. Kevin Brannan, Director of Products and Solutions of Evergy, Renewable Sources.
