Repowering: When Legacy Projects Pave the Way for Increased Power Generation
(Room Power Station)
22 May 19
11:15 AM
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12:30 PM
Tracks:
Wind Project Development
California’s Governor recently signed into effect SB100, declaring 100% renewables by 2045, coupled with SB700, the self-generation incentive program. As the world’s fifth largest economy, California has taken an aggressive step toward sustainability. A renewable energy trailblazer, California leads the way with other states expected to follow. What does this legislation mean in a state like California, where land is scarce, and property values are high? Existing sites with legacy renewable projects like Altamont Pass in Northern California, Tehachapi Pass in Kern County, and the Palm Springs Basin of Riverside County are now infinitely more valuable. Developers will be considering existing wind regimes and proven revenue streams, to re-energize these projects, translating into repowering of current operating projects. Repowering occurs when the improvements comprising the original project including the wind turbine generators, towers, interconnection infrastructure, and roads are redesigned and replaced in whole or in part to accommodate a new generation of wind turbines and newly financed wind projects.