Wind power in South Dakota

Wind resource map of South Dakota

The state of South Dakota led the U.S. in wind power generation with 22.3% of the state's electricity generation coming from wind in 2011.[1] South Dakota has over 800 megawatts (MW) of wind generation capacity.<ref name="AWEA2014>AWEA Fourth quarter 2014 wind power market report - executive summary</ref>

South Dakota is one of the country's windiest states, and has the potential of installing 882,000 MW, and generating 2,902 billion kWh/year.[2] Just as in Texas, the construction of new wind farms is transmission line limited.[3]

South Dakota's first wind farm was the South Dakota Wind Energy Center, built in 2003.[4]

Summary statistics

Wind generation percentage
Wind power per capita
Wind power capacity density

List of wind farms in South Dakota

Buffalo Ridge
Crow Lake
Day County
MinnDakota
South Dakota
Wessington
Wind power projects in South Dakota
  Operating
  Under construction
  Proposed

The following is an incomplete list of wind farms.

Name Size (MW) Location Status
Buffalo Ridge I Wind Farm 77 44°21′N 96°24′W / 44.350°N 96.400°W April 2009
Buffalo Ridge II Wind Farm 210 44°19′N 96°28′W / 44.317°N 96.467°W December 2010
Crow Lake Wind Project 162 43°56′N 98°48′W / 43.933°N 98.800°W February 2011
Day County Wind Farm 99 45°25′N 97°43′W / 45.417°N 97.717°W April 2010
MinnDakota Wind Farm 150 44°24′N 96°16′W / 44.400°N 96.267°W January 2008
South Dakota Wind Energy Center 40.5 44°21′N 99°28′W / 44.350°N 99.467°W 2003
Tatanka Wind Farm 88.5* 45°56′N 98°58′W / 45.933°N 98.967°W March 2008
Titan Wind Project 25 44°31′N 99°12′W / 44.517°N 99.200°W December 2009
Wessington Springs Wind Project 51 44°05′N 98°34′W / 44.083°N 98.567°W February 2009
* In South Dakota

Wind generation

All across the midwest, the Aermotor Windmill and others like it, have been used for a century for pumping water
South Dakota Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2010 1,372 43 31 51 81 98 67 64 77 132 130 134 134
2011 2,692 184 263 234 301 280 206 148 156 142 253 275 256
2012 2,914 288 224 289 286 270 227 183 174 198 294 262 214
2013 2,687260213230272236201157150201256284227

Source:[5][6]

South Dakota Wind Generation in 2011 and 2012

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AWEA Annual Report 2011". American Wind Energy Association. April 12, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials
  3. ↑ ITC holdings
  4. ↑ South Dakota Wind Energy Projects
  5. ↑ EIA (July 27, 2012). "Electric Power Monthly Table 1.17.A.". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  6. ↑ EIA (July 27, 2012). "Electric Power Monthly Table 1.17.B.". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2012-08-15.

External links

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