WIND PERFORMANCE REPORT SUMMARY 2002-2003
Publication Number: CEC-500-2006-060
Publication Date: June 2006
PIER Program Area: Renewable Energy Research
The executive summary, abstract and table of contents for this report are available below. This publication is available as an Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format File. In order to download, read and print PDF files, you will need a copy of the free Acrobat Reader software installed in and configured for your computer. The software can be downloaded from Adobe Systems Incorporated's website.
Executive Summary
Wind energy capacity and production have grown gradually in the past few years. This capacity and production increase comes from new developments and re-powering of existing turbines. The actual number of turbines in California has increased by 595, or 5.1 percent, from 2001 to 2003. The total installed capacity in California as of 2003 is 2,122 megawatts, MW. This is comprised of 191 MW of installed municipal capacity, 1,824 MW of reported capacity by investor-owned utilities, and an estimated 107 MW of unreported capacity. The 1,824 MW of reported, installed capacity represents about 5 percent of the world's total wind generating capacity of 39,294 MW in 2003.
The purpose of this report is to summarize the performance of wind energy projects in California in 2002 and 2003. Information on the number of turbines, nameplate capacity, energy production, and location is provided in tables and maps. This information is compiled from reports furnished by California's wind project operations.
This document reports wind energy capacity and production in California by turbine size, location, and year to the wind energy industry in California and beyond.
As a result of this report, the renewable energy community will have more accurate information regarding California's wind energy production. In 2003, the California wind industry reported 3,714 million kilowatt hours, kWh of electricity output. This is electricity sufficient to power approximately 539,511 households for a year.
While this report is not intended to offer conclusions, it can be noted that:
- The uncertainty associated with renewal of the federal Production Tax Credit inserts ambiguity into wind turbine investment decisions.
- The Renewable Portfolio Standards goal is the driving force in encouraging renewable energy development, such as wind.
- Larger, more efficient turbines are gradually replacing older, smaller, lower capacity turbines, offering a increase in electricity generation from wind.
- The capacity factor of California's wind energy turbine fleet is remaining steady in the 24 percent to 26 percent range.
Abstract
This document is prepared pursuant to Wind Project Performance Reporting System regulations (California Administrative Code, Title 20, Chapter 2, Subchapter 3, Article 4) and to support California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) staff analyses.
The purpose of this report is to summarize the performance of wind energy projects in California in 2002 and 2003. Information on the number of turbines, nameplate capacity, energy production and location is provided in tables and maps. This information is compiled from reports furnished by California's wind project operators. This report shows recent trends and presents some historical information regarding wind energy generation in California.
Keywords: Altamont, capacity, capacity factor, turbine, Pacheco, San Gorgonio, Solano, Tehachapi, wind
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT iiEXECUTIVE SUMMARY iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
TABLES OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF FIGURES vii
LIST OF TABLES viii
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND ON WIND PERFORMANCE REPORT SUMMARY 2
Reasons for Wind Performance Report Summary Regulations 2
Information Provided by Wind Performance Report Summary Reports 3
Information Not Provided by Wind Performance Report Summary Reports 4
Considerations and Limitations Using Wind Performance Report Summary Data 4
Failed to File 6
Reports with Missing Data 6
Changes to WPRS Reporting 6
Large Wind Generation 7
California Small Wind Turbines (Systems Less than 100 kW) 8
SMALL WIND TURBINES 9
Range 11–30 kW Turbine Sizes 10
Range 40–50 kW Turbine Sizes 11
Range 60–70 kW Turbine Sizes 11
California Utility Scale Wind Facilities 12
Range 50–99 kW Turbine Sizes 14
Range 100–199 kW Turbine Sizes 15
Range 200–499 kW Turbine Sizes 16
Range 500–699 kW Turbine Sizes 16
Range 700–750 kW Turbine Sizes 17
Range 1000+ kW Turbine Sizes 17
Total Capacity 18
Electricity Output 19
Capacity Factor 20
Production and Capacity Trends 22
Statewide 22
Resource Area 24
Turbine Size and Type 28
Turbine Manufacturers 33
Wind Project Operators 35
Foreign and Domestic 37
CHAPTER 7 OPERATOR DATA 46
Performance Data by Wind Projects 47
Section Notes 48
Data Missing 48
Failed to File 48
Electricity Produced 48
Other Participant(s) 48
Rotor (m2) 49
Size (kW) 49
APPENDICES 60
APPENDIX A TURBINE MANUFACTURERS AND FACILITIES 61
APPENDIX B SOURCES OF WIND ENERGY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/INFORMATION 65
APPENDIX C WPRS DATA REPORTING TEMPLATE 66
APPENDIX D WPRS REGULATIONS 67