| Flat Ridge Wind Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Flat Ridge Wind Farm |
| Country | United States |
| Location | 50 miles (80 km) southwest ofWichita, Kansas |
| Coordinates | 37°21′59″N98°15′40″W / 37.36639°N 98.26111°W /37.36639; -98.26111 |
| Owners | Flat Ridge 1:Westar Energy (50%),BP Alternative Energy (50%) Flat Ridge 2:Sempra Energy (50%), BP Alternative Energy (50%) |
| Operators | BP Alternative Energy (dba AE Power Services) |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Onshore |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 334 turbines |
| Make and model | Clipper C96-2.5 MW, GE 1.6 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 570.4 MW |
| Capacity factor | 41.8%(average 2013-2017) |
| Annual net output | 2,091 GW·h |
TheFlat Ridge Wind Farm is an electricity generatingwind facility spanning the intersection ofBarber,Harper andKingman County in the U.S. state ofKansas, located about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of the city ofWichita. It was constructed in two phases and has a total generating capacity of 570.4 megawatts (MW), becoming the largest such facility in the state upon its completion in 2012.[1][2][3]
Flat Ridge 1 was jointly developed, financed, and continues to be jointly owned byBP Alternative Energy andWestar Energy. BP is also selling its share of the power generated to Westar, which is the largest electricity distributor in Kansas.[4] This initial phase consists of 40Clipper Liberty C96wind turbines, each rated at 2.5 MW, for a total capacity of 100 MW.[1]
Construction began in May 2008 covering about 5,000 acres of farm and ranch land in eastern Barber County. Signal Wind Energy was awarded the contract to erect the turbines and build the balance of the plant; including all access roads, turbine foundations, and the electrical collection and transmission system.[5] Flat Ridge 1 was fully online by the middle of 2009, and is operated and maintained by BP's AE Power Services.[6]
Flat Ridge 2 was initially developed by BP Alternative Energy for a capacity of 419.2 MW, and was then expanded by 51.2 MW to meet further demand.[7][8] This phase consists of 294GE 1.6 MW wind turbines.[9] The electricity is being sold under separatepower purchase agreements to utilities in Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. BP andSempra Energy jointly own and financed the nearly $800 million project.[2]
Blattner Energy was awarded the construction contract for phase 2. It is thus far one of the largest projects in the U.S. to be built in a single phase, creating about 500 construction jobs, and 30 long-term positions.[10] In addition to the 66,000 acre plant, a new 46 mile transmission line was built to a 345kV substation inSumner County.[11] Flat Ridge 2 reached full capacity in December 2012, and is also operated and maintained by AE Power Services.[7]
| Year | Flat Ridge (1) Westar Energy (50 MW)[12] | Flat Ridge (1) AE Power Services (50 MW)[13] | Flat Ridge 2 AE Power Services (470.4 MW)[14] | Total Annual MW·h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 88,223* | 78,977* | - | 167,200 |
| 2010 | 156,538 | 154,698 | - | 311,236 |
| 2011 | 159,044 | 159,141 | - | 318,185 |
| 2012 | 143,723 | 147,793 | 222,586* | 514,102 |
| 2013 | 127,869 | 136,776 | 1,830,876 | 2,095,521 |
| 2014 | 131,894 | 133,776 | 1,921,860 | 2,187,530 |
| 2015 | 146,968 | 140,907 | 1,737,974 | 2,025,849 |
| 2016 | 145,288 | 159,431 | 1,767,716 | 2,072,435 |
| 2017 | 149,633 | 161,942 | 1,759,999 | 2,071,574 |
| 2018 | NR | NR | 1,836,802 | - |
| Average Annual Production (years 2013-2017) : | 2,090,582 | |||
| AverageCapacity Factor (years 2013-2017) : | 41.8% | |||
(*) partial year of operation
(NR) not yet reported
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