2.5 MW Wind Energy for a College

This project entailed the full electrical design of a 2.5 MW wind energy facility with the utility interface at 12.47kV. The energy is sold directly back to the local utility, Alliant Energy. Clipper Wind, whose manufacturing plant in Cedar Rapids is located adjacent to a college, teamed up with the college to provide the students with a technical training facility for wind turbine construction. The design included 15kV switchgear, underground ductbanks, and a fiber optic communications system. Our team coordinated all of the control interfaces between the intertie relay, 15kV switchgear and turbine, including breaker position, kW/hr monitoring, utility status, etc. The Clipper Wind SCADA system can be accessed remotely by the college’s Industrial Technologies Facility by way of a fiber optic link.