San Francisco: Pattern Energy Group LP announced the completion February 27 of its 184.6 megawatt Meikle Wind power project located in British Columbia, approximately 33 km north of Tumbler Ridge.
"Meikle Wind is now the largest wind facility in British Columbia, increasing the installed wind power capacity in the province by 37%," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development.
Dinosaur tracks: 97 million-year-old tracks of a rare three-toed ankylosaur, discovered during site preparation for the Meikle Wind project site and donated by Pattern Energy to the Tumbler Ridge Museum. The region, known as the Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark, is rich in fossils and more finds are possible.
"Located in a mountainous region, this project was unique for its construction, design and weather challenges, as well as for our discovery of rare dinosaur tracks during construction, which we donated to the Tumbler Ridge Museum. Meikle Wind would like to thank the participating First Nations, the communities of Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd, BC Hydro, as well as the general contractor Borea Construction and turbine supplier GE, for their collaboration on making this project a great success."
Using 61 GE wind turbines, the project's innovative layout, developed in collaboration with GE, incorporates two different turbine models consisting of varying rotor sizes and hub heights. This design was developed to capture the most energy from the ridgelines, accounting for varying wind speeds, wind shear, turbulence and inflow angles. Meikle Wind is located within an area that was significantly impacted by pine beetle kill and previous forestry activity, reducing the overall environmental impact of the project. The facility has a 25-year power purchase agreement with BC Hydro.
The project seems likely to be the last large wind facility for several years. A March story in Renewable Energy World argued that further large wind projects in BC would be unlikely, due in part to the development of the giant Site C hydro project underway. BC Hydro has said additional procurement will not be needed until at least 2030.