HUTCHINSON, Kan. — According to information provided to Hutch Post, the Hutchinson Siemens Gamesa plant provided the nacelles for an upgraded wind project in West Texas.
Jake Rubin with Siemens Gamesa said that replacing nacelles and blades on an existing wind farm is known as “repowering”. This practice revitalizes existing wind farms: extending the operational life, increasing the power production, and reducing the levelized cost of energy. Repowering is a significant growth area for Siemens Gamesa in North America.
The wind farm is run by RWE, the third largest renewable energy company in the U.S. They signed an agreement with electric car manufacturer Rivian and Champion Wind will help supply Rivian’s fast-charging network with 100% renewable energy.
In an October announcement, Rivian agreed to purchase electricity from RWE’s Champion Wind, a 127 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Nolan and Mitchell Counties in Texas. This will help supply Rivian’s fast-charging network, the Rivian Adventure Network, with 100% renewable energy. The project contributes to Rivian’s vision for a carbon-free future and commitment to enable 7 billion miles of renewable driving. The Champion Wind farm is currently undergoing upgrades to install new, state-of-the-art turbine nacelles and blades that will extend the lifetime of the facility. The repowering of Champion Wind will be completed in mid-2025.