Exus Renewables North America announces $200M repowering project

MEYERSDALE ― Exus Renewables North America , a leading developer and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects, has begun repowering the 139 MW Twin Ridges Wind Farm in Somerset County, as part of a planned $200 million investment in the community.

Twin Ridges Wind Farm is at 147 Mountain Run Farm Lane, Meyersdale.

“As the wind energy industry faces increasingly complex obstacles to growth, including a nearly 3-gigawatt interconnection queue of renewable energy projects trying to connect to the grid, repowering has become a path to help meet clean energy goals,” said Jim Spencer, CEO of Exus Renewables North America, in a press release. “Thanks to these upgrades, the Twin Ridges project will generate clean, reliable and renewable power – and millions in community investment – to the region for decades to come.”

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Upgrading wind turbines

Wind energy repowering involves upgrading older wind turbines or entire wind farms with the latest technology to increase their efficiency, capacity and lifespan. This process typically includes replacing outdated components such as turbines, blades, and nacelles with more modern, efficient versions. Repowering can also involve updating control systems and other infrastructure to enhance performance.

Repowering is the process of re-tooling and modernizing older wind turbines with newer, more efficient and powerful energy-generating components. Given a large interconnection queue of wind projects trying to get on the grid, repowering has become the go-to strategy to continue growing clean energy assets.

Exus Renewables will invest approximately $200 million in the project, creating 150 union construction jobs, and significantly boosting local employment and economic growth while providing clean energy to the region, according to the press release.

It expects to inject more than $7.35 million into the local economy through the procurement of materials and services from local suppliers and anticipates that over the 30-year life of the project, more than $100 million will be invested in the community through tax and landowner payments, according to the press release. Vestas American Wind Technology supplied American-made nacelles, hubs, blades, and tower adaptors for the project.

"The refurbishment of the Twin Ridges wind farm began in March and is expected to wrap by the end of the year," said Emily Torrans of the Mahoney Communications Group, in an email. "The project will produce a 30% increase in energy generation for the project and residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania."

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According to the press release, the primary goals of repowering are to:

• Increase Energy Output : Newer technology generates more power from the same wind resource, thanks to improved design and efficiency.
• Extend Turbine Life : By replacing aging components, the operational life of the turbines can be extended, making the investment in wind farms more viable long-term.
• Reduce Maintenance Costs : Newer turbines require less maintenance, which can significantly lower operational costs.
• Enhance Reliability : Modern turbines are more reliable and less prone to breakdowns.
• Optimize Use of Existing Sites : Repowering allows for the continued use of sites that have proven wind resources, existing infrastructure, and grid connections, which can be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than developing new sites.

Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. She was the Home and Family editor for 20 years, and was the primary editor and reporter for a variety of special projects, features and tabs.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Exus Renewables North America announces $200M repowering project