As of 2023, the installed capacity for wind power in Minnesota was more than 4500 megawatts (MW). Wind power generated 25 percent of Minnesota’s electricity in 2023, ranking among the top ten states in the United States for wind energy as a share of total electricity generation.
Large wind farms in Minnesota include the Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm (225 MW), Fenton Wind Farm (205.5 MW), Nobles Wind Farm (201 MW), Odell Wind Farm (200 MW), and Bent Tree Wind Farm (201 MW).Province dedicates Canada's largest solar PV projectenXco and Xcel Energy Announce Operation of Nobles Wind ProjectBent Tree Wind Farm up and runningOdell Wind Farm
Transmission grid improvements
The CapX2020 project (capacity expansion 2020) is developing the transmission grid infrastructure to improve capacity, reliability, and support further wind power development. The project is mostly in Minnesota, but reaches into North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin as well. One phase of the project, a line from Monticello to St. Cloud, was completed in 2011. Other lines will run from near Brookings, South Dakota to Hampton, Minnesota; from Fargo, North Dakota to St. Cloud; and from La Crosse, Wisconsin to Hampton. The project involves constructing about 590 miles of 345 kV transmission line and 68 miles of 238 kV transmission line. CapX2020 was expected to be completed around 2015.CapX2020 powered upCapX2020 FAQ in
Minnesota has a renewable portfolio standard (400 Mega volt amperes) requiring that 25% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2025.
Statistics
Wind power in Minnesota Year Capacity (MW) WINDExchange U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation Generation (GWh)Wind Energy in Minnesota Generation (% of total) 1999 273.4 2000 291.2 725 1.4% 2001 319.8 884 1.8% 2002 337.7 905 1.7% 2003 558.3 979 1.8% 2004 600.1 814 1.6% 2005 745.4 1,582 3% 2006 895.9 2,055 3.9% 2007 1,299.8 2,638 4.8% 2008 1,752.8 4,354 8% 2009 1,810 5,053 9.6% 2010 2,205.4 4,791 8.9% 2011 2,718 6,725 12.7% 2012 2,987 8,176 14.6% 2013 2,987 8,258 16.1% 2014 3,035 9,690 17% 2015 3,235 9,781 17.2% 2016 3,526 9,934 17.7% 2017 3,699 11,136 2018 3,779 10,712 2019 3,843 11,040 19% 2020 4,299 11,832 21.6% 2021 4,591 12,942 2022 14,275
Minnesota wind generation (GWh, million kWh) Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2001 884 86 73 67 91 63 64 56 49 55 91 97 92 2002 905 98 103 58 95 83 77 34 58 74 61 76 88 2003 979 79 92 103 86 78 54 64 47 84 82 110 100 2004 814 61 64 81 68 82 53 38 50 67 74 84 92 2005 1,582 110 112 133 146 164 123 108 78 138 126 199 145 2006 2,055 199 175 194 199 202 116 124 98 133 193 183 239 2007 2,638 284 199 276 247 268 167 128 100 230 236 267 236 2008 4,354 385 313 326 427 397 251 223 246 349 397 453 587 2009 5,053 504 509 556 560 493 299 269 317 258 418 411 459 2010 4,791 440 274 449 482 440 294 268 329 344 432 505 534 2011 6,725 465 691 543 642 712 479 290 272 359 732 807 733 2012 8,176 869 634 748 819 798 623 407 433 533 854 796 662 2013 8,258 903 691 737 800 784 555 508 372 606 694 930 678 2014 9,690 1,099 910 961 1,004 763 620 621 295 641 857 1,075 844 2015 9,781 950 867 948 982 903 504 446 593 671 906 1,103 908 2016 9,934 845 912 870 1,100 670 647 510 423 802 920 958 1,277 2017 11,136 953 1,125 1,137 1,021 937 738 501 424 792 1,163 1,154 1,191 2018 10,712 1,155 987 1,067 957 755 884 596 610 885 945 936 935 2019 10,965 1,013 837 1,063 883 961 704 623 566 980 1,258 1,102 975 2020 11,832 910 1,175 1,168 1,028 903 973 659 871 938 958 1,132 1,117 2021 12,942 1,016 947 1,302 1,253 1,071 890 708 860 1,020 1,080 1,346 1,449 2022 14,275 1,439 1,349 1,399 1,393 1,140 953 805 772 933 1,227 1,451 1,414 2023 4,014 1,205 1,473 1,336
Source:
See also Solar power in Minnesota Wind power in the United States Renewable energy in the United States
References
External links
Minnesota Department of Commerce AWEA State Wind Fact Sheets