Turbines: Three Zond Z-750 Series 750-kW wind turbines
Rotor Diameter: 50 meters (164 feet)
Tower Height: 50 meters (164 feet)
Installation Date: 1998
Other Participants, Supporters: Algona Munical Utilities (co-owner and operator); municipal utilities of Ellsworth, Esterville, Fonda, Montezuma, Westfield (co-owners); U.S. Department of Energy/Electric Power Research Institute

Project Description:
Municipal utilities in Iowa were already talking about a jointly owned wind power plant when the Wind Turbine Verification Program (TVP) request for proposals went out in 1996. Municipal utilities and cooperatives in Iowa are not required to use wind-generated electricity, like the investor-owned utilities are, but state or federal legislation may change that in the future. The utilities figured “sooner or later we’re going to have to get into wind. Maybe the way to get into it is through this program, where we can get into it for less money and learn something about wind energy in the process,” says Dave Martin, strategic projects coordinator for Cedar Falls Utilities. Customer support for renewables also encouraged the utilities to participate. The project cost $2.8 million, $1.3 million of which was funded by TVP. The participating utilities shared the remaining $1.5 million cost, which allowed each utility to minimize its risk.

Seven utilities joined together to own the Iowa Distributed Wind Generation Project. The lead utility is Cedar Falls Utilities. The project is located in the service territory of Algona Municipal Utilities, which maintains the turbines. The other utilities include Ellsworth, Esterville, Fonda, Montezuma, and Westfield, Iowa.

Three Zond Z-750 kW Series turbines with 50-meter (164-foot) rotors sit atop 50-meter (164-foot) tubular towers. The Algona project uses the first commercial Zond 750-Series turbines with the 50-meter (164-foot) rotor. The annual average wind speed at the site is 7.1 meters per second (15.9 miles per hour). Annual power generation is estimated to be 1.8 million kilowatt-hours per year per turbine. The plant generated its first kilowatt-hours in September 1998.

One of the project’s technical challenges is that the turbines are located six miles from the nearest substation. Usually wind turbines need to be no more than three or four miles from the nearest substation to avoid causing power quality problems for nearby residents served by the distribution lines. The design of the Zond turbines’ electrical system enables them to work well at the Algona site without causing power quality or voltage problems.

Besides learning about operating distributed wind generation, one of the biggest benefits from the project has been the strong customer support. The turbines are visible from miles around, and many visitors drive out to the site to watch the huge turbines operate.

“There are more visitors out there. It’s probably the most positive thing that [Algona Municipal Utilities] has ever done, as far as customer interest in it.

“It’s just a good symbol. People like the fact that the utility has gone this extra step and spent this extra money for doing something that is perceived as good for the environment,” says Tom Wind, a consultant to the Algona project.

The utilities involved in the project are sharing information about the project both through regularly scheduled TVP meetings and with other Iowa municipal utilities. All municipal utilities in the state are invited to attend an open house and project dedication in June 1999.