GE Renewable Energy has been awarded the turbine supply contract from Juhl Energy for a wind-solar hybrid project in Minnesota, the nation’s first.
GE will deliver two 2.3MW turbines to the project near Red Lake Falls, northwest Minnesota. The company will also provide solar power conversion equipment from its Current business.
The hybrid site is expected to enter commercial operation in August 2017.
Juhl Energy will use GE’s Wind Integrated Solar Energy (WiSE) technology platform, which was developed by the company’s Global Research Center.
It will integrate solar panels through the wind turbines’ converter directly so both wind and solar share all the same balance of plant.
“This should increase the system’s net capacity by 3-4% and annual energy production by up to 10%,” GE said.
According to GE, the US hybrid wind-solar market is estimated to reach a value of $300 million by 2024.
