Pattern Energy Group has announced that its SunZia renewable energy and transmission project, which combines around 3,650MW of wind generation capacity in New Mexico with a 550-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, is now operational.
The facility, which is being describes as the largest renewable energy project in US history, is capable of delivering more clean energy than the Hoover Dam.
‘The right way’
“SunZia proves that we can still build the consequential infrastructure this country needs,” commented Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy. “We did this the right way, we did it on time and on budget – in genuine partnership with the local communities and landowners who trusted us, with the environmental stewardship this unique landscape deserves, and with the determination to see something through that many thought was too big and too complex to finish.”
The facility will be largely used to provide clean energy to the western United States – at full capacity, it will be able to deliver enough energy to power approximately one million American homes annually.
A central feature of the new facility is its HVDC transmission system, one of the largest in the US, which boasts major converter stations at each end of the line, converting power for delivery and then back for use on the grid. This enables large volumes of electricity to be transported over long distances while transmission losses are kept to a minimum.
“Large-scale transmission is essential to meeting the West’s growing energy needs and strengthening reliability across the grid,” added Elliot Mainzer, president and CEO of the California Independent System Operator (ISO). “Projects of this scale help deliver energy reliably to areas of rising demand, improve the movement of power across states and support a more resilient, flexible and affordable electric system.
“SunZia represents the kind of long-term infrastructure investment needed to serve customers today and prepare the grid for the future.”
SunZia development
Construction on the SunZia project began in September 2023, and as well as the 2,000 jobs created during its construction, it is expected to create more than 100 permanent operational roles across New Mexico and Arizona.
Pattern Energy says that the facility will invest over $20 billion in New Mexico and Arizona communities, including $1.3 billion in direct payments to local governments, schools, counties and private landowners, over the first three decades of operation.
The project has secured long-term power purchase agreements with a range of utilities and public institutions, including the University of California, Clean Power Alliance, Ava Community Energy, Central Coast Community Energy and CleanPowerSF.
According to Pattern Energy, SunZia demonstrates ‘what private industry can deliver when it takes on complex infrastructure challenges with discipline and responsibility’.
“The result is historic energy infrastructure that will power millions of American homes and businesses for decades to come,” Armistead added. “This project sets a new standard for what is possible – and we intend to keep building on it.” Read more here.
