Duke Energy to expand its wind project in USA with 350 MW

Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, has announced the largest wind power project in its fleet – the 350 MW Frontier Windpower II project in Kay County, Oklahoma. The project is an expansion of Frontier Windpower, which has been operational since 2016. Once complete, Frontier I and II will generate a total of 550 MW of wind energy – enough to power approximately 193,000 homes.

Ball Corporation has signed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 161 MW of the Frontier II project. Another major corporation has signed a VPPA for an additional 160 MW and will be announced later this year.

Ball Corporation was advised on the Frontier II VPPA by Schneider Electric Energy and Sustainability Services, which assisted the company in its project selection and negotiations.

Full mobilization for construction for Frontier II will occur later this summer, and the wind project will be fully operational by December 2020. During peak construction, the wind project will create approximately 250 jobs.

Nordex Group will supply 74 4.8-MW wind turbines for the site.

The 350-MW Frontier Windpower II project will produce enough energy to power about 123,000 average homes.

Amshore US Wind provided development support for the project, and Wanzek Construction is the contractor.

Duke Energy is one of the nation’s top renewable energy providers – on track to own or purchase 8,000 megawatts of wind, solar and biomass energy by 2020.