Juhl Energy Partners With GE Renewable Energy to Build First of Its Kind Solar-Wind Hybrid Project

Juhl Energy announced that it has selected GE Renewable Energy to supply equipment for the first commercial integrated solar-wind hybrid power generation project in the U.S. The Minnesota-based clean energy company has developed the 2.0MW community-based renewable energy project to provide low-cost, locally generated energy to the Lake Region Electric Cooperative of Pelican Rapids, Minn. Bank of America has provided necessary financial support for the project, agreeing to purchase the project-generated Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), in line with its environmental goals. 3 Degrees facilitated the connection between Juhl Energy and Bank of America.

The project will use one 2.0-116 wind turbine from GE Renewable Energy's Onshore Wind business supported by 0.5 MW of PV solar. The innovative project utilizes GE's Wind Integrated Solar Energy (WiSE) technology platform – developed through GE's Global Research Center - to directly integrate the solar panels through the wind turbine's converter so both wind and solar share the same balance of plant, increasing system net capacity by 3-4 percent and annual energy production by up to 10 percent. The hybrid design gives these type of projects the ability to produce power when it is most needed, with the solar essentially providing summer peak energy, and the wind providing winter peak energy.

The project will be owned by a subsidiary of Juhl Energy that pools together capital from the company and outside private investors. Juhl is further partnering with Faith Technologies, Inc., to construct the project and collaborate on building additional hybrid projects. Faith Technologies, Inc. is a national leader in electrical planning, engineering, design and installation that is headquartered in Menasha, Wisconsin and has regional offices throughout the country. This project will be operational before year end 2018.