Leeward Renewable Energy completes repowering and financing for Sweetwater 3 Wind Farm Project

Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC has successfully completed, in late September, the repowering and final financial close of its Sweetwater 3 Wind Farm in Nolan County, Texas. Leeward procured the wind turbine equipment from GE Renewable Energy, which also provided construction services and is providing operations and maintenance services for the project. GE Energy Financial Services and BHE Renewables provided tax equity financing.

The Sweetwater 3 repower replaced and enhanced major existing components of 90 legacy GE Renewable Energy wind turbines resulting in increased capacity, reliability and performance, and reduced operating cost. The repowering of major components within the turbines will increase Annual Energy Production by double digits.

Sweetwater 3 will continue to provide clean, renewable energy to its offtake partner, San Antonio-based CPS Energy, under its long-term power purchase agreement. Leeward designed the construction process to allow it to provide continuous delivery throughout.

Sweetwater 3, one of Leeward’s original wind farms, has been operating since 2005. Through the repowering, the wind farm’s capacity will increase from 135 megawatts to roughly 146 megawatts, utilizing the same number of turbines and footprint.