World’s Greatest Renewable Energy Projects

OUR GREAT MINDS Companies leading the way in large-scale renewable energy production

How much POWER (MW), do the world’s greatest renewable energy projects make?

In today’s world, electricity has become an essential aspect of our daily lives From powering our homes to fuelling our industries, it is crucial to understand the basics of electricity. One of the essential concepts in understanding electricity is the unit of power called megawatts. This article aims to explain what a megawatt is, how many megawatts are needed to power a home or ten homes, and what a 100-megawatt plant means.

What is a Megawatt?

A megawatt is a unit of power that measures the rate of energy conversion or energy transfer per second.

One megawatt is equivalent to one million watts. It is a common unit used to describe the power output of large power plants or energy-generating facilities.

To put it into perspective, one megawatt of power can light up approximately 1000 homes

The megawatt is also used to describe the power consumption of large industrial facilities or commercial buildings.

How many Megawatts does it take to run a Home?

The amount of power needed to run a home varies depending on several factors such as the size of the home, the type of appliances used, and the number of occupants.

On average, a typical home in North America uses approximately 900 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, which is equivalent to 30 kWh per day.

One megawatt-hour (MWh) is equivalent to 1000 kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Therefore, it would take approximately 33.33 megawatt-hours (MWh) or 33,333 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to power a home for a month

Thus, to power a home for one day, it would require approximately 1.39 megawatts (MW) of power (33,333 kWh/30 days).

What is a 100-megawatt power plant?

A 100-megawatt plant is a power-generating facility that has a power output capacity of 100 megawatts These plants can produce energy using various sources such as coal, natural gas, wind, solar, or hydroelectric power.

For instance, a 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant can generate enough electricity to power approximately 100,000 homes for a day. Similarly, a 100-megawatt solar power plant can generate enough electricity to power approximately 60,000 homes for a day, while a 100-megawatt wind power plant can generate enough electricity to power approximately 30,000 homes for a day.

It is worth noting that the amount of power generated by a plant depends on several factors such as the efficiency of the technology used, the availability of the energy source, and the environmental conditions.

Renewable Power Sources

Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their clean and sustainable nature. Let’s take a closer look at how many megawatts are required for these two energy sources to generate electricity.

Solar Power

Solar power is one of the most widely used renewable energy sources globally. It involves capturing the energy from the sun’s rays and converting it into electricity. The amount of power generated by solar panels depends on various factors such as the amount of sunlight received, the efficiency of the solar cells, and the size of the installation.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the average solar panel produces about 250 watts of power under ideal conditions. Therefore, it would take approximately 4,000 solar panels to generate one megawatt of power (250 watts x 4,000 panels). Some of the top solar projects around the globe include:

Noor Complex Solar Power Plant, Morocco: With a total capacity of 580 MW, the Noor Complex Solar Power Plant is one of the largest solar energy projects in the world. Located in Morocco’s desert region, the project consists of three phases with different solar technologies, including concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

Solar Star, United States: Located in California, the Solar Star project is a 579 MW solar power plant. It consists of two separate sites that use more than 1.7 million solar panels to generate electricity for more than 255,000 homes

Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, China: The Longyangxia Dam Solar Park is one of the largest solar power plants in the world, with a total capacity of 850 MW The plant is located in the Qinghai Province and consists of more than 4 million solar panels.

Bhadla Solar Park, India: Located in the state of Rajasthan, the Bhadla Solar Park is a 2,245 MW solar power project. The project is spread across 14,000 acres and consists of multiple phases that use both PV and CSP technologies.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, UAE: Located in Dubai, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a 5,000 MW solar power project that will be completed in several phases The first phase of the project was completed in 2013 and has a capacity of 13 MW.

Tengger Desert Solar Park, China: With a capacity of 1,547 MW, Tengger Desert Solar Park is one of the largest solar power projects in the world. The plant is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and uses both PV and CSP technologies.

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, India: Located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, the Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is a 1,000 MW solar power project The plant is spread across 5,932 acres and uses more than 4 million solar panels

Topaz Solar Farm, United States: Located in California, the Topaz Solar Farm is a 550 MW solar power plant. The project consists of more than 9 million solar panels and generates enough electricity to power 180,000 homes.

Shams Ma’an Solar Power Plant, Jordan: The Shams Ma’an Solar Power Plant is a 52 5 MW solar power project located in southern Jordan The plant uses more than 600,000 solar panels and generates enough electricity to power 35,000 homes.

Wind Power

Wind power is another popular renewable energy source that involves harnessing the power of the wind to generate electricity The amount of power generated by wind turbines depends on various factors such as wind speed, turbine size, and the efficiency of the technology used. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a modern wind turbine with a capacity of 2-3 megawatts can generate approximately 6 million kilowatthours of electricity per year. Therefore, it would take approximately 333-500 wind turbines to generate one megawatt of power (6 million kWh/yr ÷ 8,760 hours/yr ÷ 2-3 MW).

Kamuthi Solar Power Project, India: The Kamuthi Solar Power Project is a 648 MW solar power plant located in Tamil Nadu The plant covers an area of 2,500 acres and uses more than 2.5 million solar panels.

Major wind projects around the world include the Gansu Wind Farm in China, which has a capacity of 6,000 megawatts, and the Alta Wind Energy Center in California, which has a capacity of 1,548 megawatts.

Gansu Wind Farm, China: The Gansu Wind Farm is the world’s largest wind power project, with a total installed capacity of 20,000 MW. It consists of multiple wind farms located in the Gansu province, and it produces enough electricity to power over 16 million homes.

Muppandal Wind Farm, India: The Muppandal Wind Farm is the largest onshore wind farm in India, with a total installed capacity of 1,500 MW. It is located in the state of Tamil Nadu and consists of more than 3,000 wind turbines.

Alta Wind Energy Center, United States: Located in California, the Alta Wind Energy Center is the largest wind farm in the United States, with a total installed capacity of 1,550 MW It consists of multiple wind farms and uses more than 600 wind turbines.

Jiuquan Wind Power Base, China: The Jiuquan Wind Power Base is one of the world’s largest wind power projects, with a total installed capacity of 8,000 MW. It is located in the Gansu province and consists of multiple wind farms.

London Array, United Kingdom: The London Array is the world’s largest offshore wind farm, with a total installed capacity of 630 MW. It is located in the Thames Estuary and consists of 175 wind turbines

Shepherds Flat Wind Farm, United States: The Shepherds Flat Wind Farm is one of the largest wind farms in the world, with a total installed capacity of 845 MW It is located in Oregon and consists of more than 300 wind turbines.

Fântânele-Cogealac Wind Farm, Romania: The Fântânele-Cogealac Wind Farm is the largest onshore wind farm in Europe, with a total installed capacity of 600 MW It is located in the Dobrogea region and consists of more than 200 wind turbines.

Horns Rev 2, Denmark: The Horns Rev 2 is an offshore wind farm located off the coast of Denmark. It has a total installed capacity of 209 MW and consists of 91 wind turbines.

Anholt Offshore Wind Farm, Denmark: The Anholt Offshore Wind Farm is an offshore wind farm located off the coast of Denmark. It has a total installed capacity of 400 MW and consists of 111 wind turbines

Huitengxile Wind Farm, China: The Huitengxile Wind Farm is the largest onshore wind farm in China, with a total installed capacity of 900 MW. It is located in Inner Mongolia and consists of more than 300 wind turbines.

Offshore Wind Power

Offshore wind power has emerged as a significant player in the renewable energy industry due to its ability to generate high amounts of electricity in areas with strong and consistent winds Here are some of the popular wind projects excelling around the globe:

Hornsea 1 (UK) – The largest offshore wind farm in the world, located off the coast of Yorkshire in the UK It has a capacity of 1,218 MW and features 174 turbines.

Gansu Wind Farm (China) – The largest wind farm in the world, including both onshore and offshore wind turbines, with a total capacity of 7,965 MW The offshore portion of the wind farm is located in the East China Sea.

London Array (UK) – Located off the coast of Kent in the UK, London Array was the world’s largest offshore wind farm when it was completed in 2013. It has a capacity of 630 MW and features 175 turbines.

Walney Extension (UK) – Located off the coast of Cumbria in the UK, Walney Extension has a capacity of 659 MW and features 87 turbines. It was completed in 2018.

Gemini Wind Farm (Netherlands) – Located in the North Sea, the Gemini Wind Farm has a capacity of 600 MW and features 150 turbines. It was completed in 2017.

Borssele Wind Farm (Netherlands) – Located in the North Sea off the coast of Zeeland in the Netherlands, Borssele Wind Farm has a capacity of 1,400 MW and features 94 turbines. It is expected to be fully operational by 2023

Race Bank (UK) – Located off the coast of Norfolk in the UK, Race Bank has a capacity of 573 MW and features 91 turbines It was completed in 2018

Sheringham Shoal (UK) – Located off the coast of Norfolk in the UK, Sheringham Shoal has a capacity of 317 MW and features 88 turbines It was completed in 2012.

By Tina Olivero

RNG can mix seamlessly into the existing natural gas system, making it a cost-effective and convenient way for customers to reduce their carbon footprint.

In this article, we will explore how FortisBC’s RNG solutions are working to support a lower-carbon future in British Columbia. We will also discuss how the company is leading the charge in transitioning to a lower carbon future in the commercial transportation sector by promoting the adoption of natural gas vehicles powered by RNG in the province of BC.

Understanding FortisBC’s Role In Producing Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is a sustainable energy that is derived from organic waste

RNG is created by breaking down organic materials from various sources such as agricultural farm waste, landfill waste, and wastewater.

FortisBC is a company that works with local farms, landfills, green energy companies, and municipalities to produce RNG. The RNG produced by FortisBC is then blended into the existing natural gas infrastructure, displacing equivalent volumes of conventional natural gas and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Since RNG can mix seamlessly into the existing natural gas system, it does not require customers to retrofit their existing natural gas appliances or equipment. With over 50,000 kilometers of natural gas lines already in place, FortisBC can deliver RNG throughout BC

Revolutionizing BC’s Energy Landscape with Renewable Natural Gas in Businesses and Homes

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is quickly becoming an important player in the push to achieve a lower-carbon future in BC. FortisBC was the first utility in North America to offer RNG to customers. As a major energy supplier in the province, FortisBC is leading the way in RNG adoption and is working to achieve a target of having 75% of the natural gas in their system be either renewable or low-carbon by 2050.

With over 11,000 homes and businesses already using RNG in BC, FortisBC is working to meet the growing demand for this low-carbon energy. Since 2020, the company has signed more than 25 new supply agreements that were approved by its regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission.

FortisBC currently receives RNG from 12 RNG suppliers As of February 2023, its regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission, has approved 21 RNG projects. Once these projects are all operational and producing RNG at maximum capacity, FortisBC could be delivering around 24 million gigajoules of RNG annually, enough to meet the natural gas needs of over 265,000 homes in BC.

Through the end of 2022, FortisBC has drastically increased its contracted annual RNG supply. At maximum contracted volume, the company’s 12 suppliers could deliver almost 12 million gigajoules of RNG This represents just over 5% of the total natural gas in their system, and is enough energy to meet the natural gas needs of over 130,000 homes in BC, assuming an average annual consumption of 90 gigajoules per year. FortisBC projects that by 2025, almost 18 petajoules of RNG will be flowing through their system, which equates to roughly 8% of their natural gas supply.

Under British Colombia’s CleanBC plan, natural gas utilities are expected to cut their overall enduser emissions by 47 percent by 2030 Increasing volumes of renewable and low-carbon gases will be instrumental in achieving that.

The growth of RNG in BC is a significant step towards achieving the province’s climate action goals. With FortisBC leading the way in RNG adoption and supply, BC residents and businesses have a viable option to reduce their carbon footprint while continuing to use existing natural gas equipment.

5 ways FortisBC is creating RNG with municipal and commercial partners:

1. BC landfills

Two of the earliest RNG suppliers for FortisBC are Kelowna’s Glenmore Landfill and the Salmon Arm Landfill RNG production facilities are under construction at the City of Vancouver’s landfill in Delta, BC and the Capital Regional District is working with FortisBC on a supply contract for Victoria’s Hartland Landfill

2. Wastewater

The Lulu Island Renewable Gas Facility in Richmond, BC represents the first wastewater RNG plant for FortisBC and the second of its kind in Canada. Owned by Metro Vancouver, it’s significant because it creates a model for more wastewater plants in the future.

3 Wood waste

Another leap forward for RNG is the planned construction of the first wood waste to RNG project in North America. Kelowna-based company REN Energy is building a facility in Fruitvale, BC. It will use waste items like sawdust, wood chips, and hog fuel to produce RNG for FortisBC. This innovative project is preparing to begin construction

4. Residential and municipal organic waste

The City of Surrey created a closed-loop organics processing operation: they collect and process curbside organic waste from Surrey residents and businesses to produce RNG. This gas is used to power Surrey’s waste collection trucks as well as the city’s growing fleet of natural gas-fuelled vehicles The Surrey Biofuel Facility is the largest of its kind in North America and it processes organic waste from more than 150,000 Surrey households, plus local industrial, commercial, and institutional operations, and other municipalities in the region

5. Farm waste

Fraser Valley Biogas in Abbotsford, BC, and Seabreeze Dairy Farm in Delta, BC, are two of FortisBC’s first RNG suppliers These farms use their own agricultural waste, along with other local organic waste to create RNG. As a byproduct of the RNG process, they’re also able to create a nutrient-rich digestate that becomes fertilizer for local crops, creating a sustainable loop of food, waste, and energy.

Revolutionizing Transportation: FortisBC Leads the Charge with Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

FortisBC is committed to transitioning to a lower carbon future in the commercial transportation sector, which is responsible for around 41 percent of provincial greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor to emissions in the province

To help reduce these emissions, FortisBC is promoting the adoption of natural gas vehicles, which offer a readily available way to achieve meaningful emissions reductions in commercial transportation without sacrificing operational efficiencies.

One of the key benefits of natural gas vehicles is that they can be powered by Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), which boasts a similar lifecycle carbon intensity to battery electric vehicles.

RNG is one of the lowest carbon-intensity transport fuels available today and can be stored as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified natural gas (LNG) for use in transportation.

By switching to RNG, commercial transportation operators can use the same natural gas engine without any additional capital investment once they adopt CNG RNG can be used seamlessly with natural gas engines, reducing emissions by upwards of 85 percent while displacing diesel.

Another benefit of RNG is that it is more affordable than

diesel At the pump, the cost of CNG is 45 percent less than diesel. When RNG is used and carbon credits are sold and factored into the cost of fuel, the fuel savings are even greater

FortisBC works with large commercial fleet customers, governments, and municipalities to promote natural gas as a lower-carbon fuel that can meet the heavy-duty needs of commercial transportation operations.

As of February 2022, FortisBC had supported over 1,000 vehicles with natural gas fuelling stations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent and fuel costs by up to 45 percent compared to gasoline or diesel. These 1,000 vehicles reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 33,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, the equivalent of removing just over 10,300 gasoline-fuelled passenger vehicles from BC roads that year. Using RNG allows customers can achieve even greater emissions reductions

Compressed Natural Gas Buses Powered with Renewable Natural Gas: A Cleaner and Cheaper Option for Transit Decarbonization

TransLink, the first public transportation authority in Canada to fuel their fleet with Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), is leading the way for transit authorities and fleet operators across the province in making the switch to low-carbon fuels RNG is a viable option in transit decarbonizing efforts as it dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining operational costs compared with diesel and CNG

According to a recent study by the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), buses powered with RNG are cleaner and cheaper TransLink projects significant savings for lifecycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions by using RNG.

TransLink has signed an RNG contract to help fuel a total of 299 CNG buses. The total volume of the contract would allow all of TransLink’s CNG-powered buses to be powered by 100 percent RNG.

RNG is a certified Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) transport fuel and boasts a similar lifecycle carbon intensity to battery electric vehicles. Switching to RNG uses the same natural gas engine without any additional capital investment once customers adopt CNG.

RNG can be stored as CNG or liquified natural gas (LNG) for use in transportation. Compressed natural gas buses powered with RNG may be the only viable option to reduce the carbon intensity of transit in jurisdictions where the electricity grid is carbon intense. RNG is not only a cleaner option, but it is also more affordable when compared to diesel.

TransLink’s decision to fuel its fleet with RNG is a crucial step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving towards a lower-carbon future. By utilizing RNG, transit authorities and fleet operators can reduce their carbon footprint while also saving costs.

The introduction of RNG does not require a shift in technology or operations because CNG buses are already an established technology

Compressed natural gas buses powered with RNG are a cleaner and cheaper option for transit decarbonization efforts.

Exploring the Promising Possibilities of the Future: Innovations and Advancements That Will Change the World

FortisBC is looking to the future with a focus on innovation and advancement. The company is exploring new technologies and ideas that have the potential to revolutionize the energy industry and create a more sustainable and efficient future.

With these efforts, FortisBC is positioning itself as a leader in the energy industry, driving positive sustainable, new-energy change for both customers and the planet.