Wind power in Illinois explained

Wind power in Illinois provided nearly 10% of the state's generated electrical power in 2020 powering 1,231,900 homes.[1] At the end of 2020, Illinois had 6,300 megawatts (MW) of wind power installed, ranking fifth among states for installed wind turbine capacity.[2] An additional 1,100 MW of wind power was under construction across the state at the end of 2020.

The vast majority of wind-generated electricity in Illinois is distributed via Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which services Illinois outside of northern Illinois—as opposed to PJM Interconnection, which distributes electricity in the Chicago metropolitan area.[3]

Overview

Wind power has been supported by a renewable portfolio standard, passed in 2007, and strengthened in 2009, which requires 10% renewable energy from electric companies by 2010 and 25% by 2025.[4] For 2013, in-state renewable generation was just 5.1% of Illinois' total generation.[5] Additional renewably generated electricity is imported from other states.[6] Illinois uses a large amount of electricity, and the state's mandate was enacted when only a very small percentage of its electricity was renewably generated.

Illinois has the potential for installing up to an estimated 249,882 MW of wind generation capacity at a hub height of 80 meters operating at 30% gross capacity factor.[7] [8] That amount is lower with higher capacity factors and is higher with 100 meter hub heights.

The first wind farm in Illinois opened in 2003 and by 2009, it had over 1800 MW installed statewide with thousands of MW more in the planning stages.[9] The largest wind farm in the state is the 300 MW Cayuga Ridge installation, while another seven windfarms each exceeded  MW capacity.[3] The Twin Groves Wind Farm was the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi when completed but has since been surpassed.[10] [11] Some smaller installations include a 0.66 MW turbine at the Bureau Valley School District and a 2.5 MW turbine at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, formerly part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, now part of the University of Illinois.[3] A proposed high voltage DC transmission line would transmit wind generated electrical power to the Chicago area from northwest Iowa.[12]

Power from some wind farms in Illinois is sold to the Tennessee Valley Authority.A 2010 agreement with Iberdrola Renewables provides a potential 300MW future supply from the Streator Cayuga Ridge Wind Farm in Livingston County.[13]

Wind farms

FarmYearInstalled capacity (MW) County[14] Note
2003/201951.66/76 LeeTurbines replaced in 2019
Crescent Ridge 200554.45 Bureau
Pike County20051.65Pike
GSG 200780 Lee/LaSalle
Camp Grove2007150 Marshall/Stark
Twin Groves I-II 2007-2008396 McLean
AgriWind 20088.4 Bureau
Grand Ridge I-IV 2008-2009210 LaSalle
Providence Heights 200872 Bureau
EcoGrove 2009100.5 Stephenson
Rail Splitter2009100.5 Logan/Tazewell
Lee-DeKalb 2009217.5 Lee/DeKalb
Cayuga Ridge2009300 Livingston
Geneseo20093Henry
Top Crop I-II 2009-2010300 LaSalle
Streator Cayuga Ridge2010150Livingston
Walnut Ridge 2010212 Bureau
White Oak 2011150 McLean
Big Sky Wind 2011239.4 Bureau/Lee
Pioneer Trail2011150 Iroquois/Ford
Settlers Trail 2011150 Iroquois
Shady Oaks[15] 2012109.5Lee
Bishop Hill2012200Henry
Minonk2012200Woodford/Livingston
California Ridge[16] 2012217.1Vermilion/Champaign
Bishop Hill I-II201281 Henry
Heartland Community College20121.65McLean
Pilot Hill 2014175 Iroquois/Kankakee
Brown County20141.5Brown
201598 Vermilion
Kelly Creek[17] 2016184 Kankakee/Ford
Radford Run 2017306 Macon
Bishop Hill III2018132 Henry
HillTopper2018185 Logan
Whitney Hill201966Logan
Bright Stalk2019205McLean
Green River2019194Lee/Whiteside
Cardinal Point2020150McDonough/Warren
Harvest Ridge2020200Douglas
Otter Creek2020158LaSalle
Broadlands2020200Champaign
Sugar Creek2020202Logan
Blooming Grove2020261McLean
Lone Tree202088Bureau
Lincoln Land2021302Morgan
Glacier Sands2021185Mason [18]
Bennington202193Marshall
Ford Ridge2022120.4Ford
Sapphire Sky2023253.8McLean

Wind generation

Illinois Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal% of Production
20032 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 16
20040 3 8 10 9 5 3 4 5 9 9 13 78
20056 7 10 10 9 5 3 2 5 7 12 65 141
200619 18 23 29 21 14 13 10 15 28 28 36 254
200728 21 28 51 64 40 26 26 66 106 95 112 663
2008240 189 201 226 208 160 82 69 93 229 298 342 2,337
2009252 302 264 306 204 148 97 147 101 259 329 411 2,820
2010357 242 402 503 392 218 205 196 373 524 609 432 4,453
2011407 598 567 723 538 423 239 224 402 512 908 672 6,213
2012880 613 869 782 641 565 320 277 443 771 608 958 7,727
20131,185 880 999 1,077 766 594 413 323 511 739 1,209 929 9,625
20141,313 849 1,069 1,097 873 621 498 351 458 842 1,285 829 10,085 4.98%
20151,004 936 1,000 1,073890 518 400 444 628 1,167 1,372 1,316 10,748 5.54%
20161,268 1,144 1,096 1,026 854 591 400 331 693 960 1,095 1,205 10,663 5.69%
20171,125 1,264 1,304 1,289 1,086 941 471 408 519 1,166 1,245 1,450 12,268 6.68%
20181,531 1,198 1,284 1,096 859 616 566 571 679 1,172 1,065 1,262 11,899 6.33%
20191,471 1,308 1,491 1,623 1,134 1,034 673 562 900 1,293 1,242 1,729 14,460 7.24%
20201,364 1,535 1,672 1,657 1,336 1,054 621 543 1,070 1,542 2,159 1,673 16,226 8.56%
20211,537 1,643 2,113 1,770 1,553 1,146 807 895 1,388 1,514 2,064 2,257 19,133 9.37%
20222,262 2,277 2,325 2,503 2,141 1,407 1,149 1,041 1,271 2,052 2,498 2,137 23,063 12.16%
20231,939 2,381 2,558 2,266 1,690 1,307 863 1,175 1,173 2,156 2,302 2,243 22,054 12.40%
20242,168 2,365 4,533 14.62%

Teal background indicates the largest wind generation month for the year.

Green background indicates the largest wind generation month to date.

Source:[19] [20]

Illinois Wind Generation in 2019
ImageSize = width:360 height:260PlotArea = width:300 height:190 left:40 bottom:40AlignBars = late

DateFormat = x.yPeriod = from:0 till:2200TimeAxis = orientation:verticalScaleMajor = unit:month increment:150 start:0

TextData = pos:(5,255) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month

PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:1471 bar:Feb from:start till:1308 bar:Mar from:start till:1491 bar:Apr from:start till:1623 bar:May from:start till:1134 bar:Jun from:start till:1034 bar:Jul from:start till:673 bar:Aug from:start till:562 bar:Sep from:start till:900 bar:Oct from:start till:1293 bar:Nov from:start till:1242 bar:Dec from:start till:1729

Net Generation for Wind, Monthly[21]
Illinois Wind Generation in 2020
ImageSize = width:360 height:260PlotArea = width:300 height:190 left:40 bottom:40AlignBars = late

DateFormat = x.yPeriod = from:0 till:2200TimeAxis = orientation:verticalScaleMajor = unit:month increment:150 start:0

TextData = pos:(5,255) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month

PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:1364 bar:Feb from:start till:1535 bar:Mar from:start till:1672 bar:Apr from:start till:1657 bar:May from:start till:1336 bar:Jun from:start till:1054 bar:Jul from:start till:621 bar:Aug from:start till:543 bar:Sep from:start till:1070 bar:Oct from:start till:1542 bar:Nov from:start till:2159 bar:Dec from:start till:1673

Net Generation for Wind, Monthly[22]
Illinois Wind Generation Capacity by Year[23]
ImageSize = width:290 height:auto barincrement:20PlotArea = left:36 bottom:20 top:10 right:10AlignBars = justifyPeriod = from:0 till:7000TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1000 start:0

PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:2002 from:start till:0 text:0 bar:2003 from:start till:50.4 text:50.4 bar:2004 from:start till:51.1 text:51.1 bar:2005 from:start till:107.2 text:107.2 bar:2006 from:start till:107.2 text:107.2 bar:2007 from:start till:699.4 text:699.4 bar:2008 from:start till:915.1 text:915.1 bar:2009 from:start till:1547.5 text:1,547.5 bar:2010 from:start till:2044.6 text:2,044.6 bar:2011 from:start till:2742 text:2,742 bar:2012 from:start till:3568 text:3,568 bar:2013 from:start till:3568 text:3,568 bar:2014 from:start till:3568 text:3,568 bar:2015 from:start till:3842 text:3,842 bar:2016 from:start till:4026 text:4,026 bar:2017 from:start till:4332 text:4,332 bar:2018 from:start till:4861 text:4,861 bar:2019 from:start till:5350 text:5,350 bar:2020 from:start till:6409 text:6,409 bar:2021 from:start till:6997 text:6,997

Megawatts of Installed Generating Capacity[24] [25] [26] [27]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WINDExchange: Wind Energy in Illinois . windexchange.energy.gov . 13 November 2021.
  2. Web site: Illinois - State Energy Profile Analysis - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) . www.eia.gov . 13 November 2021.
  3. http://www.awea.org/projects/projects.aspx?s=Illinois U.S. Wind Energy Projects - Illinois
  4. Web site: Illinois Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency. Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. U.S. Dept. of Energy. May 17, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716060521/http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=IL04R&state=IL&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1. July 16, 2011.
  5. Web site: Electric Power Monthly, February 2014. U.S. Energy Information Administration.
  6. Web site: Fix for Illinois renewable energy law faces utility opposition. midwestenergynews.com. April 26, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313130813/http://midwestenergynews.com/2013/05/20/fix-for-illinois-renewable-energy-law-faces-opposition-from-utilities/. March 13, 2017.
  7. Web site: Wind Energy Facts: Illinois. American Wind Energy Association. February 17, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130215123040/http://awea.org/learnabout/publications/factsheets/upload/3Q-12-Illinois.pdf. February 15, 2013.
  8. Web site: WindExchange:Illinois 80-meter wind map and wind resource potential. U.S. Department of Energy, EERE. July 2, 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714124526/http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/wind_resource_maps.asp?stateab=il. July 14, 2014.
  9. http://www.windforillinois.org/facts/ About Wind Power in Illinois
  10. AWEA treats Twin Groves as four installations. Together they exceed the capacity of Cayuga Ridge.
  11. http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1816434480/Lookout-puts-wind-farm-in-perspective Lookout puts wind farm in perspective
  12. Web site: Rock Island Clean Line files application with FERC . Clean Line Energy Partners . November 8, 2011 . February 3, 2012 .
  13. Web site: TVA: Energy Purchases from Wind Farms. tva.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150731021622/https://www.tva.com/power/wind_purchases.htm. 2015-07-31.
  14. Web site: Illinois Wind Power Maps. windforillinois.org. April 26, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120629173344/http://www.windforillinois.org/maps/. 29 June 2012.
  15. http://www.goldwindamerica.com/project_profiles/shady-oaks-wind-farm/ Shady Oaks profile
  16. Web site: Our Projects - Invenergy. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316000729/http://invenergyllc.com/ProjectsbyCountry/UnitedStates/CaliforniaRidge.aspx. March 16, 2016. April 26, 2018. www.invenergyllc.com.
  17. https://renewables.seenews.com/news/edf-re-commissions-184-mw-wind-park-in-illinois-552284# Kelly Creek Wind Park Commissioned
  18. https://www.cordeliopower.com/glacier-sands-wind-project/ Glacier Sands Wind Project
  19. Web site: Electric Power Monthly. EIA. United States Department of Energy. May 21, 2013. 2013-06-03. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130603084912/http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/. June 3, 2013. Energy Information Administration.
  20. Web site: Electricity Data Browser. www.eia.gov. April 26, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323211424/https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/0?agg=1,0,2&fuel=008&geo=vvvvvvvvvvvvo&sec=o3g&linechart=ELEC.GEN.WND-US-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-IA-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-TX-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-IL-99.M&columnchart=ELEC.GEN.WND-US-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-IA-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-TX-99.M&map=ELEC.GEN.WND-US-99.M&freq=M&start=200912&end=201404&ctype=linechart&ltype=pin&rtype=s&maptype=0&rse=0&pin=. March 23, 2018.
  21. Web site: Electricity Data Browser. www.eia.gov. April 26, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323211424/https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/0?agg=1,0,2&fuel=008&geo=vvvvvvvvvvvvo&sec=o3g&linechart=ELEC.GEN.WND-US-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-IA-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-TX-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-IL-99.M&columnchart=ELEC.GEN.WND-US-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-IA-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-TX-99.M&map=ELEC.GEN.WND-US-99.M&freq=M&start=201501&end=201512&ctype=linechart&ltype=pin&rtype=s&maptype=0&rse=0&pin=. March 23, 2018.
  22. Web site: Electricity Data Browser. www.eia.gov. April 26, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323211424/https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/0?agg=2,0,1&fuel=g08&geo=0000g&sec=g&linechart=ELEC.GEN.ALL-IL-99.M~ELEC.GEN.WND-IL-99.M&columnchart=ELEC.GEN.ALL-IL-99.M&map=ELEC.GEN.ALL-IL-99.M&freq=M&start=200101&end=201711&ctype=linechart&ltype=pin&rtype=s&pin=&rse=0&maptype=0. March 23, 2018.
  23. Web site: Installed Wind Capacity . U.S. Department of Energy . 2015-03-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140314233108/http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp . 2014-03-14 .
  24. Web site: AWEA 4th quarter 2011 Public Market Report . American Wind Energy Association(AWEA) . January 2012 . February 3, 2012 .
  25. Web site: AWEA 4th quarter 2018 Public Market Report . American Wind Energy Association(AWEA) . January 2012 . March 6, 2019 .
  26. https://windexchange.energy.gov/maps-data/321 WINDExchange: U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation
  27. Web site: Market Report 2021 . American Clean Power Association. May 17, 2022 . May 22, 2022.

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