Top 4 Largest Onshore Wind Farms in Texas [2024]

 

Texas, long known for its oil and gas industries and car culture, made headlines on Wednesday, March 26, by setting a new record in wind power. At 8:48 p.m., wind energy was supplying 10,296 megawatts of electricity to the state’s grid, surpassing the previous record of 9,681 megawatts, according to ERCOT. This 10.3 gigawatts of wind power accounted for nearly 29% of the state’s total electricity consumption at that time. On the evening the record was set, Amarillo in northern Texas experienced gusts of up to 30 miles per hour, while Corpus Christi saw winds of 25 miles per hour—strong but typical for the region.

This wasn’t the only milestone achieved. The following morning, Thursday, March 27, Texas set another record when wind power supplied an unprecedented 38.43% of the state’s electricity. Thanks to its vast open spaces and ideal wind conditions, Texas has led the U.S. in wind energy production for the past 17 years. According to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, Texas produced 29.1% of the nation’s wind-generated electricity in May, more than double that of Iowa, the second-highest producer, which contributed 9.3%.

Texas in March set a new record in wind power, supplying 10,296 megawatts of electricity to the state’s grid, surpassing the previous record of 9,681 megawatts, according to ERCOT

In 2022, Texas wind farms generated 40,556 megawatts (MW), accounting for over 26% of all U.S. wind-generated electricity. Texas made history in 2011 as the first state to reach 10,000 MW of wind-generating capacity, a milestone it maintained as the only state at that level until 2020. However, in January 2024, wind power generation in Texas dropped by 22% compared to January 2023, as low wind speeds continued to reduce output across the state’s main power system, the largest in the U.S. Data from ERCOT, compiled by LSEG, shows that wind generation in January 2024 was 356,000 MW, down from 455,000 MW in January 2023.

The wind energy sector in Texas is a major contributor to the state’s economy, supporting 26,135 jobs in wind electric power generation as of 2022. These jobs offer an attractive average annual wage of $109,826, highlighting the sector’s strong economic impact. In 2021, the gross domestic product (GDP) for wind electric power generation in Texas was $1.7 billion. Looking ahead, the demand for skilled labor in this field is expected to rise significantly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 44% growth in employment for wind turbine technicians by 2031, indicating continued investment and expansion in the wind energy sector.

Los Vientos Wind Farm: The Largest Wind Farm in Texas

Los Vientos Wind Farm, Texas, Photo: Stock

The Los Vientos Wind Farm, located in Starr and Willacy counties in South Texas, is a 912-megawatt (MW) wind farm and the largest in Texas. It ranks as the largest wind farm in the United States, following California's Alta Wind Energy Center. Constructed by Duke Energy Renewables, a part of Duke Energy's commercial portfolio, the Los Vientos Wind Farm was developed in five phases between 2012 and 2016.

The project, which involved installing approximately 910 MW of renewable energy, is divided into five phases: Los Vientos I, II, III, IV, and V, with capacities of 200 MW, 202 MW, 200 MW, 200 MW, and 110 MW, respectively. The energy generated by each phase is purchased by different customers.

Los Vientos I and II, with a combined output of 402 MW, began commercial operations in December 2012. The third phase, with a capacity of 200 MW, started operations on May 13, 2015. The 200 MW fourth phase came online in August 2016, while the fifth phase, generating 110 MW, became operational in December 2015.

The project, which added approximately 910 MW of renewable energy, was completed in five phases: Los Vientos I, II, III, IV, and V, with capacities of 200 MW, 202 MW, 200 MW, 200 MW, and 110 MW, respectively. The energy generated by each phase is sold to different customers.

Los Vientos I and II, with a combined output of 402 MW, began commercial operations in December 2012. The third phase, also producing 200 MW, became operational on May 13, 2015. The fourth phase, adding another 200 MW, came online in August 2016, while the fifth phase, contributing 110 MW, started generating electricity in December 2015.

However, there were significant challenges during construction, particularly at 26 of the sites in Willacy County. The subsurface conditions in these areas generally consisted of moist, lean clay topsoil over soft to very soft lean clay mixed with silt and sand, with a substantial sand deposit beneath. Groundwater was present 5 to 10 feet below the surface, making it difficult to excavate and replace the poor bearing materials beneath the wind turbine foundations. Ground improvement was necessary to limit total and differential foundation settlements to within one inch and to increase the soil-bearing capacity to 7,000sf. Let's describe three key phases of the Los Vientos Wind Farm construction:

 

Los Vientos I: The 200 MW Los Vientos I wind farm spans approximately 30,000 acres of leased farmland. It features 87 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 108 meters. These turbines generate enough electricity to power around 60,000 homes. The foundations for each turbine are built using 680 cubic yards of concrete and 69 tons of steel reinforcement.

Los Vientos II: This 202 MW wind farm consists of 84 Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) MWT 102 wind turbines, each with a nominal capacity of 2.4 MW. Like Los Vientos I, it produces enough power to supply approximately 60,000 homes. The MWT 102 turbines have a hub height of 295 feet and a rotor diameter of 334 feet. The turbine foundations use more than 680 cubic yards of concrete and 66 tons of steel reinforcement. Los Vientos I and II generate 400 MW of emission-free electricity, powering about 120,000 homes.

Los Vientos III: This phase includes 100 Vestas V110-2.0 MW turbines, contributing 200 MW to the overall project. Located near Rio Grande City in Starr County, about 100 miles west of Brownsville, the Vestas turbines have a rotor diameter of 110 meters and a swept area of 9,503 square meters. The turbine towers, made of tubular steel, have a hub height ranging from 95 to 125 meters and operate at a rated wind speed of 11.5 meters per second. Duke Energy also developed the 110 MW Los Vientos V, which includes 55 Vestas 2 MW turbines, generating enough electricity to power around 33,000 homes.

The Los Vientos Wind Farm is a great example of Texas' commitment to renewable energy and leadership in wind power generation. With its significant output and innovative construction practices, it continues to play an important role in the state's energy landscape while supporting the local economy by providing clean electricity.

Roscoe Wind Farm, the World's Largest Onshore Wind

Roscoe Wind Farm Texas, Photo: iStock

  

The Roscoe Wind Farm (RWF), located 45 miles southwest of Abilene, Texas, is the largest onshore wind farm in the world, featuring 627 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 781.5 MW. It is owned and operated by RWE. This company was renowned as the world's largest wind farm until 2012, surpassed by California's 1,020-megawatt Alta Wind Energy Center. Before that, it overtook the nearby 735.5-megawatt Horse Hollow Wind Energy.

 

There are four stages to the building of Roscoe Wind Farm. The first phase in 2008, features 209 Mitsubishi 1-megawatt turbines. Champion, the second phase, was completed in 2008, and comprises fifty-five Siemens 2.3-megawatt turbines, midway through 2009, the third phase, Pyron, added 166 GE 1.5-megawatt turbines, and the fourth and last phase, Inadale, which added an extra 197 Mitsubishi 1-megawatt turbines, was finished shortly after. Over $1 billion cost to build this farm, generates enough electricity to power more than 250,000 average Texan homes. It is covered by nearly 100,000 acres (40,000 hectares) across four Texas counties, about 200 miles (320 km) west of Fort Worth, occupying an area several times the size of Manhattan.  Roscoe Wind Farm generates 476,018.4 MWh of electricity and features towers that stand 69 meters high.

In conclusion: The largest wind farm in Texas, Roscoe Wind, demonstrates the importance of wind energy as a sustainable resource. Its significant output contributes to Texas' energy needs and demonstrates the state's leadership in the renewable energy sector in 2024. As the world's largest offshore wind project, it plays a demanding role in advancing clean energy initiatives

Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, A Landmark In Texas Wind Power

Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center Texas, Photo: Stock

One of the Largest wind power plants in Texas is the Horse Hollow Wind Energy (HHWE), located in Taylor and Nolan counties, it spans nearly 47,000 acres and is equipped with 421 wind turbines, a mix of 291 General Electric (GE) 1.5-megawatt turbines and 130 Siemens 2.3 megawatt turbines. This setup gives the farm a total capacity of 735 megawatts, sufficient to power approximately 220,600 homes in Texas.

One of the leading wind farms is The Horse Hollow Wind, which has a total capacity of 735 megawatts, sufficient to power approximately 220,600 homes in Texas.

The development of Horse Hollow has provided substantial economic benefits to the region. The wind farm has not only become a vital source of clean energy but also revitalized the local economy through job creation, lease payments to landowners, and the increased demand for local goods and services. The supportive business environment in Texas, coupled with local government investment, has played a crucial role in the success of Horse Hollow, helping to establish Texas as a leader in wind energy.

Owned by NextEra Energy, Horse Hollow is a prime example of how large-scale renewable energy projects can contribute to both environmental sustainability and economic growth.

 

Cranell Onshore Wind Farm, Fourth Largest Wind Farm in Texas

Cranell Onshore Wind Farm in Texas

The Cranell Wind Farm, located on a single ranch near the town of Woodsboro in Refugio County, Texas, boasts a capacity of 220 MW and is powered by 100 Vestas 2.2-MW turbines. Owned by RWE, this project represents a $250 million investment in the South Texas region. The wind farm is capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 66,000 homes.

Construction of the Cranell Wind Farm began in April 2019, and by October 2020, it reached commercial operation, achieving this milestone after more than 434,000 work hours without a single recordable safety incident. During its construction phase, the project employed up to 300 workers and has since created 13 permanent jobs for ongoing operation and maintenance.

The fourth largest wind farm is The Cranell Wind Farm, with a capacity of 220 MW, capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 66,000 homes.

 

Cranell uses Vestas V120-2.2MW turbines, which provide up to a 14% increase in annual energy production (AEP) over previous models. These turbines are engineered to maximize energy output in stable low to medium-wind conditions. With a swept area of 11,310 square meters and a rotor diameter of 120 meters—19% more than the V110-2MW model—the turbines offer enhanced levelized cost of energy (LCoE) performance.  The nacelle of each turbine is 5.4 meters high, and its blades are 59 meters long. There are two helical stages and one planetary stage in the gearbox. A 270,000-foot subterranean electrical system transmits the power produced by the turbines. A 17.7-kilometer wooden monopole transmission line and auxiliary substation facilities are also part of the project.

In Closing

As the fourth largest wind farm in Texas, the Crannell Wind Farm illustrates the potential of renewable energy to contribute to the state's energy needs, driving economic growth and creating jobs. With its advanced turbine technology and strong safety record, Crannell is a significant player in Texas' transition to sustainable energy sources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the number of wind-related projects in Texas?

A1: Texas has 239 projects involving wind energy.

Q2: Texas has how many wind turbines?

A2: Texas leads the nation in the number of wind turbines with over 15,300.

Q3: How many jobs are there in Texas's wind energy generation industry as of now?

A3: As of 2022, there are 26,135 jobs in Texas related to the production of wind energy.

Q4: What is the typical yearly salary in Texas for positions producing wind energy?

A4: In Texas, the average yearly salary for occupations producing wind energy is $109,826.

Q5: In Texas, how much of the state's GDP came from the production of wind energy in 2021?

A5: In 2021, Texas's GDP benefited from the production of wind energy by $1.7 billion.