Wind Turbines at Fort Hays State University

Earlier this year, two 2 MW wind turbines were added to the Kansas landscape. Though not particularly unusual for Kansas, the project was noteworthy for Fort Hays State University (FHSU) and the first of its kind for a Kansas university.  GBA was retained to provide electrical engineering services.

The project was not without challenges, including local zoning restrictions that prohibited the turbines locate near campus. Instead, they were situated on a ridge nearly three miles west of campus, in an area of high average wind speeds.  With that site, came the arduous process of boring all associated transmission lines and fiber, which allows for continuous monitoring to ensure optimum performance, to the Akers Energy Center on campus. 

Remarkably, these two wind turbines will account for nearly 97% of energy consumption on campus, saving the University up to $1 million annually.  The project paves the way for future energy efficiency measures, energy storage and additional renewable sources for FHSU.

Check out the finished product, live from the FHSU Wind Farm Camera, at http://fhsuwind.click2stream.com.