RWE has signed a long-term PPA with Rivian for electricity from an upgraded RWE wind project in West Texas.
Under the 15-year PPA, electricity from Champion Wind, a 127 MW wind farm in Nolan and Mitchell counties, will help supply the Rivian Adventure Network with 100% renewable energy.
The Champion Wind farm is currently undergoing installation of turbine nacelles and blades that the company hopes will extend the lifetime of the facility. The repowering of Champion Wind is set to be completed next year.
“RWE continues to pursue commercial opportunities to partner with leading innovative companies like Rivian to help decarbonize the grid,” says Christoph Hunfeld, CCO, RWE Clean Energy. “We are investing in clean energy projects to support the needs of energy-intensive companies, and PPAs like this one with Rivian facilitate those investments.”
Champion Wind was originally commissioned in 2008, and construction began earlier this year to repower the facility. RWE is partnering with M.A. Mortenson Company to build the project. Siemens Gamesa is supplying 41 turbines with new nacelles and blades on existing towers.
In addition, as part of the repowering project, the wind farm will have six new Siemens Gamesa turbines rated at 3.1 MW. As part of a commitment to reducing waste, RWE is partnering with REGEN Fiber to repurpose the decommissioned wind turbine blades from Champion.
