Project Overview

The Los Vientos Wind Farm Project, a 912 MW project by Duke Energy Renewables, demonstrates industry leadership. Located in South Texas, it is one of the largest wind farm projects in the Texas, United States , showcasing a commitment to sustainable energy and 

regional growth.

Developed in five phases (fully operational by August 2016), it comprises over 400 wind turbines and generates enough electricity to power approximately 273,000 homes in Texas, altogether.

The electricity produced is supplied to various Texas cities and corporate customers such as Mars, Inc. As one of South Texas's first large wind projects, Los Vientos expanded the wind footprint into new areas and improved transmission access to cities.

Los Vientos Wind Farm Location

The Los Vientos Wind Farm is located in South Texas near Rio Grande City, spanning Cameron, Willacy, and Starr counties.

Project Background

Los Vientos Wind Farm, the second-largest wind farm project in the US, was a five-phase development project. Construction for phase I began in 2012. In August 2016, the project was fully operational, and all five phases were fully developed.

With a total generation capacity of 912 MW, the combined Phase I & II generates 402 MW of power and has been operational since December 2012.  The Phase III added up to 200 MW to the project and has been operational since April 2015.

Phase IV has a total generation capacity of 200 MW and has been in operation since August 2016. Phase V, the final phase of the project, added 110 MW of power and began its operation in December 2015.

Duke Energy Renewables leased about 23,000 acres across Cameron, Willacy, and Starr counties to deliver long-term value to local communities and stakeholders. 

The project required extensive collaboration with regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It involved three years of avian and environmental studies to ensure wildlife protection. Site selection prioritized robust wind resources with minimal habitat constraints, aligning with responsible development goals.

Five Phases of Los Vientos Wind Farm

Below is a detailed description of the project's five phases.

Los Vientos Wind Farm I

The Los Vientos Wind Farm Phase I has a 200 MW power generation capacity, sufficient to power approximately 60,000 homes.

Spread over an area of approximately 30,000 acres of leased farmland, it comprises 87 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 108m.

Wind turbines are supported by foundations constructed of 680 cubic yards of concrete and 69 tons of steel reinforcement.

Located in Cameron County, all the generated renewable power is sold to San Antonio-based CPS Energy under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Los Vientos Wind Farm II

The Los Vientos Wind Farm Phase II has a generating capacity of 202 MW, enough to power approximately 60,000 homes annually.

It consists of 84 Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) MWT 102 wind turbines, each having a capacity of approximately 2.4 MW.

Each turbine has a minimum height of 295 ft and a rotor diameter of 334 ft. These are made up of more than 680 cubic yards of concrete and 66 tons of reinforcement. Located in Willacy County, the power generated is sold to Austin Energy.

Los Vientos Wind Farm III & IV

Phases III and IV are located in Starr County and have a generation capacity of 400 MW (200 MW- Phase III & 200 MW Phase IV) from 100 Vestas V110-2.0 MW turbines (110m rotor diameter, hub height 95-125m). Each turbine operates at 11.5 meters/second. The power is supplied to Austin Energy under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement.

Each turbine is made up of tubular steel and has a hub height of 95 meters to 125 meters. It runs at a wind speed of 11.5 meters/second.  

The power generated is supplied to Austin Energy under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) starting in 2015. Phase III has been operational since April 2015, and Phase IV since August 2016.

Los Vientos Wind Farm V

Phase V is situated in Starr County and includes 55 Vestas 2 MW wind turbines with a total capacity of 110 MW, serving about 33,000 homes with emission-free electricity. 

Electricity generated is sold to Garland Power & Light, Greenville Electric Utility Systems, and Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) through a 25-year agreement.

The power generated is sold to Garland Power & Light, Greenville Electric Utility Systems, and Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) under a separate 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).  

Los Vientos Wind Farm Project Cost

The total estimated cost of the project is approximately USD 1.2-1.3 billion. It covers the cost of turbine procurement, construction, transmission infrastructure, and environmental mitigation measures. Overall, the Los Vientos Wind Farm is considered one of the largest and most capital-intensive wind energy projects in Texas.

Cost of each phase of the Los Vientos Project

Project Timeline

Project Scope

The project scope of the Los Vientos Wind Farm project is as follows:

• Wind Turbine Installation: The project consists of installing over 400 wind turbines from leading manufacturers, including Siemens, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Vestas.
  

• Turbine Foundations: It comprises the construction of turbine foundations using significant amounts of concrete and steel reinforcement.
  

• Integrate power into the grid: The Los Vientos Wind Farm project develops collection systems and transmission lines to connect to the ERCOT grid.  
  

• Environmental Mitigation Measures: The project involves implementing environmental mitigation measures, including bat deterrent ultrasonic systems at multiple turbines.
  

• Transmission Infrastructure: It consists of two 345 kV substations, 100+ miles of 34.5 kV collection lines, and Integration into ERCOT via CREZ (Competitive Renewable Energy Zone) transmission lines.
  

Los Vientos Wind Farm Project Contractors

Los Vientos Wind Farm Project Investors

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project.

• Reduce reliance on fossil fuels: The project increases renewable energy generation capacity in Texas, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels for electricity.
  

• Carbon Dioxide Emissions: The project's renewable power displaces approximately 460,000 tons of CO2 annually.
  

• Displaces Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) & Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): In addition to displacing Carbon Dioxide, the project displaces approximately 800 metric tons of SO2 and 380 metric tons of NOx annually.
  

• Match Demand Patterns: The project generates power primarily during the daytime, when customer demand is highest. It improves grid reliability and matches demand patterns.
  

• Long-term Utility Savings: 25-year power purchase agreements with Austin Energy, CPS Energy, and Garland Power & Light save ratepayers billions statewide through lower wholesale prices.
  

• Boost Economy in Rural Counties: Created multiple jobs during its construction phase and now provides millions in annual landowner royalties, property tax revenue, and school-funding support in Starr and Willacy counties.

Conclusion

The Los Vientos Wind Farm is the second-largest wind farm project in the US, significantly contributing to Texas’s clean energy goals. With a total installed capacity of 912 MW, the project generates enough emission-free electricity to power approximately 273,000 homes in Texas. Overall, it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and displaces CO2, SO2, and NOx.

Developed in five phases, the project construction started in 2012 and was fully operational by August 2016. It comprises advanced turbine technologies from leading manufacturers and robust infrastructure, including substations and transmission lines, to connect to the Texas grid.

Duke Energy Renewables supplies renewable energy to Austin Energy, CPS Energy, Garland Power & Light, Greenville Electric Utility Systems, and Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) under a separate 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).  

A large-scale, economically viable, and environmentally responsible wind energy project, Los Vientos contributes to energy sustainability, climate change mitigation, and community development in South Texas.

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