Minnesota coal plant’s wires now carry solar power to 150,000 homes
The largest coal plant in Minnesota is transitioning to embrace renewable energy by hosting a substantial solar farm. Leveraging the existing transmission systems of the coal facility, the Sherco Solar project is now recognized as the most extensive solar installation in the state. This forward-thinking initiative accelerates grid connection for new energy innovations, with exciting plans for…
In Becker, Minnesota, the state's largest coal plant has been repurposed for solar power. On July 21, Xcel Energy completed the third and final phase of Sherco Solar, which now generates 710 megawatts of electricity through 1.7 million solar panels. This makes Sherco Solar the largest solar facility in Minnesota and one of the biggest in the Upper Midwest.
However, what truly sets this project apart is that it uses the existing transmission infrastructure of the Sherburne County Generating Station, a coal plant that has been operating since 1976. This innovative approach allows the renewable energy to be fed into the grid without having to establish a new transmission connection. By utilizing the existing rights of the retiring coal plant, Xcel Energy has significantly reduced the time and cost required to bring Sherco Solar online.
The plant now powers approximately 150,000 homes on Xcel's Upper Midwest system. Additionally, the Sherburne County Generating Station is being converted into a synchronous condenser, which will help stabilize the grid voltage, and the site will also have a battery storage system to further support the integration of solar energy.
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