Photo: Wind Farm
Rio Grande Project
Rio Grande Project
The Rio Grande Project is located in Texas State Waters (the 'Submerged Lands') of the Gulf of Mexico.
The lease comprising approximately 19,800 acres lies offshore of South Padre Island. The lease abuts the limit of State Waters which extends from between 4.25 miles (6.8km) to 10.3 miles (16.5km) or three marine leagues from the coast. Water depth ranges from 55 to 88 feet (17 to 27 metres).
The nearest large cities are Brownsville, 34 miles (55 km) and Harlingen, 40 miles (65km).
The Rio Grande Project is located in an area where a wind speed at the potential hub-height of turbines is in the order of 9 to 9.5 metres/second on an average basis. The area has the potential to install in the order of 200 multi-megawatt offshore wind turbines. Baryonyx is considering the use of currently available 5 or 6MW machines in this project, giving a potential installed capacity in the order of 1.2 GW.
Given the continuing development of offshore wind turbine technology, it is possible that larger scale turbines may be commercially available at the time of construction. Baryonyx will ensure that any planning consent received will allow us to take advantage of larger capacity turbines.
It is intended to develop data center and CAES facilities onshore in the Brownsville / Harlingen area. Energy produced at the offshore wind farm will be transmitted to the onshore data center locations by means of third party wires.
The onshore facilities will constitute energy and data centers in accordance with the Baryonyx business concept. The detailed onshore locations will be selected taking into account the proximity of the Level 3 long-haul fiber optic network. Initial discussions with Level 3 indicate no capacity restrictions on the route extending along the Gulf Coast and the U.S / Mexico border.
