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One giant US power line, enough wind power for 1 million homes
Electrek • • business
Key Points:
- The $11 billion SunZia project, one of the largest US clean energy transmission initiatives, is now fully operational, transmitting renewable electricity from New Mexico to the Southwest.
- The 550-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line can carry up to 3,000 MW of power, enough to supply around 1 million homes, addressing rising electricity demand driven by data centers, electrification, and industrial growth.
- SunZia's HVDC system is the largest voltage source converter-based installation in the US, capable of efficiently moving large amounts of wind power over long distances with low energy loss and enhancing grid stability.
- The project helps mitigate the "duck curve" by adjusting power flows in the evening when solar production drops but demand remains high, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting grid resilience during weather disruptions.
- Expected to cut about 9 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in its first year, SunZia is equivalent to removing 3 million gasoline-powered cars from the road, marking a significant step toward a more flexible, reliable, and affordable electric grid.
