List of power stations in South Dakota facts for kids

South Dakota gets its electricity from many different places! In 2022, most of the power came from clean, renewable sources like wind and water. About 54.8% was from wind, and 29.2% was from hydroelectric dams. A smaller amount came from burning fossil fuels like coal (10%) and natural gas (5.7%).

South Dakota is actually one of the top states in the U.S. for using renewable energy. This means they are really good at using power sources that don't run out and are better for the environment. Even though they produce a lot of power, people in South Dakota use even more electricity than the state makes!

How South Dakota Makes Electricity

South Dakota uses many different types of power plants to create electricity. These plants can be grouped into a few main categories: nuclear, fossil fuel, and renewable energy.

Nuclear Power

Nuclear power plants use a special process called nuclear fission to create heat, which then makes steam to spin turbines and generate electricity.

The Pathfinder Nuclear Generating Station near Sioux Falls was an early nuclear power plant. It operated for a short time in 1966 and 1967. After that, it was changed to use oil and gas instead of nuclear fuel. The nuclear parts were removed in 1990. Today, South Dakota does not have any large nuclear power plants.

Fossil Fuel Power

Fossil fuel power plants burn fuels like coal, natural gas, or petroleum to heat water and create steam. This steam then spins large turbines to make electricity. These fuels are called "fossil fuels" because they formed over millions of years from ancient plants and animals.

Coal Power Plants

One important coal power plant in South Dakota is the Big Stone Power Plant in Grant County. It opened in 1975 and can produce a lot of electricity.

Natural Gas Power Plants

Many power plants in South Dakota use natural gas to generate electricity. Some use a "simple cycle" process, while others use a "combined cycle" process, which is more efficient. This means they get more electricity from the same amount of fuel.

Some examples of natural gas plants include:

• Aberdeen in Brown County
• Angus Anson in Minnehaha County
• Deer Creek Station in Brookings County

Petroleum Power Plants

A small amount of South Dakota's electricity comes from power plants that burn petroleum (oil). These plants often use reciprocating engines, which are like very large car engines, or simple cycle turbines.

Some petroleum plants are:

• Aberdeen in Brown County
• Clark in Clark County
• Watertown Power Plant in Codington County

Renewable Power

Renewable energy sources are natural resources that can be replaced or replenished over time. This makes them a more sustainable way to produce electricity. South Dakota is a leader in using these types of energy.

Biomass Power

Biomass power plants burn organic materials, like wood waste, to create heat and generate electricity.

The POET Biorefining - Chancellor plant in Hughes County is an example of a biomass power station in South Dakota. It uses wood and wood waste as its fuel.

Hydroelectric Power

Hydroelectric power plants use the force of moving water to spin turbines and create electricity. South Dakota has several large dams on the Missouri River that are important for generating this type of clean energy.

Some of the major hydroelectric dams include:

• Big Bend Dam in Buffalo County
• Fort Randall Dam in Charles Mix County
• Gavins Point Dam in Yankton County
• Oahe Dam in Hughes County

Solar Power

Solar power plants use special panels to capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity. This is a growing source of clean energy.

The Pierre Solar plant in Hughes County is an example of a solar power facility in South Dakota. It opened in 2016.

Wind Power

Wind power is a very important source of electricity in South Dakota. Wind turbines use large blades to capture the energy from the wind, which then spins a generator to make electricity. South Dakota has many wind farms across the state.

Some of the large wind farms include:

• Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm in Brookings County
• Crowned Ridge Wind in Codington and Grant Counties
• Tatanka Wind Farm in McPherson County

Storing Electricity

Sometimes, electricity is produced when it's not immediately needed. Battery storage power stations can store this extra electricity and release it later when people need it most. This helps make the power grid more stable and reliable.

The Rolling Thunder Wind Hybrid facility in Hand County is an example of a battery storage system. It can store a small amount of electricity.

HVDC Converter Stations

HVDC converter stations are special facilities that help move large amounts of electricity over long distances very efficiently. They convert electricity from one type (alternating current or AC) to another (direct current or DC) for long-distance travel, and then back again.

The Rapid City B2B Converter Station in Pennington County helps manage the flow of electricity in the region.

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