Duke Energy Florida (DEF) will develop 3 projects with a cumulative capacity of 195 MW in the state, advancing on its goal of adding 700 MW solar power generation through 2022. Constructing or acquiring all of this 700 MW is expected to cost an estimated $1 billion.
Out of the 3 solar projects announced, DEF acquired 45 MW Lake Placid Solar Power Plant from EDF Renewables. It will be built on 380 acres in Highlands County with around 180,000 tracking solar panels and is expected to be commissioned in December 2019.
Trenton Solar Power Plant in Gilchrist County will have 74.9 MW capacity and will involve some 280,000 tracking solar panels to be deployed. The utility acquired development rights for this one from Southeast Solar & Power LLC. It expects to switch on the project also in December 2019.
To be developed, owned and operated by DEF, the 74.5 MW DeBary Solar Power Plant will be spread across 445 acres in Volusia County. For this project, DEF plans to use close to 300,000 fixed-tilt solar panels with commissioning scheduled by March 2020.
Duke Energy is requesting the Florida Public Service Commission to recover the estimated investments costs associated with these 3 'cost-effective' projects.
By the end of Q1/2020, DEF says it will have 9 solar power plants in operation. It is looking at also investing in additional solar power plants and battery storage technology among other targeted investments.
In January 2019, it built and commissioned the 74.9 MW Hamilton Solar Power Plant in Jasper, Florida within 6 months (see 75 MW Hamilton Solar Plant Energized In Florida).