‘Largest’ Floating Solar Plant In Southeast US

• Duke Energy has secured a contract with US Army under UESC to build a floating solar installation
• The 1.1 MW facility will be constructed by Ameresco on the Big Muddy Lake at Camp Mackall with 2 MW energy storage
• It will be owned and operated by the US Army's military installation at Fort Bragg on completion

Duke Energy will build a 1.1 MW floating solar power facility for US Army's military installation in Fort Bragg in North Carolina which the utility terms as the largest floating solar power plant in the Southeast of US. It is part of a Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) and for the utility has contracted Ameresco to build the facility.

The 1.1 MW project will be located on the Big Muddy Lake at Camp Mackall to be owned and operated by Fort Bragg once Ameresco completes its construction that's due to commence in November 2020.

Power generated by the plant will supplement power to Fort Bragg from the local grid and used to provide power backup during electric service outages.

"This project takes a comprehensive look at the way energy is being used at Fort Bragg and will lead to more efficient energy use and significant cost savings," said Duke Energy's Vice President for Distributed Energy Solutions Melisa Johns.

Duke Energy said the $36 million contract will focus on energy resilience and security at Fort Bragg: infrastructure modernization including lighting and water upgrades, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning and boiler system improvements.

The utility sees 'big future' in floating solar power and refers to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) 2018 study that estimates installing floating solar PV on more than 24,000 man-made US reservoirs could generate about 10% of the nation's annual electricity production.

Last month, Ciel and Terre said it will supply its hydrelio floating PV technology for a 3.2 MW DC floating solar project for a US sand miner (see 3.2 MW DC Floating Solar Project For US Sand Miner).