RWE Clean Energy signs solar PPAs for over 300 MW with Dominion Energy Virginia; First Solar secures module contract from TVA in Alabama; Array Technologies to source local steel from Lock Joint Tube; New York State’s largest rooftop solar project complete.
RWE signs contracts for over 300 MW: Germany’s RWE has announced signing 8 long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) with US utility Dominion Energy Virginia for 7 solar projects in the US. This equates to more than 300 MW capacity, capable of producing more than 750,000 MWh annually. Of these 7 projects, 2 are currently under operation, one is under construction and 4 are under development in the state of Virginia. RWE subsidiary RWE Clean Energy will be the owner and operator of all the PV facilities. The company is also contracted by Dominion Energy Virginia for 24 MW of distributed energy resource (DER) capacity.
279 MW DC order for First Solar: First Solar has secured an order for 279 MW DC of its thin-film solar panels from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for its Lawrence County Solar Project in Alabama. The project is scheduled to come online in 2027. First Solar is building its 4th factory with 3.5 GW DC annual capacity in Lawrence County with $1.1 billion investment (see First Solar Picks Alabama For New US Module Fab).
Array Technologies has locked in locally produced steel supply for its utility scale projects from Lock Joint Tube. (Photo Credit: Array Technologies, Inc)
Array to get local steel tubes: US solar tracker manufacturer Array Technologies has secured the supply of locally produced utility scale steel tubes under an agreement with structural-grade steel tubing company Lock Joint Tube. The latter will ensure the supplies from its Temple, Texas located newly opened fab, in response to the domestic content requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Lock Joint Tube is an existing supplier for Array, providing it tubes from its steel torque tube mill in South Bend, Indiana.
New York’s largest rooftop PV plant: New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of the largest rooftop solar project in the New York State recently. With 7.2 MW installed capacity, the project has panels deployed on a distribution center in Orange County owned by medical products company Medline Industries. Hochul said the community solar project is helping reduce energy costs for both the company and the community residents in the Mid-Hudson region. Built for over $8 million, the community solar project is equipped with over 17,000 panels to generate 8.5 million kWh annually. The state aims to install 6 GW distributed solar power capacity by 2025, and reach 10 GW by 2030 (see 10 GW Distributed Solar By 2030 For New York).
