Lightsource bp has energized 130 MW DC solar plant for AMEA; Silicon Ranch expands First Solar module order with 700 MW; Ørsted sells 50% stake in 862 MW wind and solar capacity in the US; National Grid Renewables signs Hershey’s for 140 MW solar PPA.
13 MW DC solar plant online in Alabama: British solar power developer Lightsource bp has commissioned 130 MW DC/100 MW AC solar project in Alabama. One of the largest solar farms in Alabama, the Black Bear Solar Project will supply clean energy to Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA) under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The AMEA expects to save a minimum of $40 million over the initial 20 years with this facility and hedge itself against price volatility of natural gas (see North America PV News Snippets). The project is equipped with over 280,000 ultra low carbon solar panels from First Solar and trackers manufactured by Array Technologies. Trackers for this facility were supplied by Mississippi based Attala Steel. The project is in commissioning phase and is currently generating electricity into the grid and will be fully operational in November 2022.
Silicon Ranch’s 700 MW module order: US independent power producer (IPP) Silicon Ranch has expanded the master supply agreement (MSA) with solar manufacturer First Solar, Inc with 700 MW. It adds to the April 2022 order for 4 W DC modules the company placed with the US supplier (see First Solar Bags 4.75 GW DC Module Orders). Calling the agreement the ‘right path’ for its module supply, Silicon Ranch said it will continue to support US solar manufacturers and decarbonize its supply chain.
Ørsted divests stake in US wind and solar assets: Denmark’s Ørsted has sold 50% stake in a US portfolio of 3 onshore wind farms and a solar farm for $410 million. All these projects, including 227 MW AC Muscle Shoals PV farm, represent 862 MW operational capacity that has now been purchased by Energy Capital Partners (ECP) (see Ørsted Energizes 227 MW AC Solar Project). Ørsted will continue to provide asset management services to the projects. It is the Danish energy company’s 1st farm down of onshore assets. Through this, it recycles a material amount of capital that will support its ambition to reach 50 GW installed renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, up from 5 GW of onshore wind and solar PV projects in operation and under construction across the US and Europe.
140 MW solar PPA for Hershey: Chocolate manufacturer The Hershey Company has signed up for its 2nd solar PPA with a 140 MW agreement with National Grid Renewables for 150 MW solar and 100 MWh Copperhead Project. It is the 2nd PPA for the 2 companies as in 2021 Hershey’s announced a PPA with National Grid for a 50 MW solar project. The deal for the 140 MW project was announced on the occasion of the facility entering construction in Falls County, Texas. It will be equipped with First Solar’s Series 6 modules and 100 MWh Fluence Gridstack battery energy storage system by Fluence Energy.
