North America PV Snippets: Norsk, Dynamic, Q CELLS

Norsk Hydro goes for solar in US: Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro ASA has signed up to procure solar power from 48 MW Maple Hill Solar Facility in the US to power its aluminum extrusion facility Hydro Cressona in Cressona, Pennsylvania. The power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) is the 1^st long term energy contract signed by the company in the US. Power supply will start in 2022. Solar power is aimed at helping Norsk Hydro to secure power prices for the facility.

6.6 MW DC solar array in Maine enters construction: Dynamic Energy Solutions, LLC has broken ground on a 6.6 MW DC ground mounted solar array in Norridgewock, Maine calling it one among the 1^st and largest commercial solar installations in Maine’s burgeoning solar market. The project has an offtake agreement with food and drug retailer Albertsons Companies, Inc. The facility on completion is expected to generate more than 8.5 million kWh of clean energy for the retailer’s stores in Central Maine Power utility territory. Dynamic Energy is supported by its financing partner Soltage in realizing the project.

Q CELLS invests in Amped Solutions: Q CELLS North America has made a grid equity investment in American solar+storage projects developer Amped Solutions’ portfolio of projects. Under the arrangement, Q CELLS has provided Amped with capital in exchange for rights to future grid services revenue expected to be generated by the portfolio of operating systems deployed in California. Amped and its partners will retain ownership of the systems along with all other revenue streams associated with the systems as bill savings, incentives and tax benefits. For Amped, this investment reduces its project risk while bringing it liquidity, for Q CELLS this is a ‘valuable co-development tool’ to boost economics and bankability of solar+storage projects.