Spyros Karellas’ Post

First Solar, Inc. has just inked a game-changing deal with Birch Creek Energy, paving the way for a significant leap forward in solar energy. Under this agreement, First Solar will supply Birch Creek Energy with a whopping 547 MW of advanced Series 6 Plus bifacial thin film solar modules. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Birch Creek Energy is a powerhouse in the utility-scale solar development arena. With a robust track record spanning since 2019, Birch Creek Energy has already developed an impressive 1.7 GW of solar projects. Moreover, their extensive portfolio of over 14.2 GW of utility-scale solar and storage projects in various stages of development across key regions like MISO, PJM, ERCOT, and the Southeast speaks volumes about their commitment to driving sustainable energy solutions. Notably, Birch Creek Energy's exceptional growth and innovation have earned them prestigious accolades, including being named the 3rd fastest-growing privately-held company in America and the fastest-growing energy company on the esteemed 2023 Inc. 5000 list. This groundbreaking partnership between First Solar and Birch Creek Energy represents a significant milestone in the renewable energy landscape, reaffirming the collective commitment to driving impactful change towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. https://lnkd.in/duMY-2MD #SolarEnergy #Renewables #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #Innovation #EnergyTransition

#SolarPower #Virginia #EdBaine #DominionEnergy #BeldaleSolar #BlueRidgeSolar #BookersMillSolar #MichauxSolar "Virginia has approved over a dozen new solar projects that will significantly boost Dominion Energy’s clean energy capacity. On Friday, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the state’s regulatory agency, approved 17 solar farms capable of generating 764 megawatts (MW) of clean power for Dominion Energy Virginia, the state’s largest utility. Dominion, which has the second-largest solar fleet in the US, will own or acquire four solar farms totaling 329 MW, and it’s also made 13 power-purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling 435 MW with independently owned solar projects. That’s enough to power nearly 200,000 homes at peak output. The four Dominion-owned solar farms will be 57 MW Beldale Solar in Powhatan County, 95 MW Blue Ridge Solar in Pittsylvania County, 127 MW Bookers Mill Solar in Richmond County, and 50 MW Michaux Solar in Henry and Pittsylvania counties. The construction will support more than 1,600 jobs and generate more than $570 million in economic benefits across Virginia. The solar farms are expected to come online by 2026. Once the new projects are complete, Dominion will have more than 4.6 gigawatts (GW) of approved solar farms in Virginia – enough to power more than 1.1 million homes at peak output. The utility currently delivers electricity to more than 2.5 million homes and businesses in the state. Ed Baine, President of Dominion Energy Virginia, said, “Through our investments in offshore wind, battery storage, and solar, Virginia continues to make progress on its clean energy transition.” According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Virginia is ranked 11th among states for the installed solar installed and is expected to move up to ninth place in five years. The state currently gets 6.56% of its electricity from solar, and as of December 2023, coal is still its leading source of net electricity generation, followed by natural gas."

#SolarPower #Agrivoltaics #Wisconsin #BrendanConway #WECEnergyGroup #WeEnergies #WisconsinPublicService #MadisonGasAndElectric #DarienSolarEnergyCenter #ParisSolarPark #KoshkonongSolarEnergyCenter #HighNoonSolarEnergyCenter #TonyPalese #AlliantEnergy #GrantCountySolarProject #SamDunaiski #RENEWWisconsin "The clean energy transition in Wisconsin is taking another step forward with three utility-scale solar projects expected to come online in 2024 and more coming in the next several years. Two of the solar farms are joint ventures between WEC Energy Group utilities and Madison Gas & Electric. The third is an Alliant Energy project. According to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, those projects will combine to generate 650 megawatts of electricity, roughly enough to power an estimated 123,500 average Wisconsin homes. ... Sam Dunaiski, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, said his organization also expects two large wind projects will come before the PSC later this year. “We’re talking about an incredible amount of renewable energy capacity that is going to be incorporated into Wisconsin’s electric mix here in the upcoming years,” he said. Both the Darien Solar Energy Center in Rock and Walworth counties and the Paris Solar Park in Kenosha County are expected to come online this year, according to WEC Energy Group spokesperson Brendan Conway. ... The Paris project was initially slated to come online in May 2023, but construction was pushed back because of delays in delivery of solar panels. Both projects, he said, have the same ownership split, where We Energies owns 75 percent, Wisconsin Public Service owns 15 percent and Madison Gas & Electric owns 10 percent. In addition to Paris and Darien, Conway said WEC Energy Group is working on additional solar projects. They include the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center in Dane County and the High Noon Solar Energy Center in Columbia County.  ... Darien, Paris, Koshkonong and High Noon will each feature a battery storage component in addition to solar. And Conway said the utility has clean ... “We are planning to invest $7 billion in the coming years in more clean, renewable energy,” Conway said. “Once it’s all said and done, we plan to build and own 3,800 megawatts, which is more than quadruple our current carbon-free generation.” Alliant Energy’s Grant County Solar Project is also on track to come online in the coming months. It’s the last of the utility’s 12 large-scale solar projects in Wisconsin. Panels have been installed at the Grant County site, and the project is in the “final testing phase,” said Alliant spokesperson Tony Palese. He said the utility doesn’t currently have plans for additional large-scale solar farms in Wisconsin, but it is working on several smaller projects. Those include breaking ground on a community solar project in Janesville and partnering with the University of Wisconsin-Madison on an agrivoltaics project that combines solar energy with agriculture. ..."

💡 Dive into the latest development in the solar industry: an Italian power producer's strategic acquisition of two solar PV projects in South Carolina in its grand orientation towards the U.S. renewables market. 💡 Learn about the significance of these acquisitions that boast a combined capacity of 151 MW, enough to power nearly 26,000 U.S. households every year. 💡 Recognize the foreseeable business opportunities in the solar industry, as the company sets an ambitious goal to build up to 2 GW portfolio in the U.S. by 2030. Embrace yourself for the landmark evolutionary twist in the solar industry with the recent purchase of two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, possessing a combined capacity of 151 MW in South Carolina. 🌞💼 Marking its entry into the mammoth U.S. green energy market, the European power producer has made these acquisitions. 🌎 Indeed, this strategic move exhibits the growing global recognition of solar as an essential power source. At peak capacity, these solar power projects can generate an incredible 272,000 MWh annually; this is approximately enough to power nearly 26,000 households in the U.S. every year!🏘️⚡ Another applaudable aspect is the prime location for the acquisition, i.e., South Carolina; witnessing a significant load growth and demand for reliable energy in recent years, it marks the right spot for renewable energy initiatives. Moreover, these projects spark multiple global energy management and trading possibilities. With a clear vision to create a robust energy portfolio of up to 2 GW in the U.S. by 2030, the company proves the worth of solar energy in business opportunities as well. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com.

Via PV Mag: " Longroad’s largest solar project to begin commercial operations in mid-2025: Sun Streams 4 is a 377 MW solar facility 1200MWh battery energy storage system in Arizona.  Longroad Energy announced it is on track to complete the construction of its Sun Streams 4 solar and storage facility in Maricopa County, Ariz. First Solar will provide Longroad with 800,000 Series 6 Plus solar modules. The cadmium telluride bifacial panels have a 455- to 480-watt capacity and offer up to 19% efficiency. Nextracker will supply its NX Horizon trackers, which have been configured to withstand Arizona’s extreme heat and overall climate. Sungrow’s utility-scale inverters feature an integrated current and voltage monitoring function that allow remote analysis and troubleshooting.   Powin, a U.S.-based energy storage system manufacturer, will provide a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a duration of 1200 MWh. It will include SMA inverters and cells from the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, a Japanese lithium-ion electric vehicle battery developer.  Powin says its modular and scalable Centipede Energy Storage platform arrives at the field built, pre-integrated and performance-tested in an outdoor enclosure, reducing installation time by 50%. The BESS has built-in emergency features that detect hydrogen levels and activate ventilation when necessary.  U.S.-based national construction business McCarthy Building Companies Inc. is providing engineering, procurement and construction services for this project, which is the third Sun Streams 4 complex in the area. Other Longroad plants include Sun Streams 2, a 200 MWdc solar plant that began operations in mid-2021, and Sun Streams 3. The facility consists of a 285 MWdc solar array and BESS with a 215 MWac capacity and 860 MWh duration. The project, which is still in development, is expected to start commercial operations next year.  McCarthy said it plans to hire over 250 people during Sun Stream 4’s peak construction phase, expected to run through July of next year. McCarthy is paying prevailing wages and leveraging over 65 registered operators and carpenter apprentices per Inflation Reduction Act tax incentive requirements. McCarthy states it is paying apprentices 70% to 95% of the project’s workers in the same occupation and receiving the Investment Tax Credit as a result.  “Longroad is proud of the solar workforce we are helping to build and support in Arizona through our partnership with McCarthy,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of Longroad. “Sun Streams 4 is one of our first projects to incorporate provisions from the IRA.” The solar and storage facility is expected to generate over $100 million in revenue for Arizona schools and communities through long-term leases with the Arizona State Land Department and tax remittances.  Longroad will collaborate with Powin and NovaSource Power Services, a… " #EnergyStrorage #BatteryStorage #Energy

Enbridge?! #SolarPower #Ohio #EDFRenewablesNorthAmerica #Enbridge #FoxSquirrelSolar "The largest solar farm in Ohio’s first phase is now fully online and delivering clean electricity to the grid. The 577-megawatt (MW) Fox Squirrel Solar is in Madison County, west of Columbus. It’s made up of three phases: the 150 MW Fox Squirrel 1, which is online; the 250 MW Fox Squirrel 2, which is expected to come online in mid-2024; and the 177 MW Fox Squirrel 3, which is scheduled to come online at the end of the year. When complete, it will be able to generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 118,000 households. Fox Squirrel Solar isn’t just Ohio’s largest solar farm; it’s the largest onshore clean energy project developed and built by EDF Renewables North America. It’s made up of 1.4 million solar panels and 159 inverters in total, and During peak construction of Phase 1, 650 workers were onsite installing 10,000 solar panels per day. Canadian energy company Enbridge invested in Phase 1 and plans to make final investment decisions on the following phases through the year. According to EDF Renewables North America, the project has secured 20-year fixed-price power purchase agreements with a “strong investment grade counterparty” for the full generation capacity. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) anticipates a lot of growth in the Buckeye State – it’s currently No. 22 among states for solar capacity, and it’s expected to add 8,960 MW over the next five years and jump to No. 4 in the US for capacity."

Standard Solar Strengthens Vermont’s Renewable Energy Market with Acquisition of 18-Megawatt Solar Project Portfolio Standard Solar, a prominent developer and proprietor of commercial and community solar projects, has acquired a 18.5-MW solar project portfolio in Vermont from local developer, MHG Solar. Standard Solar, as the owner and operator, will deploy six projects in Vermont, supplying clean energy to the state’s electric utilities through its Standard Offer Program. This acquisition reaffirms Standard Solar’s dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions and bolstering solar development in the area. This portfolio, spanning Vermont, signifies a significant expansion of Standard Solar’s presence within the state. With these projects, the company actively supports Vermont’s green energy goals and strengthens its […] Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/g4BRQvKZ #solarenergy #alternativeenergy #solarpv #pvsolar #photovoltaic #cleanenergy #cleantech #climatechange #middleeast #africa #india #asiapacific #asia #northamerica #renewableenergy #renewableenergy #solarenergy #standardsolar #unitedstates

NIPSCO’s electric generation transition continues with completion of third solar project - NIPSCO announced the completion of its third solar project, Cavalry Solar, which generates 200 megawatts of solar energy with 45 megawatts of battery storage. - The project aims to provide cleaner and cost-effective energy for homes and businesses. - NIPSCO's president highlighted the importance of integrating battery storage into their energy transition plan. - Cavalry Solar is located in White County, Indiana, and was developed by Cavalry Energy Center, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources. - The facility is expected to power around 60,000 homes and generate approximately $25 million in tax revenue for White County over its lifetime. - Cavalry Solar joins two other solar projects in NIPSCO’s portfolio: Indiana Crossroads Solar and Dunns Bridge I Solar. - Dunns Bridge II Solar is currently under construction and is being developed by another subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources. - Renewable projects like these have yielded nearly $80 million in benefits for customers since 2021 through excess power sales and renewable energy credit sales. - NIPSCO plans to be coal-free by 2028, aiming for a carbon emissions reduction of over 90% by 2030. - The company's Integrated Resource Plan guides its transition to a more balanced and reliable energy portfolio, to be detailed in a report published in November. https://lnkd.in/g8tgXh2n

Ørsted switches on 1.2 GWh Arizona battery 🔌 Pinal County’s Eleven Mile Solar System has come online featuring one of the largest battery energy storage systems built in a single phase in the U.S. All battery enclosures for the project were delivered by Fluence ☀️ Denmark’s largest power provider and wind project developer Ørsted and and US utility Salt River Project have switched on the Eleven Mile Solar Center, a 300 MW solar project collocated with a 300MW/1200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), in Pinal County, Arizona. 🔋 The project is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion dollar investment in US energy generation projects. Eleven Mile Solar Center is SRP’s largest co-located solar and BESS project, providing power to businesses, homes, and Meta’s data center in Mesa, AZ ⚡️ “Arizona has one of the highest growth rates of electricity in the country due to the surge in data centers and the reshoring of American manufacturing. With our first project in Arizona now complete, we’re thrilled to help meet the growing demand of the state and region with reliable, domestic energy,” said David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas at Ørsted ⚡️ The project represents an approximate $1 billion investment by Ørsted in clean energy for Arizona and will generate approximately $80 million to the local community for public services in the form of tax revenue, the company said in a press release 💵 Technology suppliers were US-based companies, such as First Solar, Fluence and Nextracker Inc. in procuring panels, batteries, and tracking equipment for the project 🔨 Read more below 👇 #renewables #cleanenergy #bess #batteryenergystoragesystens #batterystorage #arizona #energy #renewableenergy #developer #solar #pv #sustainability #technology

#YESwecan #USsolarmanufacturing US breaks record for solar module manufacturing in Q1 2024, eclipses 200 GW capacity If the United States is going to fall short of its 2030 renewable energy goals, it won’t be without a fight. The U.S. added 11 GW of new solar module manufacturing capacity in Q1 2024, the largest quarter of solar manufacturing growth in American history. According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight Q2 2024 report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, U.S. solar module manufacturing capacity now exceeds 26 GW annually. Solar accounted for 75% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the grid. Per the report, the industry also installed 11.8 GW of new solar capacity, bringing total capacity to 200 GW in the United States. It was the industry’s second-largest quarter of installations, second only to the previous quarter, Q4 2023. New data from 2023 shows that the United States added more than 40 GW of new solar capacity last year. Wood Mackenzie now projects that the U.S. solar industry will install another 40 GW in 2024... https://lnkd.in/g6NwGpZJ