Duke Energy Renewables completes second 200-MWac solar system in Texas

Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of utility Duke Energy, started commercial operations of its 200-MW_ac Rambler Solar project in Tom Green County, Texas.

The Rambler Solar project is the second 200-MW_ac Texas solar facility that Duke Energy Renewables has brought online this year, bringing its total Texas solar portfolio to over 500 MW_ac in operation. In early July, the company announced the commercial operation of its Holstein Solar project in Nolan County.

“We’re pleased to continue our expansion of solar energy resources in Texas, which is experiencing an increasing demand for power,” said Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Renewables. “The Rambler Solar project will bring significant economic benefit to the state and generate clean energy to meet the area’s growing energy needs.”

Duke Energy Renewables acquired the Rambler Solar project in September 2019 from Recurrent Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar.

“Texas is one of the largest and fastest-growing solar markets in the U.S., where the energy landscape is changing rapidly. We are proud to partner with Duke Energy Renewables in the Rambler Solar project to provide clean, affordable and reliable energy to local communities and look forward to contributing more high-quality solar projects in this important market,” said Shawn Qu, chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar.

The energy generated from the Rambler Solar project is being sold to a customer under a 15-year power purchase agreement. The 200-MW_ac project, spanning approximately 1,700 acres west of San Angelo, Texas, is composed of more than 733,000 Canadian Solar high-efficiency bifacial modules. Rambler Solar will power the equivalent of 40,000 homes.

The facility’s construction was performed by Signal Energy. Duke Energy Renewables will provide long-term operations and maintenance services to the project.

The project employed approximately 400 workers during peak construction. Along with indirect economic benefits that accompany solar project development — such as increased local spending in the service and construction industries — Rambler will also directly provide several million dollars to Tom Green County and to the local school district over the 40-year life of the project.

Duke Energy currently owns, operates and contracts more than 8,000 MW of capacity and plans to double that by 2025.

News item from Duke Energy Renewables

Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/07/duke-energy-renewables-completes-second-solar-system-in-texas/