Duke Energy Renewables breaks ground on 50-MW North Carolina solar project

Duke Energy has begun construction on the 50-MW Broad River Solar power plant in Cleveland County, North Carolina, expanding its renewable energy portfolio.

The project will be owned and operated by the utility’s commercial subsidiary Duke Energy Renewables. The project was selected as part of the competitive bidding process established by 2017’s landmark solar legislation in North Carolina.

The power plant will be composed of more than 170,000 solar panels across approximately 500 acres near Boiling Springs. The facility will power the equivalent of 12,500 homes and is expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2021.

“Solar power continues to play a big role in our aggressive pursuit to reduce carbon emissions and achieve our net-zero carbon goal for 2050,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy North Carolina’s president. “We’ll continue to deliver renewable energy by building and purchasing more carbon-free power for our customers.”

Under North Carolina’s Competitive Procurement for Renewable Energy, proposed projects must be built where there is a need for energy capacity on the Duke Energy system in North Carolina or South Carolina. The bids can come from any company, including Duke Energy, and can be in the form of power purchase agreements (PPA), utility self-developed facilities or utility asset acquisitions.

“In addition to increasing the renewable energy resources in the state, the project will also deliver significant economic benefits to Cleveland County,” said Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Renewables.

During peak construction, Broad River Solar will generate approximately 120 jobs. Along with indirect economic benefits that accompany solar project development, such as increased local spending in the service and construction industries, Broad River Solar will also have an economic impact on the local community by providing local tax revenues to the county and local school districts, as well as payments to the participating landowners.

The facility’s design, procurement of inverters, the balance of plant systems and construction of the project will be performed by Swinerton. The solar power generated by Broad River Solar will be sold through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The Duke Energy Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 grant to the Cleveland County Schools Educational Foundation and Crest High School to add a renewable energy and green construction skills module into the school’s workforce development curriculum because of the solar project.

News item from Duke Energy

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/02/duke-energy-breaks-ground-on-north-carolina-solar-project/