Origis Energy developing new large-scale solar + storage project for Facebook

The Golden Triangle II solar project will look similar to the Origis Energy solar installation in Lamar County, Mississippi.

The Tennessee Valley Authority announced it is collaborating with Facebook on the company’s fourth renewable energy project and first battery storage project, this time in Mississippi.

“Our region is ready for companies who want to use renewable energy to achieve their sustainability goals,” said Chris Hansen, TVA VP of origination and renewables. “Green Invest is more than a renewables program; when businesses relocate here, jobs are created and people can find work — revitalizing both rural and urban communities.”

TVA is partnering with Origis Energy to develop the 150-MW solar and 50-MW battery storage facility in Lowndes County, Mississippi, to support Facebook’s two data centers in the Tennessee Valley. Origis, through a long-term power purchase agreement with TVA that was signed on Facebook’s behalf, will own and operate the plant using industry leading land stewardship techniques. The project will create more than 250 construction jobs, with additional employment for three to five full-time operations and maintenance staff. Origis will complete the facility in late 2023, pending environmental reviews.

“This is our second utility-scale solar facility in Mississippi with TVA, and it demonstrates the success of Green Invest in connecting local communities, private business and public power through renewable energy,” said Johan Vanhee, Origis Energy chief commercial officer and chief procurement officer. “We are excited to use TVA’s innovative program to contribute to economic activity in Lowndes County while helping Facebook achieve its carbon reduction goals.”

Facebook is committed to support its operations with 100% renewable energy starting in 2020. To support that goal, in August, Facebook signed a Green Invest agreement for a 70-MW solar facility that will be built in Madison County, Tennessee. In total since 2018, Facebook has announced purchases of 597-megawatts of power generated by multiple solar farms linked into the TVA electric grid in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.

“Partnering with TVA on the Green Invest program has made it possible for our operations in the Tennessee Valley to be supported by new solar energy constructed in the region,” said Urvi Parekh, head of Renewable Energy at Facebook. “This solar farm will be Facebook’s first renewable energy project in Mississippi and first large-scale energy storage project, which marks an important milestone for our global portfolio.

News item from Origis Energy

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/03/origis-energy-new-large-scale-solar-storage-project-facebook/