J-POWER USA converting retired Virginia coal plant into solar + storage project

Power plant developer J-POWER USA and funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group have agreed to jointly develop Birchwood Solar, a 50-MWac solar plant and Birchwood Storage, a 190-MWac energy storage facility. These projects would convert Birchwood Power Facility, a coal plant that has been in operation since November 1996 in King George Virginia, into facilities that will generate and store clean renewable energy.

J-POWER USA

Birchwood is J-POWER USA’s third solar project in development and part of a new initiative to add renewable generation to the company’s existing portfolio. By re-purposing a coal-fired power plant as carbon-free solar and energy storage facilities, J-POWER will continue delivering electricity generation to the marketplace.

This project will connect to existing transmission infrastructure, which will be used for the new solar + storage generation and lets J-POWER continue its long-term partnership with the local community. With the decommissioning of Birchwood Power, J-POWER’s only coal-fired plant, the company’s portfolio will consist exclusively of natural gas and renewable energy.

J-POWER USA and its affiliate companies now have interests in operating, construction and development power generating facilities, totaling approximately 7,000 MW.

“This is an exciting opportunity to take a former coal plant site and transform it into an emission-free, clean energy facility,” said Mark Condon, president and CEO of J-POWER USA. “This project is part of J-POWER USA’s plan to increase our renewable portfolio and continue our efforts to build a cleaner sustainable energy future.”

News item from J-Power USA

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/04/j-power-usa-converting-retired-virginia-coal-plant-into-solar-storage-project/