Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Solar Projects in Georgia

Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy's Commercial Portfolio, announced on September 7 that it will add six Georgia solar projects to the 2.8-GW renewable energy portfolio the company owns and operates.

The projects are relatively small in terms of capacity-averaging about 1 MW DC each (769 kW AC)-but they are the first Duke Energy has acquired in Georgia, giving it projects in 14 states (Figure 1). SolAmerica Energy developed the sites, located in the southern and central part of the state, under an engineering, procurement, and construction agreement with REC Solar, a Duke Energy affiliate.

1. Duke Energy Renewables U.S. portfolio map. Courtesy: Duke Energy

"In acquiring these solar sites, we add Georgia to our growing U.S. renewables footprint," said Rob Caldwell, president, Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed Energy Technology. "SolAmerica and REC Solar have completed quality projects that will deliver clean energy to Georgia Power's customers for years to come."

The projects-constructed with panels manufactured by Yingli-are part of the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative. Georgia Power has agreed to purchase the power generated by the projects under a 30-year agreement.

"We are pleased to have developed and constructed these projects for Duke Energy as part of a portfolio of projects under Georgia Power's Advanced Solar Initiative," said R. Stanley Allen, president of SolAmerica. "Duke Energy Renewables and REC Solar have been great partners and we look forward to continued involvement in the projects in an operations and maintenance capacity."

Duke Energy Renewables expanded its Renewable Control Center in 2015. As of the end of July, the center was serving more than 3,500 MW of wind and solar energy, including 1,000 MW owned by third-party generators.

Earlier this year the company acquired a couple of North Carolina solar projects from ET Capital, and last month it announced the completion of its Los Vientos IV wind project in Texas.

-Aaron Larson, associate editor (@AaronL_Power, @POWERmagazine)

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