Duke Energy Adds 150 MW Solar Power In Florida

Duke Energy – St. Petersburg, US based RE player – has announced the completion of two key solar projects in Alachua and Suwannee counties in Florida. Together, the two sites will deliver 150 MW of clean, renewable energy to the grid to benefit Florida customers. These are latest sites in the company’s community solar program portfolio, Clean Energy Connection.

Duke Energy held that the High Springs Renewable Energy Center is built on 700 acres in Alachua County and it’s a 74.9-MW facility consisting of about 216,000 single-axis tracking solar panels.

The Hildreth Renewable Energy Center is built on 635 acres in Suwannee Count. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 220,000 single-axis tracking solar panels.

As per the officials statement, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power what would be equivalent to around 23,000 homes.

Based on current fuel mix of Duke Energy, each 74.9-MW solar facility displaces about 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil and 12,000 tons of coal each year.

With a combined investment of over $2 billion, Duke Energy Florida’s solar generation portfolio will include 25 grid-tied solar power plants that will benefit all of the company’s 1.9 million  customers. These projects will provide about 1,500 MW of emission-free generation using approximately 5 million solar panels by 2024.

Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy state president, said, “The company is well on its way to meeting a major milestone by placing its 21st solar project in operation by the end of this year, delivering on our customer commitment to provide reliable, affordable, clean energy. These investments allow Florida customers to enjoy renewable energy, while also providing cost savings by reducing fuel use.”

The City of Charlotte and Duke Energy Carolinas also launched an income-qualified energy efficiency home rehabilitation pilot program with an investment of $4 million.