As part of Duke Energy’s plans to expand its renewable generation portfolio, the company today announced the locations of its four newest solar power plants. In that way, particularly Duke Energy Florida plans to invest an estimated $1 billion in 10 new solar power plants across Florida; including, indeed, the four sites announced today.
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About the plans
Accordingly, construction on the four sites will begin in early 2022 and will take approximately 9 to 12 months to complete. Also, Duke Energy expects the construction of all ten sites to finish by late 2024.
Worth noting, combined, the plants will produce about 750 megawatts (MW) of new, cost-effective solar power.
In this sense, Duke Energy Florida state president Melissa Seixas; “We continue investing in utility-scale solar in Florida because our customers deserve a cleaner energy future.” Therefore, “these solar plants are the latest milestones in our strategy to deliver reliable, cost-effective, clean energy to our customers.”
Indeed, Duke Energy Florida will build one of the new sites in Suwannee County in north Florida. Accordingly, Suwannee County economic development director Jimmy Norris said; “Suwannee County welcomes Duke Energy’s latest solar project. Thus, it promotes green energy and brings jobs and capital investment into our community. Therefore, we invite more opportunities that protect the environment while helping the future growth of our community.”
Duke Energy Florida on the project sites
To illustrate, the four new sites are first, the Hildreth Solar Power Plant. According to what Duke Energy Florida disclosed in a media release, it will build this facility on 635 acres in Suwannee County, Fla.
Additionally, once operational, the 74.9-MW facility will consist of approximately 220,000 single-axis tracking bifacial solar panels. Worth noting, the plant’s innovative double-sided panel design will be highly efficient and follow the sun’s movement. Thus, the plant will effectively produce enough electricity to power approximately 23,000 average-sized homes at peak production.
The second selected site is Bay County, Fla, for the Bay Ranch Solar Power Plant. Accordingly, Duke Energy will build this facility on 645 acres, and the 74.9-MW plant will consist of approximately 220,000 single-axis bifacial tracking solar panels. Consequently, these panels will produce enough carbon-free energy to power more than 23,000 average-sized homes at peak production effectively.
Similarly, the third Project is the Hardeetown Solar Power Plant, which Duke Energy will build on 650 acres in Levy County, Fla. Once operational, the 74.9-MW facility will consist of approximately 218,000 single-axis bifacial tracking solar panels.
Lastly, Duke Energy Floride will build the High Springs Solar Power Plant on 700 acres in Alachua County, Fla. Similarly, once operational; the 74.9-MW facility will consist of approximately 216,000 single-axis tracking solar panels.
About Duke Energy
Indeed, Duke Energy’s solar generation portfolio represents more than $2 billion of investment. Also, about 1,500-MW of emission-free generation and approximately five million solar panels in the ground by 2024. Finally, the company currently has more than 900-MW of solar generation under construction or in Florida.
