Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power is now adding over 100 MW of clean electricity to its renewable energy plants in Georgia.
The company has announced the acquisition of the 103 MW Butler solar facility in Georgia from Community Energy.
Located in Taylor County, Georgia, the facility is expected to enter commercial operation during the fourth quarter of 2016.
Following the announcement, construction is scheduled to commence this September, with First Solar managing the building, operations, and maintenance of the facility.
According to press information, the finished plant will contain more than 1 million of First Solar’s thin-film photovoltaic solar modules mounted on single-axis tracking tables.
Thin-Film Module Performance
Based on First Solar website information, the company’s advanced thin-film modules outperform conventional crystalline silicon solar modules with equal power ratings.
The thin-film modules have demonstrated reliable performance in harsh climate conditions, including heavy humidity, as is typical in Georgia.
The electricity and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the facility will be sold under a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with a Southern Company subsidiary, Georgia Power. In turn, it will have the option to keep or sell the RECs for the benefit of its customers or renewable energy programs.
The project, originally developed by Community Energy, was chosen by Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power in a competitive process through its Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative.
About the deal, Southern Company chairman, president, and CEO Thomas A. Fanning said, “The Butler solar facility builds on Southern Company’s innovative approach to diversifying our nation’s energy mix. Our strategic development of solar in Georgia continues our company’s expansion of renewable energy generation in the Southeast.”
This is not the only positive news about solar energy in Georgia. Georgia Power has also begun construction of three 30 MW solar PV facilities at three separate Army bases throughout the state.
Photo by Southern Company
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