Southern Power has increased its power generating capacity after buying the 120MW East Pecos solar facility in Texas, US.
The acquisition is in line with the company’s efforts to strategically develop renewables across the country.
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Southern Company chairman, president and CEO Thomas A. Fanning said: "This project aligns with its conservative business model as Southern Power has built one of the nation’s largest renewable energy portfolios."
First Solar is building the facility on approximately 1,000 acres in Pecos County. It will also be responsible to operate and maintain the solar power plant.
The project will feature nearly 1.2 million of First Solar’s thin-film, photovoltaic solar modules that are mounted on single-axis tracking tables.
Construction started last month, with plans to commission the project in the fourth quarter of this year.
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By GlobalDataThe clean electricity and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the facility will be sold to Austin Energy, under a 15-year power purchase agreement.
Under the agreed terms, Austin Energy will have the option to keep or sell the RECs.
In November last year, Southern Power bought a controlling stake in the 157MW Roserock solar facility, the company’s first solar project in Texas.
Southern Power owns more than 1,900MW of renewable generating capacity through the strategic development of 26 solar, wind and biomass projects either in operation or under development across the country.
Meanwhile, Southern Nuclear, also a subsidiary of Southern Company, has resumed operations at Unit 1 of the Edwin I. Hatch electric generating plant near Baxley, Georgia, following completion of a scheduled refuelling and maintenance outage.
Image: The East Pecos solar facility is being built on approximately 1,000 acres in Pecos County. Photo: courtesy of khunaspix / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
