Under a PPA with Georgia Power, photovoltaic systems provider First Solar will begin developing and building the largest standalone PV solar plant in the southeastern United States. Once completed, the 200-MW plant is expected to generate more than 450 GWh of electricity each year.
The plant will be located on 2,000 acres in Twiggs County near Warner Robins, Georgia, about two hours southeast of Atlanta. First Solar says they plan to use more than 500,000 advanced technology thin film solar modules for the facility.
“Recently completed large-scale solar projects across Georgia are serving customers today, and the Twiggs County project will be the latest addition, allowing Georgia Power customers to benefit from cost-effective, competitive solar as part of our diverse generation mix,” Wilson Mallard, director of renewable development for Georgia Power, said in the announcement. The utility has around 10,500 industrial and 305,000 commercial customers.
First Solar was awarded the project installation through Georgia Power’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI). The voluntary program for C&I customers launched last fall, offering hourly credits matching production as well as solar renewable energy credits from up to 200 megawatts of renewable resources.
The state isn’t generally known for developing solar projects. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s profile of Georgia shows that it currently has no renewable portfolio standard and lacks state incentive programs for midscale solar. Less than 1% of the state’s electricity comes from solar power. However, the Solar Energy Industries Association noted that there are more than 237 solar companies in the state and says that Georgia “has very strong potential.”
First Solar anticipates completion and commissioning of the new solar plant project, currently in an advanced development stage, in late 2019.
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