RWE starts up US solar-storage plant

RWE Renewables has commenced operations at a 195MW solar and 40MW storage plant in Georgia, US.

The Hickory Park solar project consists of a 195MW facility coupled with a 40MW two-hour battery storage system, located in Mitchell County.

RWE is operator/manager of the solar facility, selling the energy and renewable attributes from the facility to Georgia Power through its Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI) programme.

In November 2019, RWE entered into a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Georgia Power, an investor-owned public utility.

“Our largest solar project in the Americas is now benefiting the state of Georgia, including tax revenue to local counties and school districts”, said Silvia Ortín, CEO of RWE Renewables Americas.

“We are pleased to develop this project and advance solar in the state of Georgia as part of Georgia Power’s REDI program.”

The project connects more than 650,000 solar panels, which together covers an area of about 1800 acres.

The integration of a DC-coupled storage system allows the project’s energy yield to be optimised and increase the predictability of injection of locally produced electricity into the Georgia Power grid.