Coronal Energy completes 120MW of solar for US Department of Defense

August 23, 2017
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Stakeholders from the public-private partnership flip the switch on the project.

Independent Power Producer (IPP) and developer Coronal Energy has completed 120MW(AC) of solar PV for the US Department of Defense.

The Gulf Coast Solar Center is split across three Air Force and Navy sites in Florida with utility Gulf Power the off-taker. The sites use around 1.5 million First Solar modules.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“Considering the scale of the Gulf Coast Solar Center portfolio, collaboration between our team and the like-minded teams at the US Air Force, US Navy, and Gulf Power has been an essential element of our success in developing these projects,” said Jonathan Jaffrey, chairman and CEO, Coronal Energy. “The result is a landmark energy project that represents what is possible when our nation’s military and its leading energy companies like Gulf Power commit to renewables. We are honoured to take our place alongside these partners for this historic project.”

The three systems cover more than 380 hectares of DoD land in blocks of 50MW at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola’s Navy Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) Saufley, 40MW at NAS Whiting Field’s NOLF Holley and 30MW at the Elgin Air Force base.

“Adding clean, affordable energy to our energy grid through the innovative public-private partnership that enabled the completion of all three of the portfolio’s solar facilities is a proud accomplishment for Gulf Power, and a significant milestone for the local economy, our customers and the environment,” said Stan Connally, chairman, president and CEO, Gulf Power.

Panasonic is a major investor in Coronal Energy, which has developed 2.3GW of solar with another 3.4GW of greenfield and brownfield sites in its development pipeline.

16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2028 and beyond.
13 October 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 13-14 October 2026 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023, 2024 and 2025 were a sell out success and 2026 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
March 5, 2026
Analysis: Just as the energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to a European pivot on clean energy, the US-Israel war on Iran presents another potential turning point, this time with a wider global reach.
March 5, 2026
US independent power producer (IPP) Arevon has begun operations at its 430MW Kelso solar PV project in the state of Missouri.
March 4, 2026
PPA prices are set to continue to rise in the short-term, “as demand outpaces supply”, accotding to Geoffrey Lehv of kWh Analytics.
March 3, 2026
A consortium of companies led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a subsidiary of global asset owning giant BlackRock, is set to acquire US utility AES Corporation in a US$10.7 billion deal. 
March 2, 2026
Massachusetts’ state energy efficiency bill contains some positive support for solar energy but falls short on efforts to reduce energy bills, according to US renewables advocacy groups.
March 2, 2026
The final months of 2025 saw a surge in US residential solar installations as homeowners sought to take advantage of the end of the federal tax credit for purchased systems, according to the solar marketplace EnergySage.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain