Florida utility pens solar-plus-storage PPA on its way to renewables goal

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
One of Origis Energy's predecessor projects - FL Solar 5 - in operation in Florida. Image: Origis Energy.

Floridian utility Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) has penned a power purchase agreement with developer Origis Energy for a solar-plus-storage project in the state.

The Solar 6 large-scale solar project is claimed to be the first of its kind in GRU’s service area and will combine 50MW of solar PV with 12MW of energy storage.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

It will be constructed by Origis Energy in Alachua County and is slated for completion in late 2022.

Ed Bielarski, general manager at GRU, said the project was the “next step forward” toward meeting a target of deriving 100% of its power from renewable sources by 2045, claiming the agreement to be an “all-around win for our customers, our city and the environment”.

The City of Gainesville approved a target of 100% power from renewables in 2018, with GRU developing its renewables portfolio as it progresses towards that goal. To date, its resources include the 103MW biomass-fired Deerhaven Renewable Generation Station, 3.6MW of landfill-gas fired units and 18.5MW of feed-in tariff accredited solar.

Additionally, it has approximately 9MW of customer-owned and net-metered solar currently connected to its distribution system.

“Solar plus storage on this scale will help Gainesville achieve its 100 percent renewable energy goal,” said Johan Vanhee, chief commercial officer and chief procurement officer at Origis Energy.  “We are honored to bring cost effective power to GRU customers and applaud City leaders as they continue to model clean energy leadership in the Sunshine state.”

Origis Energy is also developing a 57.5MW solar farm in Mitchell County, Georgia, together with state utility Georgia Power.

In early 2019, the renewable energy developer completed a 50MW, 109-hectare PV project together with Reedy Creek Improvement District in Florida, to provide clean energy to the Walt Disney World Resort.

17 June 2025
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 17-18 June 2025, will be our fourth 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 2026 and beyond.
7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 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.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.

Read Next

Premium
June 12, 2025
Equipment-driven underperformance in PV power plants has tripled over the past five years, according to Raptor Maps.
Premium
June 12, 2025
PV Talk: Vinay Rustagi, director of Indian solar manufacturer Premier Energies, discusses the company’s upstream manufacturing plans and why he believes India can become a counterweight to Chinese PV hegemony.
June 12, 2025
Waaree Solar Americas will supply 599MW of solar modules supply agreement to an undisclosed US-based independent power producer (IPP).
June 12, 2025
Earthrise Energy has secured US$630 million for its 270MWac solar project in Gibson City Solar, Illinois.
June 12, 2025
Geronimo Power, Avangrid and DTE Energy have all reached crucial milestones at solar projects in Ohio, California and Michigan, respectively.
June 12, 2025
US independent power producer (IPP) DESRI has begun construction on a 205MW/1,000MWh solar-plus-storage project in the state of Arizona.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand