Duke Energy to develop three PV projects with 195MW operating capacity

Duke Energy Florida (DEF) is set to develop three more PV projects within The Sunshine State that will have a combined generation capacity of 195MW.

The Lake Placid Solar Power Plant will be developed on 153 hectares of land in Highlands County. The 45MW PV project will be comprised of approximately 180,000 tracking solar panels and is expected to be operational by December 2019. The site will be owned, operated and maintained by DEF.

DEF acquired the development rights to the project from EDF Renewables, and DEF will handle all remaining development activities, including construction.     

The 74.9MW Trenton Solar Power Plant will be developed on 234 hectares of land in Gilchrist County. Once completed in December 2019, the site will be comprised of approximately 280,000 tracking solar panels and will produce enough carbon-free energy to power over 23,000 average homes at peak production.

The solar power plant will be owned, operated and maintained by DEF, with the company acquiring the rights to the project from Southeast Solar & Power LLC.

The 74.9MW DeBary Solar Power Plant will be developed on 180 hectares of land in Volusia County. Once completed in March 2020, the site will be comprised of approximately 300,000 fixed-tilt solar panels and will produce enough carbon-free energy to power over 20,000 average homes at peak production.

Like the other two sites, the solar power plant will be owned, operated and maintained by DEF.

Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state president, said: "These three solar power plants are expected to eliminate nearly 800 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in Florida each year upon commercial operation. That's the equivalent of taking about 70,000 passenger cars off the road each year. These projects represent our commitment to the environment and more fuel diversity in the state as we strategically pace the expansion of renewable generation for our Florida customers' benefit."

DEF is investing an estimated US$1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700MW of cost-effective solar power facilities through 2022.

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