Duke Energy selects three sites to add 224.3 MW solar in Florida

Duke Energy Florida has named the sites for three solar plants at Duette, Charlie Creek and Archer, with a total capacity of 224.3 MW, which are expected to be completed in 2021. The company’s state president, Catherine Stempien, said it was part of Duke’s $1bn plans to supply 700 MW of green energy by 2022. The company wants to operate 1.7 GW of solar in the state within a decade. Including the three new projects, Duke is running or building more than 500 MW of solar plants. Its plans include storage, updated grids and transport electrification schemes.

Duke Energy Florida (DEF) filed the locations of its three newest solar power plants, which will provide clean energy to the utility’s customers, adding a proposed 224.3 MW of new solar to the state. The three solar projects are:

The 74.5-MW Duette Solar Power Plant, which will be about 227,000 single-axis solar tracking panels on 520 acres in Manatee County.

The 74.9-MW Charlie Creek Solar Power Plant, which will be 235,000 single-axis solar tracking panels on 610 acres in Hardee County.

The 74.9-MW Archer Solar Power Plant will be 220,000 single-axis tracking solar panels on 630 acres in Alachua County.

During construction, each solar project is expected to create approximately 200 to 300 temporary jobs. All three solar power plants will be owned, operated and maintained by Duke Energy Florida and are expected to be finished in late 2021.

“The Archer, Duette and Charlie Creek solar power plants will complete Duke Energy Florida’s commitment to customers to provide 700 MW of clean, green energy by 2022,” said Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Once operational, our solar power plants will eliminate nearly 3 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The sun shines bright here in Florida, and we are committed to making more solar investments in the years to come.”

Duke Energy Florida currently has more than 500 MW of solar generation under construction or in operation, excluding these latest three projects. The company is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of solar power facilities from 2018 through 2022 in Florida and is planning to reach a total of almost 1,700 MW of solar generation over the next 10 years.

Duke Energy Florida recently completed two other facilities:

The 245,000-panel, 74.9-MW Columbia Solar Power Plant in Columbia County, began serving customers on March 17, 2020.

The 300,000-panel, 74.5-MW DeBary Solar Power Plant in Volusia County, began serving customers on May 14, 2020.

Duke Energy Florida is buying existing solar projects and using a competitive process to select DEF solar contractors, solar panels and project material suppliers. The utility plans to invest in additional solar power plants, battery storage technology, shared solar, transportation electrification and a modernized power grid for its customer base.

News item from Duke Energy