pv

Lightsource bp and AEP Energy Partners sign power contract for 188 megawatt solar farm in Indiana

Global solar leader Lightsource bp and AEP Energy Partners (AEPEP) have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 188 megawatt (dc) solar project located in New Carlisle about 10 miles west of South Bend, Indiana.
Lightsource bp and AEP Energy Partners sign power contract for 188 megawatt solar farm in Indiana
Courtesy of Lightsource bp.

Once complete, the Honeysuckle Solar project will generate enough clean energy annually to power 27,000 US homes and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 204,000 metric tons each year.

“AEP Energy Partners is proud to provide customers with integrated, carbon-free energy that fulfills their sustainability goals, delivers long-term price stability, and benefits the environment” said Greg Hall, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, AEP. “Our partnership with Lightsource bp demonstrates our commitment to the development of new renewable resources that both empower local communities and support a cleaner, brighter energy future.”

Lightsource bp will finance, build, own and operate the facility and sell the solar energy it generates to AEP Energy Partners under a long-term PPA. Full construction of the project has been initiated on site, with commercial operation starting in 2024. South Bend based Inovateus Solar LLC is the construction contractor for the facility, with a focus on utilising local labour for the mechanical, electrical and civil work on site.

The Honeysuckle solar farm will:

Create approximately 200 direct construction jobs, primarily local, in addition to hundreds of US jobs across the supply chain

Support domestic manufacturers and low carbon products, with ultra-low carbon solar panels from First Solar, smart solar trackers from Array Technologies and steel from Nucor

Bring $250 million of new, privately funded renewable energy infrastructure to Indiana

Provide an estimated $30 million boost to the local community over the project life – additional funding for local schools and other services without a tax increase on its citizens

Deliver a $3 million economic development payment to St. Joseph County to be allocated by county officials as they determine best serves the community.

While the primary purpose of solar is to reduce carbon emissions from electricity generation in order to mitigate climate change, Lightsource bp extends the benefits of solar energy further through their Responsible Solar approach. The aim of this is to build multiuse solar projects on which clean energy generation, agriculture, habitat and biodiversity enhancement share the land under and around the solar panels.

As part of this Responsible Solar approach, an action plan is underway for the Honeysuckle Solar project to achieve biodiversity net gains and foster pollinator habitat – ensuring that Honeysuckle will be a pollinator friendly solar farm.

For additional information:

Lightsource bp

AEP Energy Partners (AEPEP)

Baterías con premio en la gran feria europea del almacenamiento de energía
El jurado de la feria ees (la gran feria europea de las baterías y los sistemas acumuladores de energía) ya ha seleccionado los productos y soluciones innovadoras que aspiran, como finalistas, al gran premio ees 2021. Independientemente de cuál o cuáles sean las candidaturas ganadoras, la sola inclusión en este exquisito grupo VIP constituye todo un éxito para las empresas. A continuación, los diez finalistas 2021 de los ees Award (ees es una de las cuatro ferias que integran el gran evento anual europeo del sector de la energía, The smarter E).