Work has completed on the first project of a planned 550-MW three-part solar energy generation complex in the Golden Triangle region of Mississippi that also includes record battery storage capacity in the state. With 500 MW worth of battery storage systems, it will also provide the state's largest such capacity when all projects are built by 2025..

Developed by Origis Energy and built by Renewable Energy Systems, the three-project effort is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Green Invest program, which helps meet energy demand and sustainability goals of large regional industrial customers. The developer will operate and maintain all facilities for TVA for at least 35 years under power purchase agreements.

Origis said Prevalon Energy, the rebranded former battery storage business of Mitsubishi Power Americas, will run that operation for the complex.

The first 1,350-acre site, Golden Triangle II, which provides 150 MW of solar energy and 500 MW of battery storage, began operating recently. It will support two data centers operated by Meta, parent of Facebook, the developer said.

 Golden Triangle II will support Meta operations in the TVA service area as part of a partnering agreement for more than 1,000 MW of capacity. "Partnering with TVA on the Green Invest program has made it possible for our operations in the Tennessee Valley to be supported by new solar energy constructed in the region," says Urvi Parekh, Meta renewable energy chief. "This solar farm is Meta's first renewable energy project in Mississippi."

 Two other project—the 2,098-acre Golden Triangle I and 2,000-acre Optimist, both in Clay County—are set to come on line within the next year, each with a capacity of 200 MW and 50 MW of battery storage. Total construction workforce is about 500, said Origis. Together, the three sites will contain 1.5-million solar panel modules.

 While construction costs for the three Mississippi projects have not been made public, Origis said it has secured more than $1 billion in outside financing in the past year to support near-term projects and operations in 15 states. TVA has said it will add 10 GW of total regional solar generation by 2035, up from 2.4 GW now operating.

Industry Watches Debut of Record 20-MW China Offshore Wind Turbine

 Photo: Minyang Wind Power

China propelled global tension over the growing size of its offshore wind turbines to boost efficiency with the late August launch of a 20-MW capacity model off the city of Hainan near Vietnam (above) announced by domestic producer Mingyang Wind Power Group Ltd.

The firm said its “modular, lightweight design” enables it to generate 80 million kilowatt hours of power annually. The model is 260-292 m (853-958 ft) in diameter, with wind sweep up to 66,966 sq m. The firm said it also may develop a 22-MW model, citing lightweight carbon fiber technology and advanced manufacturing. 

But U.S. turbine maker GE Vernova cancelled plans last year to develop an 18-MW turbine model, and a U.S. Energy Dept. report said ultra-large turbines add sector supply chain costs at a financially difficult time for the industry and could pose risks without adequate training and testing.

U.S. and other developers are watching Mingyang's plan to build a new plant in Italy and a potential European Union probe into the firm's Chinese government subsidies.                                               

—Debra K. Rubin