Duke Energy Florida celebrates opening of 8.8-megawatt solar facility
Duke Energy Florida held a commemorative ribbon cutting and solar panel signing ceremony this morning to celebrate the opening of its 8.8-megawatt (MW) solar facility in Suwannee County, Florida, which began operating in November.
“We are proud of our newest solar power plant and excited about our future solar development in Florida,” Harry Sideris, Duke Energy Florida state president, said. “In the next four years, we will be adding up to 700 MW of new solar generation as part of our ongoing strategy to offer cleaner, smarter energy solutions that customers value in the Sunshine State.”
The facility consists of approximately 44,000 solar panels and is located on 70 acres in Suwannee County just east of the existing Suwannee power plant.
Duke retired three natural gas units at the Suwannee power plant in December 2016. The units were originally oil-fired but were later converted to natural gas. They generated 129 MW. Three other natural gas units are still in operation and generating 155 MW.
The company plans to add approximately 700 MW of solar energy by 2021. It expects to begin construction on its sixth Florida solar plant in 2018. The facility will be located in Hamilton County and have a capacity of approximately 75 MW.
A settlement agreement approved by the Florida Public Service Commission will allow the company, accelerating the company’s previous 10-year solar installation plan.
