Solar

,

Solar Farm: Possible East TN Business Magnet

,

Steve Marion, staff writer at The Standard Banner, discusses a solar collection project planned for New Market. This $200 million solar farm has potential to serve as a "platform" for major business development in East Tennessee.

John Kemp, Southeast Solar Development Manager for E.ON, the largest investor-owned utility in the world, said the company is excited about working with Tennessee Valley Authority, Appalachian Electric Cooperative, and the local Economic Development Alliance on plans for the $200 million solar farm on both sides of Highway 11E at Whitaker Road.

The project, which would cover about 200 acres, would be 40 times larger than the AEC solar farm less than a mile away. Other than the injection of 40 megawatts of renewable power into the TVA grid, the value of the project for the local community lies in its potential to draw other business developments interested in green power, said Kemp.

E.ON Climate and Renewables North America is moving into the Southeast after placing most of its solar investment in the West. Two solar projects totaling 80 megawatts are planned for the Dothan, Alabama, area, said Kemp. A total of seven major solar installations are planned in the Tennessee Valley area, including one in Roane County.

Kemp said construction on the solar farm should begin next year. The company is entering into a long-term lease with the property owners. The closest East Tennessee solar farm in size is the Volkswagen facility in Chattanooga, but this one would be four times larger.

The solar farm would be located on three property parcels, one on the east side of Highway 11E at Whitaker Road (76 acres) and two others totaling about 113 acres on the west side of Highway 11E extending to Old Andrew Johnson Highway.

Tennessee Valley Authority Awards 10 MW Under Solar Pilot Program

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association (TVPPA), has awarded 10 MW of solar capacity to seven local power companies (LPCs) that applied through TVA’s Distributed Solar Solutions (DSS) pilot program. Once completed, the projects will generate enough solar energy to power more than 900 average homes, according to the TVA.

“DSS is an important TVA solar program because it brings key stakeholders together to generate clean energy in a thoughtful and collaborative manner that best serves the 9 million people of the Valley,” says Tammy Bramlett, the TVA’s director of business development and renewables. According to the TVA, DSS is a pilot program meant to encourage LPCs and solar developers to work together to create renewable energy projects at the community level.

“TVPPA and TVA worked closely to develop and roll out this year’s DSS program,” says Danette Scudder, vice president of TVPPA. “From drafting guidelines to evaluating and ultimately selecting projects for capacity, we worked collaboratively to maximize learning opportunities for LPCs as they strive to meet the growing renewable demand of their end-use customers.”

TVA announced the available capacity through the DSS pilot program in January. Applications were submitted for solar projects that ranged from 50 kW to 2 MW. The selection committee reviewed 13 proposals before selecting the seven following awardees: North Georgia Electric Membership Corp., Volunteer Electric Co., Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, Tullahoma Utilities Authority, Jackson Energy Authority, Nashville Electric Service, and Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW).

In an announcement, MLGW says that its awarded project includes the installation and operation of a 2 MW solar array, which will be built at Nike Inc.’s North America Logistics Campus. No MLGW funds will be used for the project, which will interconnect to MLGW’s electric distribution grid, and Nashville-based Silicon Ranch Corp. will fund, build, own and operate the system.

According to MLGW, the solar array is expected to generate approximately 3.7 million kWh of electricity per year, or enough to meet the annual needs of 242 average households. Solar power from the array will be sold to TVA under a 20-year power purchase agreement, while Nike will receive the renewable energy credits, the intangible environmental benefits associated with green power generation.

Although the timeline has not been finalized, MLGW says the project is expected to start generating solar power in summer 2018. The TVA’s Bramlett comments, “We are pleased to see the strong DSS interest because it allows TVA to partner directly with LPCs and developers to bring renewable energy to the Valley. TVA remains committed to providing clean, efficient renewable energy to reduce our carbon footprint and help protect the environment.”

TVA notes it has contracted or installed around 400 MW of solar capacity in its generation portfolio, and it currently has more than 1,200 MW of wind and over 50 MW of biomass. TVA’s private renewable program, offered through participating LPCs, has resulted in over 100 MW of renewable capacity, with more than 3,000 systems operating across the region.

Posted by Joseph Bebon on May 10, 2017 to Solar Industry Magazine