A roundup of large-scale solar and storage news from across the US, with RWE buying three projects from Galehead Development, Origis Energy securing US$300 million for its pipeline and Appalachian Power launching an RFP for 1.1GW of renewables and storage.
RWE Clean Energy buys solar, storage projects in three different states
The US clean energy arm of Germany-headquartered utility and independent power producer (IPP) RWE has acquired solar and storage projects totalling 599MW of capacity.
The firm has acquired 400MW of solar PV and 199MW of standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) assets from developer Galehead Development, spread across three projects in the states of New York, Idaho and Oregon.
The largest of the sites is the 300MWac Cedar Ridge solar PV project in Blaine County, Idaho, co-located with a 150MW/600MWh four-hour duration BESS. This asset is located within the PacifiCorp region and will “provide regional grid support consistent with PacifiCorp’s resource planning forecasts”, RWE said.
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In its 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), Pacificorp – which operates in the Western US – said that it intends to have installed 20GW worth of solar and wind capacity across its markets by 2032.
RWE also acquired the 199MW/796 MWh four-hour duration Remington BESS in Marion County, Oregon. Both Cedar Ridge and Remington expand RWE’s existing footprint in the Pacific Northwest of the US.
The smallest of the three assets RWE acquired is the 100MWac Champlain solar project in Washington County, New York, where RWE said that there is growing electricity demand. The site is in the mid-stages of development, though the company did not confirm when it is expected online.
Appalachian Power seeking over 1GW of new clean energy capacity
Utility Appalachian Power, active in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, is seeking project proposals for 1.1GW of new solar PV, energy storage or wind power capacity.
In three requests for proposals (RFP) issued recently, the company is seeking a total of 1.1GW of solar PV, wind and/or battery energy storage systems (BESS) under different offtake models.
The first RFP seeks 800MW of projects under purchase and sale agreements (PSA). Preferential treatment will be given to projects in Virginia or West Virginia. They must have a minimum capacity of 50MW for solar and wind and 10MW for BESS.
The second RFP seeks 300MW of solar and wind projects via long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) which include any renewable energy certificates associated with a project. Solar projects must have a minimum capacity of 5MW and wind projects must be at least 50MW.
Origis Energy secures US$300 million for solar and storage pipeline
US solar developer Origis Energy has secured a US$300 million corporate financing facility from investment firm KKR.
Proceeds from the facility will support the developer’s US solar and storage development and construction pipeline. It currently has a 12GW portfolio of projects in operation, contracted and in mature development with a further 13GW in the pipeline.
“Demand for renewable energy financing is stronger than ever and we are pleased to support Origis Energy, one of the leading developers in this space,” said Sam Mencoff, Director at KKR.
This is Origis’ latest financing secured this year for the development of projects, with the developer securing a US$136 million construction financing facility last month for a 75MW solar project in Florida. Earlier in the year it signed a US$317 million tax equity agreement with banking company JP Morgan for two projects located in the US states of New Mexico and Mississippi. Once completed, the projects will have a combined installed capacity of 350MW.
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