Duke Energy secures 602 MW of solar in N Carolina

US utility Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) has won the right to generate or buy 602 MW of solar power from projects under a statewide competitive procurement in North Carolina, it announced on Wednesday.

A total of 14 utility-scale projects were picked in North Carolina's Competitive Procurement of Renewable Energy (CPRE) programme, which supports meeting the state’s renewables goals through power-purchase agreements, utility self-developed projects or utility asset acquisitions. Bidding in the competition was opened in July 2018.

Of the 602 MW of capacity it has won, Duke Energy will install 270 MW, spread across six projects in North Carolina, including 69 MW in Catawaba County, 25 MW in Gaston County and 50 MW in Cleveland County, as well as two schemes in Surray and Cabarrus and Stanly counties of 22.6 MW each. An 80-MW utility acquisition was won by Duke Energy Progress in North Carolina’s Onslow County.

Winners in the CPRE solicitation will be awarded 20-year contracts, which will be executed over the next few months. Most projects, two including storage capacity, are expected to be operational by the end of 2020.

According to independent administrator Accion Group, customers in the Carolinas will see savings of around USD 375 million (EUR 332m) over the 20-year contract period.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.885)

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