Ørsted takes FID on 430-MW solar project in Texas

Ørsted SA (CPH:ORSTED) announced on Wednesday it has taken final investment decision (FID) on a 430-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Texas.

The Danish energy major will install the Old 300 Solar Center, as the photovoltaic (PV) park is called, some 40 miles (64.4 km) away from Houston, in the state’s Fort Bend County. It expects to bring the plant online in the second quarter of 2022.

A long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) is already in place.

Planned to cover an area of 2,800 acres (1,133 ha), the solar farm will be equipped with around one million bifacial modules made by China’s JA Solar Technology Co Ltd (SHE:002459) and Longi Solar. Inverters will be supplied by SMA America, a unit of German inverters maker SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92). During the peak construction period, the project will open up to 400 jobs.

"With its location close to Houston, Old 300 will further diversify our onshore footprint into a premium market with strong long-term fundamentals." said Vishal Kapadia, chief commercial officer, Onshore.

At present, Ørsted has 3.4 GW of wind, solar and storage capacity in operation and under construction. Its solar assets under construction totalling 1.1 GW.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!