South Mississippi Electric to buy output of 52-MW Origis solar park

Hattiesburg-based power firm South Mississippi Electric (SME) said Thursday it will purchase the electricity generated at a Origis Energy 52-MW photovoltaic (PV) plant near Sumrall.

The facility will be designed, developed, installed and operated by the solar company. Construction of the PV park, located close to Mississippi's county of Lamar, is expected to kick off later this year and conclude by December 2016.

During its first year of operations, the output of the plant is estimated to be able to meet the needs of about 10,000 local households. “Our team has received great support from the local community, the authorities and SME in the development of this project,” Origis Energy president, Guy Vanderhaegen, noted.

So far, the two companies have inked a letter of intent (LoI), while a final power purchase agreement (PPA) is currently under negotiations. Origis has plans for one more 52-MW solar park, which will sell power and renewable credits to Southern Co unit Mississippi Power.

SME is a not-for-profit cooperative that generates, transmits and sells wholesale electricity to 11 distribution cooperatives, jointly known as the Power of 12. Its involvement in solar projects is in line with its efforts to diversify its power generation fleet.

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