Lightsource bp Bags PPA for Texas Solar Farm

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Renewable energy developer Lightsource bp (London, England) last week signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Swedish fashion firm H&M Group (Stockholm) for the output of a solar farm presently under construction in Brazoria County, Texas. The Second Division solar farm will join other Lightsource BP projects that are planned or under construction, including a few other solar farms underway in Texas.

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor SOLV Energy (San Diego, California) broke ground on Second Division late last year. The facility will use more than 340,000 solar panels to provide 125 megawatts (MW) of emissions-free generation for H&M Group.

Ulrika Leverenz, head of green investment for H&M Group, commented, "Considering fashion's environmental impact, we see great value in moving away from just using certificates to contributing to more clean energy. By partnering with solar and wind farm developers, we can help build renewable electricity capacity in power grids around the world."

According to a press release on the agreement, the solar farm infrastructure takes up less than 10% of the available land, enabling the planting of site-specific grasses and other vegetation under and around the solar panels, with the goal of increasing biodiversity in the first five years of operation. Additionally, the project will integrate agriculture in the form of sheep grazing. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the project report.

About 150 miles southwest down the Texas Gulf Coast, Lightsource bp is at work on another solar project that is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Construction of the Peacock solar farm near Gregory kicked off last year, with PCL Constructors Canada Incorporated (Edmonton, Alberta) providing EPC services. Peacock will sell all of the electricity it generates under a long-term power purchase agreement to Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (GCGV), a joint venture of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) (Spring, Texas) and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), which produces materials used to manufacture clothes, food containers, packaging, agricultural film and construction materials. Located near the GCGV complex, Peacock will supply power directly to the facility. Subscribers can click here to learn more about the project.

Other notable Lightsource bp projects in Texas include the Shaula solar energy project in Cuero, which is about 90 miles southeast of San Antonio. Work is getting started on the first of three construction phases for the plant. The first phase entails placing about 530,000 solar panels that will generate 200 MW when completed late next year. The two subsequent phases are planned to contribute a further 200 MW each, with the third and final phase expected to be completed in 2026. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the related project reports.

While Texas represents the state garnering the largest share of Lightsource bp's planned spending, the Lone Star State represents only a portion of the company's overall U.S. project list. Within the Southwest market region that includes Texas, Lightsource bp also has solar facilities under construction in Louisiana and Arkansas. Both the 180-MW Prairie Ronde solar farm in Opelousas, Louisiana, and the 250-MW Driver solar farm in Osceola, Arkansas, are expected to be completed by the end of this year. The Prairie Ronde solar farm has a PPA in place with McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) (Chicago, Illinois). The project will generate enough renewable energy for about 630 restaurants annually. The operating Driver solar farm will be sold to Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) (New Orleans, Louisiana) upon completion. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the reports on the Prairie Ronde and Driver projects.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Database can click here to view reports for all of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).