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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Solar projects at brownfield sites in the U.S. offer an excellent opportunity to transform abandoned and underused lands into valuable assets for renewable energy production. Brownfield sites are usually well-connected to existing infrastructure, such as roads and power lines. This accessibility can lower the costs and challenges associated with integrating solar energy into the grid. Many of the brownfield sites chosen for solar energy projects have been previously used for industrial purposes such as coal-fired power generation or mining. Industrial Info is tracking more than $4 billion worth of active solar projects at brownfield sites in the U.S.
As utilities increasingly pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the future, many are taking initiatives to close fossil fuel-powered plants and implement renewable generation. Xcel Energy Incorporated (NASDAQ:XEL) (Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a prime example of this, having earlier this year begun construction on the first phase of a solar project at its Sherco coal-fired power plant in Becker, Minnesota. Upon completion, which is expected next year, the first phase of construction, known as the West Block, will be able to generate approximately 230 megawatts (MW). The Sherco coal-fired plant is planned to be retired by 2030, so by implementing solar generation at the site, which could eventually total more than 700 MW of generation, Xcel is helping ensure a smoother transition toward a cleaner-energy future. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for the more information on the project.
Other solar facilities are being built at the sites of former coal mines. Examples include Savion Energy LLC's (Kansas City, Missouri) solar project in Martin County, Kentucky, near the West Virginia border. In 2021, Savion got the ball rolling on plans to construct a 200-MW solar farm on 1,200 acres at the site of the former Martiki coal mine, a mountain-top strip mine that closed in the 1990s. The site has clear access to sunlight, and the facility will be able to interconnect with the 138-kilovolt Inez Substation. Earlier this year, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (Toyota City, Japan) signed a virtual power purchase agreement for 100 MW of the facility's power. The project is expected to break ground later this year, putting it on track for completion in 2025. Subscribers can click here for more details.
Other solar projects underway at former coal mines include Global Infrastructure Partners' (New York, New York) Backbone solar facility, which is under construction at a decommissioned coal mining site in western Maryland. Upon completion, which is expected early next year, the facility will use approximately 450,000 solar panels on a single-axis tracking system to provide nameplate generation of about 178 MW. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project report.
Other solar farms are being installed at sites of redundant technology. NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) is installing a photovoltaic solar farm at a former site of the Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) concentrated solar plant (CSP) in Southern California.
Unlike photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, which directly convert sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials, CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a small area, creating heat. This heat is then used to generate electricity through various processes. At one time, the 354-MW SEGS site was the world's second-largest CSP facility. Most of its thermal facilities were retired in 2021, and photovoltaic power is springing up in its place. NextEra is underway with this in the form of its Resurgence solar energy project, which is approaching completion. The facility will use more than 300,000 solar panels to provide 138 MW. In addition, a 115-MW battery energy storge system will accompany the solar farm for times when the sun isn't shining. Subscribers can click here for the project report.
Several U.S. municipalities are constructing smaller solar arrays at former landfill sites. BQ Energy LLC (Wappinger Falls, New York) plans to begin construction later this year on a solar farm on 70 acres of land formerly used as a hazardous waste landfill near Waukegan, Illinois. Located 42 miles north of Chicago, the Yeoman Creek Landfill has been on the federal Superfund list since its closure in the late 1960s. Cleanup to address high levels of methane and other toxic gases is largely complete, though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor gases, groundwater and surface water in the area. The Yeoman Creek solar project would use about 31,000 solar panels to generate 8.75 MW of power. The project is expected to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025. Subscribers can click here for more details.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Database can click here for a look at all of the reports for 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).
As utilities increasingly pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the future, many are taking initiatives to close fossil fuel-powered plants and implement renewable generation. Xcel Energy Incorporated (NASDAQ:XEL) (Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a prime example of this, having earlier this year begun construction on the first phase of a solar project at its Sherco coal-fired power plant in Becker, Minnesota. Upon completion, which is expected next year, the first phase of construction, known as the West Block, will be able to generate approximately 230 megawatts (MW). The Sherco coal-fired plant is planned to be retired by 2030, so by implementing solar generation at the site, which could eventually total more than 700 MW of generation, Xcel is helping ensure a smoother transition toward a cleaner-energy future. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for the more information on the project.
Other solar facilities are being built at the sites of former coal mines. Examples include Savion Energy LLC's (Kansas City, Missouri) solar project in Martin County, Kentucky, near the West Virginia border. In 2021, Savion got the ball rolling on plans to construct a 200-MW solar farm on 1,200 acres at the site of the former Martiki coal mine, a mountain-top strip mine that closed in the 1990s. The site has clear access to sunlight, and the facility will be able to interconnect with the 138-kilovolt Inez Substation. Earlier this year, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (Toyota City, Japan) signed a virtual power purchase agreement for 100 MW of the facility's power. The project is expected to break ground later this year, putting it on track for completion in 2025. Subscribers can click here for more details.
Other solar projects underway at former coal mines include Global Infrastructure Partners' (New York, New York) Backbone solar facility, which is under construction at a decommissioned coal mining site in western Maryland. Upon completion, which is expected early next year, the facility will use approximately 450,000 solar panels on a single-axis tracking system to provide nameplate generation of about 178 MW. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project report.
Other solar farms are being installed at sites of redundant technology. NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) is installing a photovoltaic solar farm at a former site of the Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) concentrated solar plant (CSP) in Southern California.
Unlike photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, which directly convert sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials, CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a small area, creating heat. This heat is then used to generate electricity through various processes. At one time, the 354-MW SEGS site was the world's second-largest CSP facility. Most of its thermal facilities were retired in 2021, and photovoltaic power is springing up in its place. NextEra is underway with this in the form of its Resurgence solar energy project, which is approaching completion. The facility will use more than 300,000 solar panels to provide 138 MW. In addition, a 115-MW battery energy storge system will accompany the solar farm for times when the sun isn't shining. Subscribers can click here for the project report.
Several U.S. municipalities are constructing smaller solar arrays at former landfill sites. BQ Energy LLC (Wappinger Falls, New York) plans to begin construction later this year on a solar farm on 70 acres of land formerly used as a hazardous waste landfill near Waukegan, Illinois. Located 42 miles north of Chicago, the Yeoman Creek Landfill has been on the federal Superfund list since its closure in the late 1960s. Cleanup to address high levels of methane and other toxic gases is largely complete, though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor gases, groundwater and surface water in the area. The Yeoman Creek solar project would use about 31,000 solar panels to generate 8.75 MW of power. The project is expected to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025. Subscribers can click here for more details.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Database can click here for a look at all of the reports for 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).
