EDF Renewables plans 554MW of solar to aid US utility's exit from coal

EDF Renewables North America announced two agreements with Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), a unit of US utility American Electric Power, through which I&M will add 554MWdc (425MWac) of solar energy. 

Under the terms of the deal, I&M will purchase the output from Sculpin Solar, 236MWdc (180MWac) under a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The facility is planned for DeKalb County in northeastern Indiana and could enter service in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

The utility will also buy all of the equity interests in Lake Trout Solar, 318MWdc (245MWac) following completion of construction activities under a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA). Lake Trout is planned for Blackford County midway between Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne. It also could enter service in late 2025.

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Combined, the two projects are expected to generate 880,000MWh of energy annually. 

The utility said it asked state regulators in Indiana and Michigan to include 210MW of generation capacity from an existing natural gas peaking plant in Wells County, near Montpelier, Ind.

In a related step, I&M said it is also seeking proposals for a combination of wind, solar, battery storage and natural gas peaking capacity to enter service by December 2027.

The utility also announced two other solar projects: the 224MW Mayapple and 100 MW Elkhart County plants.

I&M said it plans to invest about $1 billion in the Lake Trout and Mayapple facilities, which I&M will own and operate.

The solar capacity comes as I&M moves toward closing the coal-fired units at its Rockport, Ind., generating by the end of 2028. The two units at Rockport each have a generating capacity of 1,300MW.

The 2023 RFP is an “all-source” solicitation seeking proposals from various types of generation, including solar and wind generation as well as battery storage, natural gas peaking capacity and other possible forms of generation.

Specifically, I&M is seeking proposals for 800MW of wind, 850MW of solar, 315MW of battery storage, and 540 MW of gas-fired peaking capacity. I&M said it also was open to proposals that could involve emerging technologies, thermal energy or other resources.

The utility said it would make a portion of the Rockport Plant site available for proposals for natural gas peaking generation and battery storage projects.

Originally published on power-eng.com