A 10 MW utility-scale solar project, developed by SOLON, which provides solar system solutions, has been purchased by Duke Energy Renewables, a solar and wind energy developer. The project is located close to Kingman in Arizona.
The electricity produced from the Black Mountain Solar Project will be purchased by UniSource Energy Services (UES), an energy service provider, under a 20-year electricity purchase contract. The project is anticipated to start commercial operations from October, 2012.
According to the President of Duke Energy Renewables, Greg Wolf, the project includes over 40000 solar panels and is anticipated to generate electricity sufficient to power approximately 2000 houses.
The solar arrays have been designed by SOLON using the company’s single-axis tracking technology. Further, SOLON will build, monitor, operate and maintain the solar plant.
The CEO and President of SOLON, Dan Alcombright stated that the company is happy to partner with Duke Energy for rendering a cost effective approach to Unisource Energy Services for bringing solar energy to Arizona. He added that SOLON installed over 60 MW of utility-scale photovoltaic systems in Arizona and is dedicated to provide validated solutions to solar utilities and to create renewable energy jobs. The Black Mountain Solar Project will hire over 250 employees for construction.
Already two solar units are owned by Duke Energy Renewables in Arizona. The projects include the 15-MW Bagdad Solar Farm in Yavapai County and the 4-MW Ajo Solar Farm in Pima County. The Black Mountain Solar Project is the 12th solar farm of the company.
Source: http://www.duke-energy.com