To build the solar farm, the city will partner with North Carolina-based solar energy company Carolina Solar Energy and Ecoplexus

Duke Energy

The solar facility, is expected to be fully operational in 2022. (Credit: Duke Energy Corporation.)

The City of Charlotte has signed a renewable power agreement under Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage (GSA) programme for a 35MW solar plant Iredell County, North Carolina, US.

By taking part in GSA, the City of Charlotte is expected to offset a portion of the energy supplied to its municipal operations with renewable energy.

Duke Energy said that the GSA enables large customers to offset its power purchases by securing renewable energy from projects connected to the company’s grid.

To build the solar plant, the city will partner with North Carolina-based solar energy company Carolina Solar Energy and Ecoplexus, an international solar energy company.

The solar plant is expected to start full operations in 2022

The solar facility, which is expected to be fully operational in 2022. will be located along Tomlin Mill Road near Statesville.

Duke Energy will secure zero carbon power to partially offset the city of Charlotte’s energy demand, under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said: “We are proud to be a municipal leader in North Carolina and in the U.S., not only setting ambitious climate and energy goals, but taking actions on those goals to support the environment and health of our community.”

The city has agreed with the solar developer on the specific project and additional costs associated with energy from the facility.

The move by the City of Charlotte is said to be in line within its ambition to use 100% zero-carbon sources by 2030.

Duke Energy North Carolina president Stephen De May said: “Our customers want more options to secure renewable energy and the Green Source Advantage makes that happen.

“We designed the program to be flexible and allow larger users to negotiate directly with third-party developers. It supports our customers’ goal and expands renewable energy in North Carolina.”