The first large-scale 17MW solar plant of Duke Energy Indiana near Bloomington in Indiana, US has started commercial generation of alternative current power.
Located at the Naval Support Activity Crane (NSA Crane), the solar power plant of the Duke Energy subsidiary serves 69 counties in the state with clean renewable solar energy.
According to Duke Energy Indiana, the solar power facility at its full capacity can meet the energy needs of over 2,700 average-size homes.
Duke Energy Indiana state president Melody Birmingham-Byrd said: “This is a landmark development in renewable energy for our company and our customers.
“It demonstrates our continuing commitment to include renewable energy, such as solar, wind and hydro, in our diversified portfolio of generation sources.”
The solar power plant is equipped with nearly 76,000 solar panels. It stands on a land of around 145 acres which was leased from the US Department of the Navy (DON).
It is said to have played a role in helping DON reach its goal of bringing 1GW of renewable energy into procurement by 2015 end.
It was in July last year that Duke Energy had got the nod from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to move ahead with the 17MW solar power plant, 40 miles from Bloomington in the southwest direction. The Duke Energy Indiana plant has been touted to be the second-largest among Indiana’s solar power plants.
Duke had partnered with DON for the second time to build a solar power plant. The first was the 2015-announced 13MW solar power plant at Camp Lejeune in Eastern North Carolina.
Image: Duke Energy Indiana’s 17MW solar power point in Bloomfield, Indiana. Photo: courtesy of Duke Energy Corporation.