The transaction includes the 80MW Decatur Parkway project and the 19MW Decatur County facility.
Georgia Power, which is also owned by Southern Company, will buy the electricity and related renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the 80MW facility under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
Construction on the Decatur Parkway project is due to start this month.
Georgia Power will also purchase the electricity generated from the 19MW project under a 20-year PPA. However, Southern Power will retain the RECs to consider their sale to third parties.
Construction of the 19MW facility is expected to start in June 2015.
The two projects will be built on separate sites totaling about 950 acres in south Georgia’s Decatur County. The facilities are expected to start commercial operation in late 2015.
Single-axis tracking technology will be used in the projects in order to optimize efficiency by directing solar panels to track the sun.
Southern Company chairman, president and CEO Thomas Fanning said: "Southern Power’s strategic investment in the Decatur solar projects will help meet Georgia’s growing energy needs.
"These projects and others are enhancing Georgia’s position as a national leader in renewable energy."
The acquisition increases Southern Power’s renewable energy generating capacity to about 670MW in operation or under development.
Southern Power has recently unveiled plans to construct a 131MW solar facility in Taylor County, Georgia.
Image: Georgia Power will buy the energy generated from the two solar projects. Photo: Courtesy of Naypong/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
