SUSTAINABILITY
OCI Solar Power | March 10, 2023
OCI Solar Power, a utility-scale solar developer, declared that it recently worked as the EPC to upgrade its Alamo 2 solar farm. This upgrade would enhance its performance and reliability.
It has maintained a solar farm for over eight years and has about 4.4 MWac solar energy projects on 45 acres of land which started operating in March 2014. It has strived for a solution to every mechanical failure and observed the working of advanced tracker technology. In addition, it supervised a second months-long upgrade, during which it performed the scope of EPC. It completed a renovation to its 39.2 MWac Alamo 1 solar facility in 2019 and a 6-month upgrade at Alamo 2 in 2022. These upgrades in projects at Alamo 1 and Alamo 2 happened in sections so that the solar farm remains partially energized. These adjustments ensured power supply to CPS Energy, a power, natural gas, and electric company in the public sector.
Construction Manager at OCI Solar Power, Jason Thompson said, "We found ourselves repairing trackers and then fixing them again days later because of mechanical issues. It was very similar to what our Alamo 1 solar farm located south of San Antonio was experiencing a few years ago. Now both solar farms have state-of-the-art trackers from Array Technologies, Inc. and increased production."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
President & CEO at OCI Solar Power, Charles Kim said, "Enhancing Alamo 2 is another example of our commitment to our customers and the solar industry." He added, "We are consistently working to ensure that the solar farms we own and operate are performing near or at capacity so electric customers receive clean energy. The construction project was also a way for us reiterate the importance of investing in a clean, reliable, sustainable fuel source."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About OCI Solar Power
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, OCI Solar Power, a solar energy company, has been innovating and developing utility-scale solar power plants in the United States since 2011. It constructs, develops, operates and owns photovoltaic projects for sustainable green energy generation. It is creating job opportunities and energy independence. It has brought utility scaled solar projects to Texas. Among the solar plants installed in the ERCOT market, over 450 MW are from OCI Solar Power. Its three projects are 100% compliant with Buy American Act. Its Alamo 6 is a dual-axis solar farm in the US. Its parent company, OCI Company Ltd, manufactures polysilicon, a raw material for solar cells.
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ENERGY
businesswire | March 24, 2023
AVANGRID, a leading sustainable energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, has announced today the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Meta to procure renewable energy from True North, a 240 MW solar farm under development in Falls County, Texas, and AVANGRID’s first solar facility in the state.
“We are proud to sign this agreement with a partner like Meta who, like us at AVANGRID, has a strong commitment to accelerating the energy transition in the U.S.,” said Pedro Azagra, AVANGRID’s CEO. “With projects like True North, we continue our mission of helping the country meet its ambitious clean energy goals, while also creating quality jobs and strengthening our local economies.”
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with AVANGRID to help bring new solar energy to support our local operations in Texas,” said Urvi Parekh, head of renewable energy at Meta. “True North will support our commitment to 100% renewable energy and represents additional investment and jobs for the region.”
Since 2020, Meta’s global operations have been supported by 100% renewable energy. The True North project will support Meta’s upcoming data center in neighboring Temple, their second data center facility in Texas.
True North, AVANGRID’s first solar farm in Texas, will deliver 240 MW of clean, renewable energy once it reaches commercial operations, which is expected by early 2025. During its construction and operation, True North will create over 200 local jobs and is expected to pay over $40 million in property taxes over 25 years in this state, in which the company already operates more than 1,250 MW of onshore wind facilities.
With more than 8.6 GW of installed renewable capacity, including 1.1 GW of solar projects operating and under construction, AVANGRID is the third largest renewable energy operator in the U.S. In total, the company has a strong pipeline of more than 25 GW under development, encompassing solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, and battery energy storage.
About AVANGRID
AVANGRID, Inc. aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, AVANGRID owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, AVANGRID owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2023, AVANGRID ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. AVANGRID is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A.
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ENERGY
Aurora Solar | March 08, 2023
Aurora Solar, a software platform dedicated to the solar energy industry, has recently announced the incorporation and expansion of design, product and engineering teams in Ontario, Canada, for business growth. With colossal funding and investment, it provides AI-powered solutions for residential solar installers.
The increase in demand for solar energy has stressed residential solar installers, and they are relying on Aurora's cloud-based platform for assistance. With the growing team, it has powered up to 100,000 solar projects weekly, valued at over $4 billion with over $500 million in funding. In addition, it supports over 7,000 organizations in the solar industry with climate change. It has helped its customers to avoid over 60 million tons of carbon dioxide ejection since its inception through its software-based solutions. The ‘2022 Deloitte Fast 500' and the ‘2022 Forbes AI 50' platforms have recognized it. It has also ranked as one of the ‘2022 Best Remote Companies to Work For by Built In’.
Co-Founder and CEO of Aurora Solar, Christopher Hopper said, "We are thrilled to announce Aurora's incorporation in Canada." He added, "Canada's work in the renewable energy sector combined with its experienced and skilled pool of SaaS talent make it an ideal location for Aurora Solar as we expand our footprint. Our Canadian presence highlights our commitment to creating a future of solar for all, and we look forward to furthering our mission with support from Canadian colleagues."
(Source - Business Wire)
Director of Engineering at Aurora Solar, Thusha Agampodi said, "Aurora Solar's Canadian launch marks a long-term investment in Canada, offering remote-first flexibility, and a collaborative, inclusive environment enjoyed by all Aurorans as we unite on our mission to build a sustainable future." She added, "As a resident of Ontario, I'm incredibly proud and excited to continue building on our team's momentum here, leveraging the diverse talent pool across Canada."
(Source - Business Wire)
About Aurora Solar
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Aurora Solar, a software development company dedicated to the solar energy industry, provides services for solar PV design, cloud computing, enterprise SaaS, solar sales, solar design customizations, solar PV performance modeling, solar software, solar engineering, solar financial analysis, and solar project design automation. Its cloud-based software has transformed solar design, sales and delivery operations since 2013. It offers an entirely accurate customizable design for every customer, with only an address and electric bill requirement. With its dedication and innovation, it is making solar energy accessible to everyone worldwide.
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