Duke Energy has Begun Working on the World's Largest Solar Plant in Surry County, North Carolina

Duke Energy is continuing to grow solar power in North Carolina, with the commencement of construction on its 22.6-megawatt (MW) Stony Knoll Solar power plant. It will be the biggest solar energy facility in Surry County when finished.

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions will own and operate the project. The project was chosen as part of the competitive bidding procedure created by North Carolina's solar law in 2017.

Trina Solar bifacial modules with single-axis tracking will be used in the solar project, which will have 76,600 of them. The facility will be built on 195 acres in Dobson, North Carolina, along Rockford Road. The facility will provide enough energy to power 5,000 households. It plans to go commercial before the end of 2021.

"Duke Energy is increasing the amount of carbon-free, sustainable power available to North Carolina consumers. We're excited to add Surry County to our ever-expanding list of solar areas as we endeavor to drastically cut carbon emissions on our way to net-zero emissions by 2050 "stated Stephen De May, president of Duke Energy, North Carolina.

Proposed projects must be built where there is a need for energy capacity on the Duke Energy system in North Carolina or South Carolina under North Carolina's Competitive Procurement for Renewable Energy. Bids may be submitted by any company, including Duke Energy, and may take the form of power purchase agreements (PPA), utility self-developed facilities, or utility asset acquisitions.

"We are excited to continue to expand the state's renewable energy resources. The Stony Knoll solar project is the third facility we've unveiled in North Carolina this year, demonstrating our continued effort to boosting sustainable energy generation in the state "Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions president Chris Fallon stated.

Stony Knoll Solar will employ around 70 people during peak construction. Along with the indirect economic benefits that come with solar project development, also including increased local spending in the service and construction industries, Stony Knoll Solar would also have a strong economic impact on the local community by providing local tax revenues to both the county and regional school districts, as well as constructive payments to participating landholders.

Through the work of the Duke Energy Foundation, Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions also helps the communities in which its facilities and team members are located. The firm gave $10,000 to Copeland Elementary School in Dobson in January to help support the purchase of Chromebooks for pupils.

Swinerton Renewable Energy will design the facility, purchase inverters, balance of plant systems, and build the project. Stony Knoll's electricity will be provided under a 20-year power purchase contract with Duke Energy Carolinas.

Duke Electricity maintains more than 3,700 MW of solar power on its North Carolina energy system, enough to power about 700,000 homes and businesses at peak production. Throughout addition, the firm runs around 40 solar plants in the state. North Carolina now ranks third in the US in terms of overall solar power. More over half of North Carolina's energy mix is carbon-free, thanks to nuclear, hydro, and renewable energy.

Duke Energy, one of the nation's leading renewable energy suppliers, intends to increase its enterprisewide renewables portfolio from 8 gigawatts (GW) to 16 GW by the end of the year 2025.

About Duke Energy Sustainalbe Solutions:
Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is a nonregulated commercial firm of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 corporation located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States.

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is a pioneer in sustainable energy, assisting big corporations in lowering electricity costs, lowering emissions, and increasing resiliency. The team delivers wind, solar, resilient backup power, and managed energy services to over 1,000 projects throughout the United States, with a cumulative nonregulated renewable energy capacity of far more than 5,100 megawatts.

Duke Energy is implementing an aggressive clean energy plan to build a better energy future for its customers and communities, with targets of at least a 50% decrease in carbon emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The firm is a leading provider of renewable energy in the United States, with plans to operate or buy 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The Duke Energy News Center includes press releases, info sheets, pictures, videos, and other media. Duke Energy's lighting tells tales about individuals, innovations, neighbourhood challenges, and environmental concerns.