Energy developer PowerBank Corp. has reached commercial operations for "SB 13-2," a 7.01-MW community solar project now owned by global device manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. 

According to a release, the SB 13-2 project, developed and constructed by PowerBank, is part of a larger $41 million transaction by Honeywell to cover a portfolio of three community solar projects totaling 21 MW.

SB 13-2 has the capacity to power about 875 homes annually in upstate New York. The three-project portfolio also includes SB 13-1 and SB-14, which Honeywell bought from PowerBank Corp. in Sept. 2023.

Honeywell contracted PowerBank to handle engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work on the three solar projects. The work is part of Honeywell's broader strategy to transform old industrial sites into distributed energy resources (DERs).

SB 13-2, regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, was built on an industrial brownfield owned by Honeywell and will be a part of the company’s aerospace division (Honeywell Aerospace Inc.) following a transition on June 29. These brownfield sites require the removal of toxic chemicals before they can be revitalized or repurposed.

Honeywell states this current project will operate under the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) NY-Sun Program. This initiative provides direct financial incentives for utility customers, working in tandem with available tax credits and local grid operators to lower energy costs.

Under this initiative, Honeywell will receive direct cash incentives from NYSERDA. In return, the company will sell credits to subscribers, billed directly through their local utility provider, offering dozens or even hundreds of ratepayers savings from the electricity generated by SB 13-2 within Honeywell's portfolio—all without the need to install rooftop solar panels.

According to NYSERDA, more than 2 GW of community solar projects (as of Dec. 2023) have been installed in New York with the capacity to power nearly 400,000 homes.

“Delivering a 5 MW AC-class community solar project that is now actively supplying clean energy to New York residents reflects the strength of our project execution platform, and we look forward to the remaining projects in this portfolio reaching operation,” said President and COO Andrew van Doorn of PowerBank in a statement.

With over 100 MW of solar and BESS projects and a pipeline exceeding 1 GW across North America, PowerBank is increasing its position in the marketplace amid growing demand for clean energy infrastructure driven by hyperscalers. The company adds that SB 13-2 will serve as the foundation for these expansion efforts.

Examples of Honeywell’s strategy on sustainability include the Buffalo Color Park and Buffalo River remediation projects. These initiatives highlight the company’s commitment to restoring roughly 3,000 acres of biodiverse habitats that were former brownfield sites.