According to Origis Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the first of the three solar plus storage projects in Mississippi, with a total capacity of 550 MW plus 150 MW of battery storage, has initiated construction.
While Golden Triangle II, a 150 MWAC project with 50 MW battery storage is expected to be completed by Spring 2024, Golden Triangle I, a 200 MWAC project with 50 MW of battery storage, and Optimist, a 200 MWAC project with 50 MW of battery storage, will reach completion by Summer 2024 and mid-2025, respectively. The Golden Triangle projects are located in Lowndes County and Optimist in Clay County.
Developed, constructed, and to be operated by Origis Energy, each project will deliver clean energy at competitive rates under PPAs with TVA, which will further use the power to help meet the sustainability goals of some of its large industrial customers and Mississippi residents.
"As the momentum behind renewable energy projects continues to surge throughout the United States, the significance of battery energy storage as a linchpin for a sustainable energy future cannot be overstated,” said Tom Cornell, Senior Vice President of Energy Storage Solutions at Mitsubishi Power Americas. “Our enthusiasm is palpable as we embark on the construction of these vital projects, aiming not only to enhance the efficiency and capacity of solar initiatives but also to bolster Origis and TVA in achieving their commendable sustainability objectives."
The projects will receive construction services from RES and create an estimated 300 jobs. Mitsubishi Power Americas will provide utility-scale battery storage for each site. About 1.5 million solar panel modules are expected to be installed at the three sites, enough to power an estimated 126,000 homes.
The three projects will enable economic benefits estimated to be worth $106 million in near-term construction and hiring gains to the area. They will also provide another $145 million in estimated regional economic benefits over their lifespan of 35+ years.
“These investments provide a unique diversification to our tax base and, upon completion, provide additional tax revenue to the counties and the schools,” said Joe Max Higgins, CEO at the Golden Triangle Development Link.
