Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE), a portfolio company of Omers Infrastructure, has started construction on the Big Plain Solar project in Ohio, US. The 196 MW solar plant is being developed near London and is slated to go live in June 2023. First Solar’s ultra-low carbon thin-film photovoltaic solar modules will be used in the project. It is planned to provide employment to almost 400 workers during the construction phase, with at least 80 per cent of which will be offered primarily to Ohio residents.
SOLV Energy is the Big Plain Solar project’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. Once operational, the facility’s clean energy will be supplied to Verizon Communications under a long-term power purchase agreement.
In April 2022, First Solar and LRE signed an agreement under which First Solar would supply 1 GW of advanced, ultra-low carbon and thin-film PV solar modules to LRE. As per the company’s statement, LRE plans to deploy these modules across its 20 GW solar development and construction pipeline in the US between 2023 and 2024. With this agreement, LRE and First Solar would be able to order more than 3 GW of solar panels. This will result in the installation of 18 new solar power sites from 2022 to 2024.
REGlobal’s Views: Verizon, an American wireless network operator, has set a target to achieve net zero emissions in its operations by 2035. This project will be a step forward in that direction.
