Posted on July 22, 2022.

New York In Gigascale Solar And Storage Bonanza 'to Exceed' State Clean Energy Goals

The US state of New York State has awarded 22 contracts for over 2.4GW in utility-scale solar and energy storage projects including the largest PV arrays to be built in the northeast of the country, representing more than $2.7bn in private investment in total.

The solar farms are spread across the Empire State and range in size from 20MW-350MW with 11 having more than 100MW nameplate capacity. EDF Renewables affiliates were awarded the three of the four largest electricity supply contracts for two 350MW arrays and another for 240MW, while an affiliate of Canada’s Boralex got a green light for a 250MW facility.

Boralex also won contracts for 20MW, 40MW, 100MW, and 130MW arrays. Other well-known solar players awarded contracts include affiliates of Borrego (60MW); CS Energy (60MW and 160MW); Cypress Creek Renewables (100MW); Northland Power (100MW), and ReneSola (19.00MW).

“These projects will allow us to not just meet but exceed our goal of obtaining 70% of our electricity from renewable resources and will further cement New York as a national leader in the fight against climate change,” said New York governor Kathy Hochul, referring to the state’s interim 2030 target.

Six awarded projects will be paired with storage facilities, comprising 159MW of capacity that will enhance the integration of renewable energy resources onto the electric grid.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which oversees the state’s clean energy development, said the contracts include an index renewable energy credit (REC) structure to help cushion customers against potential spikes in energy prices.

According to Hochul’s office, the average statewide bill impact for the typical residential customer will be $0.13 a month once all awarded projects are in commercial operation.

The newly awarded projects increase the state’s pipeline of large-scale renewable energy capacity under development to more than 14.2GW, enough to power 5.5 million homes.

New York has a mandate to achieve a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040 and reduce emissions 85% economy-wide by 2050.

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