Fotowatio builds Texas-size PV plant near Austin
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has closed financing and begun construction of its 30-megawatt Webberville solar project, one of the largest solar photovoltaic systems in the US.
To be located just outside of Austin, Texas, the project is scheduled to be operational by year-end. Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) has been selected to build the project and provide operations and maintenance services for the power plant for five years.
Once operational, the solar energy from the plant will provide electricity under a long-term power purchase agreement with Austin Energy for 25 years. FRV has partnered with Bayerische Landesbank, which has fully underwritten the construction debt for the project.
“This utility-scale solar deployment is a critical component of Austin’s generation diversity and renewable energy goals,” said Larry Weis, Austin Energy general manager.
To maximise the solar energy output at the site, the solar plant will be constructed by mounting modules on a flat, single-axis tracking system. The project will deploy crystalline 270-watt photovoltaic modules that FRV procured directly from Trina Solar. The Webberville Solar project will provide enough clean energy to power 5,000 homes, while avoiding the emission of approximately 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
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