CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Furthering
efforts to provide renewable energy to customers, Duke Energy
Carolinas (DEC) today issued a request for 750,000 megawatt-hours
(MWh) of energy located in its territory.
Results from the request for proposals (RFP) will help DEC meet
North Carolina's 2007 Renewable
Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) that
mandates the company generate 12.5 percent of its retail sales in
the state by renewable energy or energy efficiency programs by
2021.
The RFP is open to solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas and other
facilities that qualify as a renewable energy resource under REPS
requirements – excluding swine and poultry waste. Facilities must
be located in the DEC service territory.
"We want to encourage market development of more renewable
generation in the Duke Energy Carolinas system in the most
competitive manner possible," said Rob
Caldwell, president, Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed
Energy Technology. "This RFP gives developers the opportunity to
either pursue projects themselves or sell current projects under
development to Duke Energy."
The RFP calls for 750,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy and
associated renewable energy certificates (RECs) located in the DEC
territory. A REC, equaling one megawatt-hour of renewable energy
generation, demonstrates Duke Energy's compliance with the
renewable energy mandate.
The 750,000 MWh figure is about what 400 MWs of solar capacity
would generate in a year. When operating at peak capacity, it is
enough to supply the energy needs of nearly 62,000 residential
houses.
Currently, about 75 percent of Duke Energy's owned and purchased
solar generating capacity is in the Duke Energy Progress (DEP)
territory.
"We are well ahead of our compliance in our Duke Energy Progress
territory, and view this as an opportunity to bring more renewable
energy to customers in other parts of the state," said
Caldwell.
Interested bidders must already be in the DEC interconnection
queue, which includes renewable projects already proposed in the
region.
The RFP allows bidders the flexibility to offer three
options:
- Purchased power proposals;
- engineer, procurement and construction turnkey proposals in
which Duke Energy takes ownership of the new facility; or
- project development proposals that are in the late stages of
development where Duke Energy would take ownership and build the
new facility.
Proposed projects must be in operation by Dec. 31, 2018.
In a related announcement today, DEC is also seeking to buy RECs
from existing facilities in its service territory. These would be
existing renewable projects for which Duke Energy does not already
purchase the RECs. The RECs must come from facilities in the DEC
territory and must be in operation by the end of 2016.
More information about the RFP can be viewed here.
Overall, Duke Energy companies, both regulated and commercial,
have installed about 450 MWs of solar energy in North Carolina – around 35 solar plants total.
The company also purchases more than 1,300 MWs of solar capacity
from other developers. Overall, this has contributed to
North Carolina's ranking as No. 2
in the nation for overall solar power.
About Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company
traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More
information about the company is available at
duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for
journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and
videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online
destination for stories about remarkable people, innovations, and
community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into
the past and insights into the future of energy.
Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and
Facebook.
Contact: Randy Wheeless
Office: 704.382.8379
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_RandyW
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SOURCE Duke Energy