Solar Energy
Duke Energy is making significant investments in solar power, through both the company's regulated and commercial business lines. We are primarily focused on photovoltaic (PV) solar technology, due to its relative cost and maturity. However, we have also funded solar thermal projects and continue to explore the potential of concentrated PV solar solutions.
Using Solar Energy to Help Power our Communities
In its retail states, Duke Energy is developing innovative solar projects and programs that help the company and its customers benefit from this zero-emissions renewable resource. These initiatives also help Duke Energy comply with state renewable energy mandates, where applicable.
In North Carolina, electric utilities are required to use a combination of renewable resources and energy efficiency to meet 12.5 percent of electricity demand by 2021. To help meet that goal, Duke Energy secured approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission in 2009 for a $50 million program to install solar panels on the rooftops and grounds of select warehouses, schools, manufacturing facilities and other buildings in the company’s service area.
The 10-megawatt (direct current) project (equivalent to 8 megawatts alternating current) represents one of the first large-scale solar distributed generation deployments in the U.S. Distributed generation is energy created close to customers rather than at large, centralized power plants. The program produces enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1,300 average-sized homes. Visit the North Carolina Solar Distributed Generation page for additional detail.
Duke Energy is also purchasing all of the output from a 17-megawatt DC solar farm (16-megawatt AC) in Davidson County, N.C., under the terms of a 20-year agreement. The PV solar project is already generating renewable energy for Duke Energy customers. When complete, the solar farm will supply enough electricity to power more than 2,600 homes in the Carolinas. Read about additional solar projects in Duke Energy’s retail states.
Building Solar Solutions for Commercial Customers
In 2009, Duke Energy began building and operating PV solar projects for commercial business customers throughout the U.S. This business line – which serves customers outside the company’s retail service areas – is dedicated to delivering customized solar solutions for other utilities, municipalities and large business customers.
Duke Energy's 16-megawatt DC (14-megawatt AC) Blue Wing Solar Project in San Antonio, Texas, consists of nearly 215,000 PV panels and is among the largest solar farms in the country. Read more about Duke Energy Renewables' commercial solar projects.
In 2010, Duke Energy announced a partnership with Integrys Energy Services and Smart Energy Capital to jointly own and operate rooftop and smaller ground-mounted PV solar projects for commercial, government and utility customers under long-term power purchase agreements. Smart Energy Capital develops the projects and arranges financing, which enables Duke Energy and Integrys to create a streamlined, end-to-end approach to bringing solar projects to market.
