RWE CleanEnergy, an RWE company and a leading US renewable energy company, announced the signing of eight utility-scale long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with electric utility Dominion Energy for seven solar projects in Virginia. The deal includes a total of more than 300 MW of solar capacity, capable of generating over 750,000 MWh of solar electricity to power over 70,000 homes in the state.
From Q1 2023, over 4,314 MW of solar energy was installed in Virginia. Since 2020, capacity has increased significantly, with large-scale solar systems accounting for a significant share. Supporting the Clean Economy ActEncouraging continued growth is forecast for utility-scale solar power in the coming years.
Consistent with its net zero commitment, Dominion Energy plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. With its robust utility-scale project portfolio, RWE Clean Energy is confident it can contribute to a more reliable, greener energy grid, enabling Dominion Energy Virginia to provide more than 2.8 million customers in the state with sufficient carbon-free power while reducing costs for tariff payers. Broadly, the portfolio is also expected to lead a diverse energy landscape for Virginia.
“We are pleased with our ability to support Dominion in its home state of Virginia on a number of projects that will reduce its carbon footprint and help move the industry closer to net zero,” said Mark Noyes, CEO of RWE Clean Energy.
These solar projects are Pleasant Hill Solar, Wythe County Solar, Watlington Solar, Switchgrass Solar, Groves Solar, 360 Solar and Harrisonburg Solar. Two are currently operational, one under construction and four under development.
Each project has a PPA with Dominion Energy Virginia. RWE Clean Energy will act as the long-term owner and operator of each project.
Additionally, in 2021, RWE Clean Energy signed a PPA for its 80 MW Water Strider solar project with Dominion Energy Virginia. Eight 24 MW Distributed Energy Resource (DER) PPAs have also been signed with Dominion Energy Virginia in recent years.