Southern Power, a wholesale energy provider in the United States, announced on Tuesday the commencement of commercial operations at its 150-megawatt (MW) South Cheyenne solar power plant in Wyoming, marking a significant expansion of the company's clean energy portfolio.
The South Cheyenne solar project was acquired by Southern Power from Qcells USA Corp, the US subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Group, in September 2023. Qcells USA served as the project developer, module manufacturer, and engineering procurement construction (EPC) provider for the facility. Under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power, a unit of Black Hills Energy, the electricity generated by the solar park, along with its associated renewable energy credits, will be exclusively dedicated to a data center client.
This milestone marks Southern Power's inaugural solar venture in Wyoming and adds to its growing solar generation portfolio, which now exceeds 2,740 MW. The company's renewable energy fleet, encompassing 5,280 MW of capacity and spanning from California to Maine, includes a total of 30 solar and 15 wind facilities that are either operational or under construction.
According to Southern Power, the South Cheyenne solar project aligns with its strategic objective of acquiring and developing generating assets backed by long-term contracts with creditworthy counterparties.
