Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company and a leading energy company in the United States, has acquired the 200MW Millers Branch solar farm in Texas from EDF Renewables, strengthening its position in the renewable energy sector.
Located in Haskell County in central Texas, the Millers Branch solar project is currently in the construction phase, with the potential for capacity expansion to 500MW. Southern Power anticipates completing construction and commencing commercial operations by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Additionally, Southern Power has announced a power purchase agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific, a U.S.-based manufacturer of laboratory and pharmaceutical equipment. Under this agreement, once the project is operational, Thermo Fisher Scientific will purchase the generated power. Notably, Thermo Fisher Scientific has committed to powering all of its U.S. facilities with renewable energy by 2026. This 20-year power purchase agreement, initially signed with EDF Renewables in February of this year, remains in effect.
Southern Power's President, Robin Boren, expressed the significance of the Millers Branch project, highlighting the company's commitment to expanding its solar portfolio and contributing to the future of sustainable energy. The project's capacity expansion potential demonstrates Southern Power's forward-looking approach to renewable energy development.
See also: RWE Commences Construction of 200MW Wind Project in Texas
This acquisition marks a notable addition to Southern Power's growing renewables portfolio, which currently encompasses nearly 5GW of renewable projects, including 2.4GW of solar capacity across six U.S. states. It is worth noting that Southern Power has not commissioned a new solar project since the commencement of commercial operations at the Gaskell West 1 project in California in 2018.
This development adds to the momentum of the thriving solar sector in Texas, which boasts the second-largest installed capacity in the U.S., trailing only California. In recent news, PV Hardware unveiled plans to establish a 6GW tracker manufacturing facility in the state, and Scout Clean Energy secured a power purchase agreement for a 209MW project, further underscoring Texas' prominence in the renewable energy landscape.
