Construction has commenced on the Black Hollow Solar project in Colorado, a landmark initiative set to become one of the largest solar power plants in the state upon completion.
Platte River Power Authority and turnkey solutions partner Qcells USA Corp (Qcells) officially began the groundbreaking on July 10th for the project, which is expected to significantly enhance Colorado's renewable energy landscape.
Jason Frisbie, General Manager and CEO of Platte River, highlighted the project's strategic importance in achieving sustainable energy goals: “Black Hollow Solar represents a major milestone in our journey of working toward our non-carbon energy goals as outlined in the board-approved Resource Diversification Policy. We are proud that Black Hollow Solar, when completed, will bring the total amount of solar capacity in our portfolio to 309MW, help replace the coal-fired generation we will be shutting down before the end of the decade and is by far the largest solar generation project in northern Colorado.”
The first phase of the Black Hollow Solar project, scheduled for completion by May 2025, will generate approximately 367,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy annually for Platte River's owner communities including Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland. Phase two, set for 2026, will add an additional 107MW of capacity, bringing the total project capacity to 257MW.
Qcells, under the agreement with Platte River, will provide comprehensive turnkey solutions including project development, engineering, procurement, and construction services. Over 540,000 Qcells modules will be deployed at the site near the town of Severance, northeast of Black Hollow Reservoir.
IP Kim, President of Qcells, expressed pride in contributing to sustainable energy solutions: “We are proud to provide energy solutions that support a partner like Platte River, promoting good stewardship of the community while also realizing the benefits this project brings as a clean source of sustainable energy for the next 25+ years for northern Colorado communities and to the growth of American energy.”
The electricity generated from the Black Hollow Solar project will be supplied to Platte River under a long-term power purchase agreement starting in May 2025, bolstering the region's renewable energy capacity and advancing environmental sustainability goals.
As Platte River continues its transition away from coal-fired resources, the addition of Black Hollow Solar, alongside existing renewable resources, will increase the utility's annual non-carbon energy generation to 58%, meeting nearly 75% of the energy needs of its four owner communities.
