TotalEnergies has officially commenced commercial operations of its 380MW solar farm, known as the Myrtle solar farm, located in the southern region of Houston, Texas. This significant milestone also coincides with the inauguration of a co-located battery storage plant boasting an energy capacity of 225 megawatt hours.
The Myrtle solar farm spans an impressive area, covering the equivalent of 1800 American football fields, and features a staggering 705,000 ground-mounted photovoltaic panels. This ambitious project is poised to make a substantial contribution to the renewable energy landscape in the United States.
One notable aspect of the Myrtle solar farm's operation is its strategic allocation of power. Approximately 70% of its capacity will be dedicated to supplying electricity to TotalEnergies' industrial facilities situated in the US Gulf Coast region. This endeavor aligns with TotalEnergies' “Go Green” Project, which aims to meet the energy requirements and reduce Scope 1+2 emissions of its industrial sites in Port Arthur and La Porte, Texas, as well as Carville, Louisiana, by the year 2025.
The remaining 30% of the Myrtle solar farm's capacity will be allocated to Kilroy Realty, a publicly traded real estate company, through a 15-year corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) indexed on merchant prices. This strategic partnership underscores the growing interest in sustainable and green electricity solutions among businesses.
It's worth noting that TotalEnergies' affiliate, Saft, played a pivotal role in supplying the batteries for the energy storage system, ensuring the efficient operation and storage of renewable energy generated by the solar farm.
The Myrtle project also benefits from the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) Tax Credit mechanisms, which will positively impact TotalEnergies' Integrated Power's profitability target, aiming for a remarkable 12% return.
Vincent Stoquart, Senior Vice President of Renewables at TotalEnergies, expressed pride in the launch of the Myrtle project, highlighting its significance as the company's largest utility-scale solar farm with storage in the United States. He emphasized the project's role in achieving TotalEnergies' broader objectives, including building an integrated and profitable presence in Texas, a state where ERCOT serves as the primary electrical grid operator. Additionally, the project underscores TotalEnergies' commitment to powering some of its major US industrial facilities with renewable energy sources, marking a substantial step towards sustainability and environmental responsibility.
