Qcells, a utility-scale solar and energy storage project developer and solar EPC provider, announced the sale of the 142 MW Appaloosa solar project in Garfield County, Washington, to Puget Sound Energy (PSE), an energy utility company. The project will be co-located with the Lower Snake River Wind facility.
PSE will own and operate the Appaloosa solar project. Qcells will also construct and provide turnkey services, including serving as the project developer and engineering procurement construction services provider. In addition, Qcells will supply domestically manufactured solar modules for the project.
The project is expected to begin construction in 2025 and commercial operation in December 2026.
According to Qcells, the project will be the first in Washington state to leverage existing interconnection infrastructure from a wind facility to deliver additional renewable energy. The company claims that once operational, the solar project will produce clean electricity enough to power over 30,000 households annually.
“We are excited to be working with Qcells on the Appaloosa solar project at our existing Lower Snake River wind farm,” said Ron Roberts, Senior Vice President of Energy Resources. “This project will help us provide clean, reliable utility-scale solar energy to our customers while advancing our efforts to meet Washington state’s ambitious clean energy goals.”
According to Mercom’s 1H and Q2 2024 Solar Funding and M&A report, 113 solar project acquisitions totaling 18.5 GW were announced in 1H 2024 compared to 116 project acquisitions totaling 25.5 GW in 1H 2023.
Last week, Grenergy, an independent solar and wind power producer, acquired 1 GW of solar projects, including a 1 GW energized line, from Repsol and Ibereólica. The company will invest $128 million in this transaction. The transaction comprises the purchase of a 77 MW solar project and a solar portfolio totaling 923 MW in various stages of development.
