Duke Energy to Build 1MW Experimental Floating Solar Array in Florida

Duke Energy Florida, part of utility company Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: DUK), will begin construction of its first floating solar plant in the state’s Polk County this month.

The photovoltaic (PV) array will consist of more than 1,800 modules with a total capacity of about 1 MW, the parent company said on Thursday.

The demonstration plant will cover approximately 2 acres (0.8 ha) of water surface of the existing cooling pond at the Duke Energy Hines Energy complex in Bartow. It is expected that its construction will last about six months.

“Unique pilot projects, such as floating solar, are helping us better understand the potential for innovative clean energy technologies that can benefit our customers and communities in Florida now and in the future,” said Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy Florida State.

The project will be implemented as part of the Duke Energy Vision Florida program, in which the utility seeks to test innovative technologies such as microgrids and batteries. The Florida-based company currently owns 10.5 GW of power generation capacity that serves 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in its service area.

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