BENEFITS
Clean, Reliable and Affordable
Solar plants operate when energy consumption needs are at their highest, effectively matching energy supply and demand. Solar energy is cost effective and has reached parity with natural gas in certain markets.
Clean, Renewable Energy
Photovoltaic (PV) solar power is an emissions-free renewable fuel supply. Solar also:
• Creates no greenhouse gases;
• Uses no water to generate electricity;
• Creates no waste byproducts; and
• Results in no hazardous cleanup at the project’s end.
Cost-Effective
The cost of universal-scale solar power installations has dropped significantly due to advances in technology and solar panel design.
• No cost volatility – fuel is free;
• Support from continued federal tax credits; and
• Competitive price with natural gas in some markets.
Home-grown Electricity
• Electricity generated in local communities benefits those communities;
• Helps our country move toward energy independence; and
• Reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
Jobs
• Hundreds of construction jobs are created during the six to 12 month construction phase;
• Opportunities are available for local businesses to supply goods and services; and
• Several full-time positions are typically created for the 30-year life of the project.
Energy Efficiency
Solar plants operate when energy consumption needs are at their highest, effectively matching energy supply and demand. When paired with energy storage, solar power can:
• Improve the operation of the electrical grid and
• Reduce the need for additional generation.
Tax Benefits
NextEra Energy Resources’ operating solar plants benefit the local economy by:
• Generating annual property tax revenues for state and local governments, and area schools; and
• Capital expenditure and jobs created during construction generate sales tax revenue and positive economic activity.
Landowner Partnerships
• PV solar projects require minimal water for dust control and panel cleaning; and
• Solar projects bring additional jobs, increased tax revenue and our purchases of local goods and services to the area.
SOLAR ENERGY SITES
From Start to Finish
NextEra Energy Resources’ construction team is experienced in building universal-scale solar plants. Hundreds of construction workers can be involved in a typical solar construction project. Our goal is to hire as many workers from the area as possible. Construction typically takes between six and 12 months.
Siting and Development
Siting a solar project is challenging work. The right combination of solar conditions, power transmission lines and land all play important roles.
Our developers work with landowners to walk them through the process, meet with local officials on project progress, conduct environmental assessments, complete historical and archaeological reviews, arrange connection to the power grid, secure customers for the site’s generated electricity, attend public meetings to gain approval for construction, permitting and land use zoning; and procure the necessary equipment for construction.
Construction
Once approvals are in place and contracts are signed, solar PV energy sites can usually be built in six to twelve months. Steps include:
- Erect a fence for safety;
- Lay high-quality gravel roads to accommodate heavy equipment;
- Construct a substation, and possibly an operations and maintenance building;
- Install the solar arrays; and
- Test and commission the completed arrays.
Ready for Operations
Once construction is complete and the plant is commissioned, commercial operations begin. The site is then turned over to operations staff who operate and maintain the solar plant.
How Solar Energy Works
- As sunlight hits the solar panels, the solar energy is converted into direct current electricity (DC).
- The direct current is connected on cables from each row of panels and flows into power inverters where it is converted into alternating current (AC).
- The AC electricity passes through a power transformer.
- The transformer boosts the voltage of the current for delivery onto the transmission lines, so local electric utilities can distributed the electricity to homes and businesses along the electrical grid.