The latest renewable energy news includes announcements on Duke Energy, Calibrant Energy, DMEGC Solar, and others.
Duke Energy Florida Plans 300 MW Solar Expansion, Targets $1 Billion Savings
Duke Energy Florida has filed plans to develop four solar projects totaling 300 MW, targeting $1 billion in customer savings over their operating lifetimes. The projects, located in Orange and Sumter counties, are scheduled for completion between February and June 2028. Construction will begin in January 2027. Each project is expected to save approximately $250 million in fuel costs over 30 years. Duke Energy Florida currently operates 25 solar sites with 1,850 MW of capacity. The company also plans to develop more than 1 GW of battery storage over the next decade. Existing solar production tax credits provide approximately $75 million in annual customer benefits.
Calibrant Energy Secures $145 Million Financing for Solar and Battery Storage
Calibrant Energy has secured a $145 million debt facility led by Investec to refinance operating assets and fund solar and battery storage construction across multiple US electricity markets. Citi, Liberty Bank and Siemens Financial Services participated in the financing. The portfolio includes a 120 MWh battery energy storage system serving a hyperscale data center customer in the PJM electricity market. Calibrant, backed by Macquarie Asset Management, currently has more than 2.2 GW of energy projects and 5.9 GWh of battery storage capacity in operation, construction or under exclusive development agreements. The portfolio includes additional battery storage projects for the same hyperscale data center customer.
DMEGC Solar Launches Steel-Frame Modules with 85% Bifaciality
DMEGC Solar has introduced steel-frame photovoltaic modules offering up to 85 percent bifaciality and improved mechanical strength. The steel frames provide nearly twice the tensile strength of conventional aluminum alloys, supporting snow loads of 6,000 Pa and wind loads of 5,000 Pa. The new S-shaped frame design reduces rear-side shading by 76 percent and increases the unshaded area by 3.6 percent. DMEGC estimates a 2.8 percent improvement in bifaciality from the frame design. Company simulations indicate annual electricity generation of 2,078 kWh/kWp, delivering 0.6 percent additional generation revenue compared with conventional modules. The modules use zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel and have passed salt-mist and ammonia-resistance testing.
