Sunedison activates US solar plant

SunEdison has activated the first phase of its 16MW solar farm in Davidson County, North Carolina.

The 4MW first phase consists of 14,000 solar panels that will generate over 6 million kWh of electricity in the first year of operation.

Duke Energy is buying the farm's entire output under a 20-year contract announced in 2008. Over those 20 years, the farm will generate 115 million kWh of electricity - enough to power 10,000 average homes for one year.

It also will offset more than 100,000tCO2e that otherwise would have been emitted from a traditional coal-burning power plant.

"This first phase represents a major milestone in our overall plan to develop 16MW of solar energy at this site," said SunEdison president Carlos Domenech.

"Having financed and completed this initial installation, we have mobilized resources for the next phase of the solar farm."

The farm is one of several North American utility-scale power plants that SunEdison has financed and developed, and now operates.

SunEdison was bought by silicon wafer manufacturer MEMC Electronic Materials last year.

Last year SunEdison bought solar project developer Business Institute Solar Strategy as part of a strategy to expand into Europe.