EDP Renewables accelerates energy transition among communities with innovative renewable solutions
- The company recently inaugurated a solar and storage project in a US desert to minimize gas use within a community and virtually erased the need for fuel on a Singapore island.
- EDP is investing in multiple use cases to address global decarbonization demands, accelerating collective climate action ahead of COP 28.
In the middle of the Arizona desert, the Mohave Electric Cooperative will benefit from an innovative solar solution that supplies its 36,700 members with clean energy. The installation of a 23 MWp solar project in this area provided by EDP is now contributing to decarbonize the energy use of this community, which still depends on gas and coal to provide electricity to its families. On the other side of the planet, EDP Renewables electrified the area of Pulau Ubin with clean energy for its inhabitants and activities. This island in the north of Singapore has no connection with the mainland’s grid and relies on its own 10-year-old microgrid, powered with more than 100,000 litres of diesel per year and responsible for more than 260,000 kgs of CO2 emissions annually. With this new and sustainable project, EDP Renewables supports the transition from fossil fuel to clean energy.
These two projects are just recent examples of EDP’s group global investment in the decarbonization of different types of clients – remote communities, urban areas, or businesses – through innovative and sustainable solutions that promote a collective response to the climate emergency.
The company is delivering different use cases that can speed up a holistic energy transition by bringing its clients and communities on board of the commitment to a more sustainable planet. This strategy is fully aligned with the agenda for COP28, which begins next week and in which EDP will be an active participant.
“We are witnessing historically high deployment of renewable energy sources, which will benefit society, the global economy, and the planet. However, more action and investment will need to be directed to accelerate the energy transition to secure the Paris Agreement goals”, says Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDP. “I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions around what is needed to advance the energy transition with business leaders, policymakers, and the corporate climate community at COP28, where EDP plans to take an active role, showcasing our innovative projects and reinforcing our climate action commitments towards net zero targets and a more sustainable planet.”
EDP will again participate in COP28 in Dubai, from November 30th to December 12th, to share its insights on the energy transition and the strategy to tackle climate change at a global scale. Through the showcasing of innovative and sustainable projects, such as the ones in Mohave and Pulau Bin, among others all over the world, EDP will reinforce its commitment to collective climate action and support the call to at least triple renewables by 2030, joining its voice to others towards a tangible outcome at COP28.
Exchanging fossil fuel for solar
EDPR, through EDPR NA Distributed Generation, inaugurated recently in the Arizona desert, USA, an innovative solution with a 23 MWp distributed solar generation project coupled with a 15 MW/60MWh battery that can store up to 4 hours of surplus solar energy to be used afterwards. The project was delivered to Mohave Electric Cooperative, located in Fort Mohave, in the US Arizona desert, and will allow this not-for-profit distribution cooperative and its 36,700 members to substitute the use of gas with cleaner energy partially. The project will also mitigate peak-period energy use and ultimately stabilise energy costs.
With its more than 54,000 solar panels, the Mohave project’s ground-mount solar array system will allow the offset of more than 36,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 43,000 acres of U.S. forests in one year. This is the biggest solar-distributed generation with storage developed so far by the EDP group and showcases the group’s capacity to deliver tailor-made solutions to the different needs of its clients.
The Mohave project uses ATI trackers, an innovative solution in decentralised solar systems that allows panels to follow the sun’s path throughout the day. Unlike fixed solar panel installations, this tracking system maximizes energy absorption, ensuring the panels are always positioned to capture the sun’s light and contribute significantly to Mohave Electric’s renewable energy portfolio. The project’s energy storage will also have AI-driven solar forecasting and advanced modelling to help streamline solar optimization for added value for Mohave Electric Cooperative and its members.
This month, EDP Renewables also electrified with clean energy Pulau Ubin island and its inhabitants and activities. The island in the north of Singapore has no connection with the mainland’s grid and relies on its own 10-year-old microgrid, powered with more than 100,000 litres of diesel per year and responsible for more than 260,000 kgs of CO2 emissions annually.
With EDPR’s solar and storage system, Pulau Ubin will derive up to 95% of its electricity needs from cleaner sources, with its enhanced micro-grid relying now on a 328 kWp solar installation and a 1 MWh energy storage system. The battery helps to mitigate solar variability and ensures the consistent operation of the grid by actively managing any mismatches in supply and demand.
