HARLEYVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EDF Renewable Energy and Santee Cooper today dedicated the Pinelands Biomass project which consists of two nominal 17.8 megawatt (MW) generating facilities located in Allendale and Dorchester Counties in South Carolina. The Dorchester facility achieved commercial operation on November 1; Allendale followed on November 19.
The two projects interconnect to Santee Cooper’s transmission system adjacent to the sites with the generated renewable energy contracted to the utility under 30-year Power Purchase Agreements.
“Biomass is poised to be a key renewable base load energy resource for South Carolina and we are pleased to work with Santee Cooper on this excellent opportunity to produce economically attractive renewable energy,” said Tristan Grimbert, President and CEO of EDF RE. “Utilizing wood waste to generate electricity is a proven renewable technology that complements EDF Renewable Energy’s robust portfolio of wind, solar and biogas projects in North America.”
“Santee Cooper was the first utility in the state to deliver electricity to all our customers from new renewable resources 12 years ago,” said Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper’s President and CEO. “Today represents a new milestone for us and for South Carolina. The partnership forged with EDF Renewable Energy helps advance Santee Cooper’s role as the state’s leader in generating renewable energy.”
Allendale and Dorchester Counties enjoy a substantial and reliable wood supply. The woody biomass facilities, with a consistent and sustainable wood demand, will bring significant economic benefits to both counties by contracting with the existing trucking and wood supply industry. Additionally, the two facilities have created over 250 construction jobs and 38 full-time positions.
The projects use a well proven biomass design with a stoker boiler, supplied by Factory Sales Engineering (FSE) and a steam turbine generator supplied by General Electric (GE). Bibb Engineers is the engineer of record and Summit Industrial Construction is the general contractor. EDF Renewable Services will provide long-term operations and maintenance.
About EDF Renewable Energy:
EDF Renewable Energy is a leading U.S. independent power producer with more than 25 years of expertise in the renewable industry, covering all range of services from project development, management to operations and maintenance. EDF Renewable Energy specializes in wind and solar photovoltaic with presence in other segments of the renewable energy market: biogas, biomass, hydro, marine energy and storage solutions. The company develops, constructs, operates and manages renewable energy projects throughout the United States for its own accord as well as for third parties. EDF Renewable Energy’s portfolio consists of 4 gigawatts of developed projects with 1.9 gigawatts of installed capacity. EDF Renewable Energy is the U.S. subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles. EDF Energies Nouvelles is the renewable energy arm of the EDF group, the leading electricity company in the world. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com.
About EDF Renewable Services:
EDF Renewable Services is the leading third-party provider of operations and maintenance services in North America. With 25 years of experience, EDF Renewable Services understands renewable energy facilities represent a substantial investment. The company takes an owner-operator approach to ensure maximum returns on the asset, full project value, and ongoing profitability for new and existing facilities. As part of a global organization with utility-scale wind and solar plants, the company brings depth of experience to every project. With more than 7 gigawatts of wind and solar under contract, EDF Renewable Services is the trusted leader in O&M. For more information visit: www.edf-renewable-services.com.
About Santee Cooper:
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power producer, the largest Green Power generator and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper powers South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com.
