Two Creeks Solar Park

The Two Creeks Solar Park is a 150 MW solar photovoltaic energy station in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Ownership is shared between Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) and Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E), at 100 MW and 50MW, respectively.[1] It was the first utility-scale solar plant approved and constructed in Wisconsin.

Two Creeks Solar Park
CountryUnited States
LocationTown of Two Creeks & Town of Two Rivers
Coordinates44°14′52″N 87°32′36″W
StatusCommissioned
Construction beganQ4 2019
Commission dateNov 2020
Construction cost$195 Million
Owner(s)WPS & MG&E
Employees3
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Solar trackerSingle-Axis
Power generation
Nameplate capacity150 MW
Capacity factor14.97% (2021)
Annual net output197 GWh (2021)

The facility consists of approximately 533,000 PV panels on single-axis tracking systems. PV panels are Jinko Eagle HC mono-crystalline measuring approximately 2 meters by 1 meter and rated at 400 watts (i.e. maximum output). The total DC output rating of the facility is 213 MW.[2] The facility covers approximately 800 acres within the towns of Two Creeks and Two Rivers, southwest of the nearby Point Beach Nuclear Plant.

Construction for the plant was completed in November 2020 at a cost of $195 million.[3] As part of project application materials, the facility was expected to require three full-time staff once constructed.[4] The facility is eligible for the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC is normalized over the 30 year life of the project as required by the IRS.[5]

History

Two Creeks Solar, LLC submitted an engineering plan to the Public Services Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) on March 20, 2018, and an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) on May 31, 2018. On May 31, 2019, the CPCN application to construct the facility was approved by the PSC. In its approval ruling, the PSC found that the project satisfied the requirements of Wisconsin Statute § 1.12 and 196.025(1), known as the Energy Priorities Law.[2][6][7]

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in late August 2019 featuring Governor Tony Evers and senior executives from MG&E, WPS, WEC, and Next Era Energy Resources LCC. At the time, a spokesperson for WPS stated that the Two Creeks plant, along with the Badger Hollow Solar Farm in southwestern Wisconsin, would save $100 million over its lifetime.[8] Construction formally started later in 2019 and by July 2020 half of the panels had been installed.[4][9] An estimated 300 people were required to construct the facility, mostly in the form of installing support posts and racking the panels. The facility started generating electricity in November 2020.[10]

The PSC approved MG&E and WPS's purchase and acquisition of the solar park from Two Creeks Solar (an entity of NextEra Energy Resources, LCC) for approximately $1,299 per kW for a total project cost of $195 million. The PSC denied MGE and WPS's request for authorization to acquire Two Creeks at a cost of up to 110 percent of the $195 million cost, which would have covered allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC).[2]

Electricity Production

In 2021, Two Creeks generated 197 GWh, approximately 0.3% of the total electric power generated in Wisconsin (62,584 GWh) for that year.[11] The facility had an approximate annual capacity factor of 15% in 2021. A capacity factor of 24% was used during the economic analysis during the transfer of ownership stage.[5]

Generation (MWh) Two Creeks Solar Park[12]
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual (Total)
2020 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 8,837 4,568 13,405
2021 5,508 15,428 17,514 19,017 22,339 25,736 27,087 23,884 19,253 9,865 8,067 3,120 196,818
2022 7,583 9,861 15,136 15,312 23,380 25,563 26,583 23,210 17,862 14,015 7,876 186,381
2023

Repower Cost Analysis

As part of their application to purchase the facility, MG&E and WPS conducted an economic feasibility analysis. The analysis indicated it would cost between $90 million to $180 million (2018 dollars) to repower the facility, that is to replace the existing solar panels with new solar panels.[5] Solar panels experience degradation over time due to ultraviolet light and weather, reducing the efficiency and electrical output of the panel. Repowering aims to increase the output efficiency of a solar facility by replacing some or all of the photovoltaic panels.

References
  1. Group, WEC Energy. "WEC Clean Energy". WEC Energy Group. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  2. "FINAL DECISION". April 18, 2019. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  3. Journal, Chris Hubbuch | Wisconsin State. "Wisconsin's first large-scale solar plant enters service; Two Creeks plant to power 33,000 homes". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  4. "Two Creeks Solar, LLC Solar CPCN Application Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties, Wisconsin PSC Docket No. 9696-CE-100". May 31, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  5. "Re: Docket 5-BS-228: Joint Application of Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Madison Gas and Electric Company for Approval to Acquire Ownership of Solar Generating Facilities". January 8, 2023. May 31, 2018.
  6. [httppx?UTIL=9696&CASE=CE&SEQ=100&START=none&END=none&TYPE=none&SERVICE=none&KEY=none&NON=N "ERF - Search Result"]. apps.psc.wi.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-08. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  7. "Wisconsin Legislature: 1.12". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  8. Edquist, Kaitlin. "Wisconsin's first large-scale solar project breaks ground in Two Rivers". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  9. "Construction at halfway mark for Wisconsin's first large-scale solar farm". madison.com. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  10. "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  11. "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  12. "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
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