The 120 MW solar plant will help replace the coal-fired power plant, which is scheduled to be decommissioned by 2025.
According to network sources, the American company Idaho Power signed a contract for a period of 20 years, according to which the company will purchase energy from a 120 MW solar power plant. The station is being built by Jackpot Holdings. The main feature of the contract is that the price for 1 kWh is 2,2 cents, which is a record low for the United States.
Note that the announced price of energy does not fully reflect the cost of solar panels used. The fact is that when building a solar station, Jackpot Holdings uses government subsidies, due to which it was possible to achieve a significant price reduction. It is noteworthy that back in 2017, representatives of the US Department of Energy reported that solar power plants in the country, on average, manage to reach the cost of one kilowatt-hour of 6 cents.
Another feature that has played into the hands of Idaho Power is the presence of existing transmission lines that will be used to deliver energy to customers. At the moment, these lines are used to transport electricity from a coal mine, the use of which may be discontinued in a few years. Moreover, representatives of Idaho Power say that by 2045 the company will completely abandon the use of natural gas and coal, switching to environmentally friendly energy sources.
Source: 3dnews.ru