Indiana Michigan Power seeks proposals for 500MW of solar

• United States utility Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) has actually provided a request for proposals (RFP) for 500MW of solar as part of its new incorporated resource strategy that requires the addition of more than 2GW of renewables by 2028.

The invite seeks bids from developers of PV projects in Indiana and/or Michigan that ought to be on-line by the end of 2025. I&M, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, is also intending to acquire 800MW of wind.

The RFP provides prospective buyers with the opportunity to submit proposals that incorporate battery storage, emerging innovations and other sources to offer optimal efficiency and also affordability.

It also requires successful bidders to use practical efforts to utilize little as well as diverse distributors as subcontractors for work. With bids due by 21 April, I&M plans to have agreements with effective developers by the end of 2022.

The new solar and also wind options will certainly integrate with I&M's existing generation to supply an extra varied and also flexible portfolio "that will certainly stabilise energy costs with time, stimulate economic growth, reduce emissions as well as take advantage of brand-new modern technologies", claimed Dave Lucas, I&M vice president for regulatory and financing.

While I&M currently has virtually 35MW of large solar generation in Indiana as well as Michigan, the utility is readied to increase its renewables portfolio with its most current incorporated resource strategy, launched last month.

Together with the new RFP, the utility additionally intends to look for proposals for around 800MW of solar, 60MW of battery storage space and also 1GW from gas peaking units through a second round in the future.

I&M's solar growth in Indiana comes after EDF Renewables completed construction earlier this year of what it claimed is the state's largest PV plant, the 200MW Riverstart solar farm in Randolph County.

Likewise in Indiana, utility CenterPoint Energy got approval from authorities in October to obtain a 300MW PV project and enter into a PPA for an added 100MW of solar in the state.