McDonald’s and Lightsource bp Ink PPA for 145 MW Solar Farm in Louisiana

• McDonald’s Corp and Lightsource bp have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to construct a 145-MW AC/180 MW DC solar park in Louisiana. The photovoltaic (PV) farm will generate enough electricity to power 630 McDonald’s restaurants and meet the demand of 30,700 local homes.

What happened? 

McDonald’s Corp and Lightsource bp have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to construct a 145-MW AC/180 MW DC solar park in Louisiana. The UK-based solar developer half owned by BP Plc will finance, build, own and operate the Prairie Ronde photovoltaic (PV) farm, while McDonald’s will buy its entire output. The over USD-170-million (EUR 158.6m) PV park will be installed about 25 miles north of Lafayette, in St Landry Parish, with its construction slated to begin early this year. Once up and running, Prairie Ronde is expected to generate around 327,000 MWh of electricity annually, enough to meet the demand of 30,700 local homes. 

Why does it matter? 

This agreement marks McDonald’s second solar project in Louisiana in partnership with Lightsource bp and brings the state’s total of solar assets to 525 MW. The project is part of McDonald’s goal to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions related to its restaurants and offices by 36% by 2030 from a 2015 baseline. This project is also a major investment in clean energy by a major corporation, which is a positive sign for the future of solar energy. 

What's next? 

The Prairie Ronde solar park is expected to reach commercial operations in late 2024. In the meantime, McDonald’s and Lightsource bp will continue to invest in renewable energy and promote the use of clean energy sources. As more companies make the switch to renewable energy, it is expected that the demand for solar energy will continue to grow.