WEC Taps EDPR for 225-MW Wisconsin Solar

• EDP Renováveis to build 225‑MW Wisconsin solar for WEC Energy—battery‑ready, bifacial tracker fleet near strong nodes—cutting daytime prices and curtailment as coal retires and electrification surges.

EDP Renováveis, a unit of Portugal’s EDP, will develop and build a 225‑MW (300 MWdc) solar plant in Wisconsin for WEC Energy Group, giving the utility ownership of a daytime resource as the Midwest retires coal, adds industry and electrifies. Siting near strong grid nodes aims to ease interconnection and curb curtailment.

Plan: high‑efficiency bifacial modules on single‑axis trackers; DC/AC ratios tuned for annual yield; grid‑compliant controls, plus string‑level SCADA. Early procurement of transformers and MV gear sets schedule. Site preserves pads for 2–4‑hour batteries. Benefits: lower daytime prices, fuel savings, freed dispatchable capacity; dust, storm‑water, habitat and recycling measures.

How will EDP’s 225‑MW Wisconsin solar plant optimize yield and grid integration?

• Use high‑albedo site treatments and winter‑aware O&M (selective snow clearing, stow angles that shed snow) to boost bifacial backside gains during Wisconsin’s snowy months
  
• Adaptive backtracking and row‑to‑row shading models tuned to local terrain to minimize mismatch and reduce early/late‑day losses
  
• Inverter setpoints optimized for volt‑VAR and freq‑Watt functions, providing dynamic reactive support and primary frequency response to stabilize local feeders
• Ride‑through, ramp‑rate limiting, and droop controls coordinated with MISO dispatch to avoid congestion shocks and curtailment triggers
  
• Curtailment‑aware energy management using day‑ahead and intra‑day forecasts to shift tracker positions and inverter loading toward highest‑value intervals
  
• Oversized DC field with clipping recapture via reserved battery pads, enabling future DC‑coupled storage to harvest mid‑day peaks and firm evening delivery
  
• 1500‑V DC architecture, low‑resistance cabling, and optimized collector topology to reduce electrical losses and improve net AC yield
• Modular, string‑level power electronics for granular MPPT, fault isolation, and selective de‑rating during hot or icy conditions
  
• Albedo‑friendly ground cover and pollinator habitat to enhance bifacial performance while improving storm‑water infiltration and permitting outcomes
  
• Predictive O&M with continuous IV‑curve sweeps, thermal imaging, and anomaly detection to maintain availability and catch underperforming strings early
  
• Soiling management tailored to local agriculture and pollen seasons, using hydrophobic coatings and targeted robotic cleaning only where data shows ROI
  
• Cyber‑secure SCADA with segmented networks, IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging, and NERC‑aligned logging to ensure reliable grid‑facing operations
  
• Harmonic filtering and flicker control at the POI to meet interconnection standards and protect neighboring industrial loads
  
• Dynamic line‑rating and topology coordination with the utility to opportunistically increase export during cool, windy periods
  
• Seasonal tracker stow strategies for hail and high winds to reduce damage risk and downtime
  
• Participation readiness for ancillary services (voltage support, fast frequency response with small headroom) to monetize grid services without large energy losses