Invenergy to Build Largest US Solar Panel Factory

Invenergy last week said it will invest $600 million to build the nation’s largest solar panel factory in Pataskala, Ohio.

The company will partner with China’s Longi to supply monofacial and bifacial panels to the utility-scale and rooftop markets.

Production lines are expected to start up by the end of this year with full capacity by the end of 2024.

More: Reuters

Microsoft Signs Nuclear Fusion Deal as Part of Sustainability Push

Microsoft last week announced it has signed a power purchase agreement with nuclear fusion energy startup Helion for at least 50 MW of electricity beginning in 2028.

Helion plans to locate its fusion plant in Washington state and sell power directly into the grid via Constellation, while Microsoft plans to use the electricity to power its data centers.

Helion, which attracted a $500 million funding round in 2021, says its Polaris fusion reactor is on track for the 2028 deadline.

More: Axios

Apex to Add 200 MW of Storage in Texas

Renewables developer Apex Clean Energy last week said it will build two 100-MW storage facilities in Texas using the Centipede Platform and StackOS battery management system provided by Powin.

The pair is known as the Angelo and Great Kiskadee storage projects, each with a two-hour battery duration. The former will be co-located with the 195-MW Angelo Solar project in Tom Green County. Their completion is scheduled for late 2023 and 2024, respectively.

More: Renewables Now