Renewable energy, including solar power, is an important part of Progress Energy’s balanced solution strategy for meeting our customers’ energy needs now and in the future.

Progress Energy's Solar Power Plants:  Progress Energy has contracts to purchase the output from these “large” solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays:

• 2.3 MW located near Laurinburg in Scotland County, N.C.
• 1.3 MW located on City of Raleigh property in Wake County, N.C.
• 1.2 MW located on our Sutton Plant property in New Hanover County, N.C.
• 1 MW located at SAS, a software company in Wake County, N.C.
• 650 kW located at an industrial park in Person County, N.C.
• 550 kW located on a former Blue Ridge Paper landfill in Haywood County, N.C.

View sample solar power production charts

You can expect varying power production from solar panels based on weather conditions.  For example, view production data for Progress Energy commercial customer Deltec Homes, Inc in Asheville, NC:

On a cloudy  day, you'll notice the jagged curve associated with cloud obstruction. On a sunny  day, you'll notice the smooth curve indicating full sun exposure. On any given month , the daily fluctuations are averaged together resulting in a more smooth curve. View real time and historical production data  for Deltec Homes, Inc.

For another example, view this link to data from a solar photovoltaic array at Waterford Elementary School in Florida, which is part of the SolarWise for Schools program.  Below, students at Waterford Elementary share their enthusiasm for the program.

Solar Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity. Commonly known as "solar cells," these systems already power more than 1 billion handheld calculators, as well as millions of watches, portable lights and battery chargers. Larger, more complex systems provide electricity to pump water, power communications equipment, light homes and operate appliances.

How do PVs work?

The heart of a PV system is a solid-state cell made of semiconductor material like that used in microelectronics. It's usually silicon, the basic ingredient in common beach sand.

The cell's semiconductor "wafer" is specially treated to form a positive electric field on one side and a negative field on the other, and electrical conductors are attached to both sides.

When sunlight strikes the cell, it knocks loose electrons, which are captured in the form of electric current.

Are you interested in talking to a qualified solar PV installer?  Go to GoSolarNC.org.

Are you interested in connecting your solar PV system to the Progress Energy electric grid?

Additional Solar Resources

GoSolarNC
Progress Energy Carolinas partners with the  NC Solar Center to provide a database of qualified solar PV and solar water heating installers.  This program is part of the GoSolarNC  initiative.

NC Solar Center

Solar Energy Education Program
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) assists middle-school teachers in meeting and exceeding national and state learning standards through an understanding of solar energy.

Florida Solar Industries Association

Additional Florida Solar Projects

Econlockhatchee Photovoltaic Array – The Econlockhatchee Photovoltaic Array, commissioned in August 1988 at the Econlockhatchee substation in Orlando, Fla., was designed to research power-generating technologies that could be delivered directly to the power grid. We added two new PV technologies in 2006 and will evaluate them alongside the existing ones for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. These systems generate 10.6 kW or 15,265 kWh of energy per year.

Jamestown Solar Thermal Water Heating Pilot – Six solar thermal water heating systems were installed in a community east of Orlando, Fla., in 2005 and 2006, and are being monitored to determine the energy impact during system peak.

SunBuilt Grant – The SunBuilt new construction grant is a collaborative effort between us and the Florida Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation to educate builders on solar water heater technology and its benefits. The intended outcome is increased installations in new residential construction. Participating builders can receive financial incentives from us in addition to federal and state renewable energy rebates and credits.

USF’s Power Center for Utility Explorations - Two solar arrays will be installed, one on the USF St. Petersburg campus and the other in Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg. The output of these arrays will be stored in an advanced battery system known as a Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System (VRB-ESS). The stored energy will add to the solar output to reduce the summer system peak. During the winter, the battery will allow the intermittent solar energy to reduce the system peak. This system will generate a maximum of 14 kW summer demand and 5,840 kWh of energy per year.

Want to know more?

View more information about Progress Energy's balanced solution to meeting our customers' energy needs.