Orsted has achieved full commercial operation at the Helena Energy Center, a 518MW combined wind and solar project located in Texas, US.
Helena Energy Center, in Bee County, south Texas, comprises the 268MW Helena wind farm and the 250MW(ac) Sparta solar farm, and has secured contracts with multiple corporate off-takers.
David Hardy, Executive Vice President and CEO of Region Americas at Orsted, said: “Helena Energy Center is unique in that it’s Orsted’s first co-located wind and solar project and the largest renewable energy project in our global onshore portfolio.
“Taking advantage of the Gulf of Mexico’s strong coastal winds and abundant sunshine, this project will offer reliable energy to Texas’ grid and economic opportunity for the local community.
“In reaching full operations, Helena Energy Center brings Orsted’s global operating onshore portfolio to 4.8GW.
“We look forward to building on that momentum as more onshore projects come online in the US this year.”
Orsted has more than 1.3GW of onshore renewable assets under construction, of which 1.1GW is expected to become operational in 2024.
To celebrate completion of the project, Orsted hosted a gathering attended by partners, landowners, community members, and local and state-elected officials at Helena’s facility, comprising 66 wind turbines and over 600,000 solar panels.
“This project should come as welcome news to all Texans as it provides significant clean power to our state at a time when all eyes are on grid reliability,” said Texas Senator Morgan LaMantia, who represents Bee County, who added: “I’m especially proud that the Bee County community will also benefit from workforce opportunities, public school support, and funding for rural areas like ours.”
The Construction of the Helena Energy Center created approximately 500 construction jobs and will create operations and maintenance jobs for the lifetime of the plant.