Beginning with site selection itself, Origis investigates potential impacts on specific local communities and the biodiversity of the location. We maintain strategies to mitigate the environmental risks associated with our business activities, including hiring environmental and engineering experts to early-stage study sites and carrying out environmental risk assessments for each project site.
By developing, constructing, and maintaining solar power plants and energy storage assets, Origis contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy. Key targets within Goal 7 include 7.1 Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services; 7.2 Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix and 7.a Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
Since inception, Origis has invested over $4 billion in developing 250 solar projects worldwide equating over 13 GW of solar power and storage capacity.
The total installed solar energy capacity and energy storage capacity of the assets Origis owns and operates or manages under Asset Management Agreements (AMAs) stood at 1.41 GW and 0.032 GW, respectively in 2023. Through these assets, the company generated over 1,268 GWh of solar energy during the reporting year.
Origis maintains practices aimed at preserving and upholding biodiversity at our project sites, including protecting sensitive areas during construction, adopting vegetation management strategies for native plants, avoiding the use of harmful herbicides, and planting pollinator gardens.
As applicable, we assign projects a baseline “Pollinator Score” during project development, often using state- or regional-specific scorecards, with the objective of maintaining or increasing that score once the project becomes operational. While solar is rightly perceived to take up a lot of land space, it is incorrectly assumed the land is non-productive. Origis’ scientific approach utilizes site-specific pollinator scoring and implementation methodologies.
One example is Origis’ Citrus Ridge (FL Solar 5) site, which provides renewable energy to Walt Disney World. In 2022, the site was awarded the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign’s (NAPPC) Pollinator Electric Power Award for co-locating solar with a pollinator habitat. The pollinator habitat at the site has been used by over 40 native species of pollinators, among 1,000 species of flora and fauna.
During construction and operation of our sites, we adhere to best practices in erosion control, stormwater management and weather preparation.
Our Origis Services team employs operations and maintenance strategies best suited to the twin goals of energy generation and environmental stewardship at each site, including the management of soil erosion, stormwater runoff, and chemical handling procedures. Where automation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we are testing solutions which may include soiling, vegetation control and other advances.
Our use of chemicals to maintain vegetation is kept at a minimum. As an environmentally diligent organization, Origis is careful to minimize any use of herbicides.
Some industry companies use chemicals, including soap products, in panel washing procedures. Origis does not. The company uses heated water in panel washing to avoid seepage of any chemical components into the water supply.
Solar panels have what’s called an encapsulant, which is essentially a glass surface. Those glass surfaces have AR coatings that can be very sensitive to different chemical compounds. For the health and the productivity of the panels, it is not best practice to use chemicals even gentle, environmentally-sensitive detergents or soaps, because it can damage the panels, and run off the panels into the ground.
Origis uses mechanical panel washing systems. Those systems use an inline heater to heat the water. Because the water is hot, it helps to strip off any materials on the panels that could degrade production. Any water is then put back into the environment and regenerated through the natural systems.
Leading with respect and sensitivity is always step one at Origis. Recognizing disadvantaged communities deserve a special approach is at the front of the Origis’ development process. The Origis team has specific experience in places with very high environmental justice concerns, such as Hawaii, Mississippi, Florida, and elsewhere. Beginning with site selection itself, Origis takes note of potential impacts on specific local communities. Environmental Justice related practices are deployed via our Tier 1 Permitting Consultants and experience here is part of our team formation decision process. Similar to our Tribal Relations approach, Origis seeks to maintain specialists with specific Environmental Justice experience to assure our neighbors are both heard and understood where needed. While not new, we continue to expand our Environmental Justice activities.