For full article see PV-Tech, February 14, 2014

California-based solar developer, SunEdison and Australia- based solar developer, United Renewable Energy (URE) have successfully collaborated on 1.3 MW of solar projects in the US state of Georgia.

The projects will supplement the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative (GPASI) – a solar power purchase initiative by utility, Georgia Power, which will buy the electricity generated from the two projects.

The first project, a 600 kW plant, is to be connected this week. It was built on previously unused land owned by bed and breakfast operators at Bethany Farm, Tom and Pam Coleman, who expect to increase their revenue by six times prior to utilising the land for solar. The Colemans said: “We are always looking for ways to increase income without increasing costs to our customers. URE and SunEdison showed us how we could use a small area of our land for solar energy and make a profit from it. The whole process has been smooth and as an added benefit; having the solar power plant on our property has attracted a new customer base. We’re really pleased we did this.”

Georgia Power’s overall solar target is to acquire 800 MW of solar by 2017, of which 210 MW has to be sourced by the end of this year. In January Georgia Power released a request for proposals for 500 MW of solar energy. Origis Energy recently completed 23.5 MW for Georgia Power.