White Pine Renewables Completed US’s Largest Floating Solar Project

White Pine Renewables has announced that it has completed the Healdsburg Floating Solar Project- at 4.78 MW (dc) and sited on ponds at the City's wastewater treatment plant in the United States. The project is the largest floating solar project completed in the United States to date.

The Healdsburg Floating Solar Project was developed and is operated by White Pine Renewables. The project was co-developed by Noria Energy, with White Pine and Collins Electrical Company Inc. - a California-based construction contractor, provided installation services.

Commenting on the development, White Pine CEO, Evan Riley said, “This project exemplifies what differentiates White Pine. We combined innovative technology and an efficient capital structure to provide long-term savings to the City of Healdsburg."

The project would produce enough electricity to meet about 8% of the city's overall energy demand, and it is an important part of the city's strategy to achieve 60% renewable energy by 2030. Furthermore, by locating the solar panels on the ponds, the project avoids using land and reduces evaporation and algae growth, benefiting the nearby vineyards that rely on the treated water for irrigation.

"The Project is a cornerstone of the City's long-term plan to save money on energy costs and provide City electric customers with 60% renewable energy."  Crowley added that he "greatly appreciated the collaborative partnership between White Pine, Noria, and Collins Electrical to deliver the project safely, efficiently and in an extremely short period of time,” said Terry Crowley, Utility Director for the City of Healdsburg.

Noria's CEO Jon Wank noted that the Noria-White Pine partnership "leveraged Noria's experience in floating solar technology and White Pine's development experience to create a project that delivers low-cost renewable energy while creating environmental benefits."

Floating PV is becoming more common due to its dual land use function and generally higher energy output due to the cooling effects of water and wind, despite being a small portion of the overall solar market.