Giant Solar Facility to Power Steel Mill
174 Power Global, a solar energy company, and Gerdau Long Steel North America (Gerdau) have announced that the companies entered into a 20-year agreement to develop one of the largest behind-the-meter (BTM) solar facilities in the USA.
Gerdau Long Steel North America (GLN) manufactures structural steel, piling, rebar, merchant bar, and special bar quality products for the agricultural, automotive, civil construction, distribution, energy, industrial, and mining markets. GLN operates seven mills in the United States and three in Canada, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gerdau S.A.
The 80-MW Gerdau Solar project, located adjacent to the Gerdau Midlothian Steel Mill in Midlothian, Texas, will be comprised of more than 231,000 solar panels spanning more than 700 acres. The BTM system will provide power directly to the steel mill.
The project plans to utilize Gerdau’s solar beam pilings, offset the emissions of more than 13,000 average Texas households, create more than 200 construction jobs and generate $19 million in tax revenue over the next 30 years.
174 Power Global President Henry Yun, PhD explained: “174 Power Global is pleased to enter into this partnership with Gerdau, one of the world’s most environmentally responsible steel producers, as we continue to develop our solar generation footprint and behind-the-meter projects in Texas. We look forward to breaking ground on the construction of this important and innovative project and continuing to provide clean energy solutions to the state.”
“Gerdau has a culture of sustainability,” said Gerdau Long Steel North America President Chia Yuan Wang. “The products from our Midlothian facility are already made from 100% recycled scrap metal. Developing and utilizing green energy is an innovative way to further enhance our environmental contributions.”
Gerdau Midlothian General Manager Dean Peery added, “The Midlothian mill has been producing steel in the community since 1975, and we are grateful for the city’s ongoing support and partnership. Our new Gerdau Solar facility will provide environmental and economic benefits to Midlothian, and we are pleased to work alongside the 174 Power Global team.”
“The Gerdau Solar project will provide near-term stimulus, revenue for the city and schools, as well as long lasting economic benefits. Midlothian is a great place to do business, and we are pleased that Gerdau continues to invest in our community,” said Midlothian Mayor Richard Reno.
Construction on the Gerdau Solar facility is expected to commence by the end of 2020 and be completed at the end of 2021.
Irvine, California-headquartered 174 Power Global is a leading solar energy company that is wholly owned by the Hanwha Group. With deep expertise across the full spectrum of the project development cycle, 174 Power Global works closely with landowners, local communities, financial investors and other partners to build highly productive, utility scale solar power plants throughout North America.
Since its formation in 2017, 174 Power Global has signed nearly two gigawatts (GW) of power purchase agreements has built an extensive project development pipeline. The Company was ranked as the 2018 #1 solar project development company in the United States by Wood Mackenzie.
