Standard Solar Acquires 4.69 MW Solar + 4 MWh Storage Project from EDF Renewables

The Massachusetts town of Plymouth and the Acton Water District will soon enjoy the clean energy and savings of solar power with an innovative 4.69 megawatt (MW) solar and 4 MWh storage project. 

Standard Solar acquired the project from developer EDF Renewables North America. The project received an award from the state’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Targets (SMART) program, which provides incentives for solar and storage projects.

Located in Acton, Massachusetts, on land owned by the Acton Water District, the Lawsbrook Solar + Storage project will allow the Town of Plymouth and Acton Water District to benefit from discounted power and lease revenues from the solar and storage system.

The project will further the Commonwealth’s solar and energy storage goals by adding clean power to the bulk electrical system while supplementing the project with a battery to discharge clean power during on-peak evening hours, reducing the need for reliance on dirtier power sources during those times.

The system is expected to generate 5,866 megawatt-hours of clean energy each year, enough to power 800 average Massachusetts’ homes and offset the carbon dioxide equivalent of burning 4.5 million pounds of coal.

The project is built over the W.R. Grace Superfund Site and was awarded by way of an RFP to EDF Renewables in 2018. This project makes complimentary use of one of the District’s active groundwater well fields, which serves as part of the Town’s drinking water supply.

The property hosting the project is previously disturbed land from gravel extraction and is encompassed by the larger W.R. Grace Superfund Site. Due to the various environmental sensitivities on the site, permitting the project entailed receiving approvals at various levels of the federal, state and local governments.

“Standard Solar is a leader in forwarding the clean energy movement throughout the nation,” said Eric Partyka, Director of Business Development, Standard Solar. “Adding this solar+storage project to our existing portfolio in Massachusetts underscores our rapid growth. It’s always significant when we connect with a great partner like EDF Renewables and acquire projects that are helping a town like Plymouth and the Acton Water District to capitalize on the multiple benefits of a solar and storage system. We look forward to adding many more projects like this to our portfolio in 2022 and beyond.”