J-Power subsidiary to turn Virginia coal plant into solar-plus-storage facility
Image: J-Power USA
Japanese power company J-Power is to convert a retired coal plant in the US into a 240MW solar-plus-storage facility through its local subsidiary.
J-Power USA, wholly owned by the Tokyo-based power producer, will work with funds managed by Fortress Investment Group to develop a 50MWac capacity solar facility and 190MWac battery energy storage system in Virginia. Called the Birchwood solar and storage project, construction is set to begin next year, with the facilities coming online in 2023.
The announcement comes after the closure of the coal-fired Birchwood Power plant last month, which has been in operation in King George, Virginia, since 1996 and became 50% owned by J-Power in 2007.