Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
OCI bags 50 megawatt solar power supply deal in U.S.
Sheep graze at the solar power plant Alamo 2, which OCI Solar Power built in San Antonio, Texas, under the 2012 Alamo Project with a U.S. power company, CPS energy. / Courtesy of OCI
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
OCI Solar Power, the U.S. unit of the solar energy firm OCI, clinched a deal with Texas-based power company CPS Energy to provide 50 megawatts of electricity, the company said Friday.
Under the new deal, OCI will construct a 50 megawatt Alamo +6 solar energy power plant in Pecos County. When completed in October 2016, it will provide electricity to CPS Energy for 25 years.
It is the second such deal with CPS, following a 2012 contract where it agreed to construct power plants and provide 400 megawatts of electricity over 25 years under the Alamo Project.
“It is meaningful that with the experience and know-how which enabled the Alamo Project to be a success, we have been recognized as the top leader in solar power development in Korea,” said Yoon Seog-hwan, OCI Solar Power CEO. “We will work to become one of the best eco-friendly energy firms in North America, helping develop the solar energy industry there.”
For the Alamo 6+ solar plant, the company will use high efficiency solar modules of its affiliate, Mission Solar Energy, while using a dual-axis tracking system that rotates solar panels in the direction of the sun, manufactured by another affiliate, Sun Action Trackers.
OCI built four solar plants in San Antonio, Texas, and the fifth plant is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. It is working on two more under the 2012 agreement.
The North American solar power market is estimated to reach 9 gigawatts this year, one of the two biggest markets together with China, which has a 15.5 gigawatt market.
OCI said that based on the success in the U.S. market, it plans to make inroads into China, India and Africa.