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    Wisconsin capital utility MGE acquiring Darian Solar and Storage energy capacity

    Dec. 12, 2022
    Under the deal, MGE will own 7.5-MW of battery storage and 25-MW of solar output from the project, which is being developed by Invenergy. The remaining 67.5-MW of battery storage and 225-MW of solar energy will be owned by WEC Energy Group subsidiaries
    Another Invenergy solar project. Image credit Invenergy
    Invenergy Solar 6397315c27128

    Regulated natural gas and electric utility Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) has gained approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to buy battery storage and solar energy from the Darien Solar Energy Center, a 75-MW battery storage and 250-MW solar power generation facility in the state’s Walworth and Rock Counties.

    Under the deal, MGE will own 7.5-MW of battery storage and 25-MW of solar output from the project, which is being developed by Invenergy. The remaining 67.5-MW of battery storage and 225-MW of solar energy will be owned by WEC Energy Group subsidiaries Wisconsin Public Service and We Energies.

    Featuring up to 850,000 solar panels, the Darien project is expected to generate clean energy sufficient enough to power around 75,000 households. The facility is expected to start operating by the end of 2024.

    Permitting on th Darien Solar Energy Center began more than two years ago. Its original developer was  Invenergy.

    MGE aims to cut its carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2030. As part of its efforts, the company plans to add nearly 400-MW of solar, wind and battery storage by 2024. Upon completion of these projects, MGE’s owned renewable capacity is expected to grow by more than nine times.

    "The Darien Solar Energy Center is another important step in our ongoing transition to cleaner energy sources, reducing carbon at least 80% by the end of this decade and achieving net-zero carbon electricity by 2050," said Jeff Keebler, MGE Chairman, President and CEO. "MGE's investments in cost-effective, clean energy and battery storage technology help ensure that all our customers will experience the economic and environmental benefits of our clean energy transition."

    MGE is the primary subsidiary of MGE Energy, a utility holding company based in Madison, Wisconsin. Both are part of WEC Energy Group.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.