bp solar
As part of our plan to become an integrated energy company, bp combines our trading, mobility and customer expertise with our 50:50 joint venture Lightsource bp’s world-class solar project development experience to deliver renewable power to our customers
Through our 50-50 joint venture with Lightsource bp, we are advancing solar energy projects across the United States.
Lightsource bp currently has 16 US solar projects operatingin eight states — Alabama, California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas – with 13 moreprojects under construction in five states – Louisiana, Arkansas, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Texas. Collectively, these projects are capable of generating around 3.2 gigawatts (GW).
In Pennsylvania, a Lightsource bp project now meets 25% of Penn State University’s statewide electricity needs for its more than 100,000 students with 150,000 solar panels installed across three sites.
Meanwhile, in Texas, Lightsource bp has three solar projects in commercial operation that in total generate over 1 million megawatt hours of electricity annually— enough to power the equivalent of 96,000 US homes. At Texas’ Impact Solar farm, Lightsource bp is managing vegetation to support pollinator populations, establishing shelters for a variety of wildlife groups, protecting 50 acres of woodland habitat near the site and caring for more than 1,500 sheep that “mow the lawn” naturally.
In 2021, bp acquired 9 gigawatts of solar development projects and is working with Lightsource bp to exclusively develop the projects, spreading across 12 US states, with its largest portfolios in Texas and the Midwest.
Construction of Arche Solar, bp solar’s first farm, located in Fulton County, Ohio, began in October 2022. This project is expected to create around 200 jobs across the supply chain during construction and provide more than $30 million in revenue to benefit local schools and other public services.
bp has secured a power-purchase agreement (PPA) with Meta for the project, bringing together two major corporations to address greenhouse gas emissions and support renewable-energy growth. Once completed, Arche will generate enough clean energy annually to power the equivalent of more than 20,000 homes. And, at full capacity, Arche’s renewable power could avoid more than 155,900 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually – equivalent to 34,000 fuel-burning cars. Commercial operation is expected in early 2024.