Hanwha Qcells sells 142-MW solar project in Washington state

Hanwha Solutions’ Qcells division announced on the 2nd that it had successfully sold a 142 MW solar power project in Washington state to PSE (Puget Sound Energy), the state’s largest utility energy provider.

After handling the project’s early development, including site selection, acquisition and permitting, Qcells will continue to supply equipment and perform EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) after selling the project rights. Qcells plans to begin EPC work in 2025 and complete construction by the end of 2026, creating about 300 jobs during construction. The project, located in Garfield County, Washington, will be owned by PSE and begin commercial operations in December 2026, supplying renewable electricity to more than 30,000 households.

Qcells is generating significant returns from its “green energy solutions” business, which develops and builds renewable energy projects. For this project, Qcells sold the development asset before beginning EPC work, reducing business risk while securing contracts for module supply and EPC—its core strengths—and optimizing its profit structure.

Qcells continues to deliver results in EPC as part of its green energy solutions business. In July, it began EPC work after developing a 257 MW solar power plant in Colorado. In May, it completed a 50 MW solar power plant and a 200 MWh energy storage system (ESS) project in California. In April, it completed a 150 MW solar power plant in Wyoming.

Qcells will supply the project with solar modules manufactured at its “Solar Hub” in Georgia and install them at the plant. Operating North America’s largest solar module manufacturing plant, Qcells is a popular choice among U.S. solar developers who favor domestically made products in response to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Solar Hub currently has module production capacity of 8.4 GW. Once the facility is fully operational next year, it will also have production capacity of 3.3 GW each for ingots, wafers and cells.

“With rising electricity demand and the accelerating shift to renewable energy, the U.S. renewable power generation sector is expected to grow steadily. Qcells will strengthen its position as a key player able to provide an integrated offering spanning module manufacturing, project development and EPC,” said Ik-pyo Kim, head of Qcells’ Green Energy Solutions (GES) business division.