Supply chain issues are among many factors that have delayed the start of construction for two planned solar farms in western Lowndes County.
Origis Energy had planned to begin operating the first of those two solar plants, MS Solar Five, next month. The second, MS Solar Six, was set to be online in October 2023. However, construction has yet to start at either of those facilities, and their timeline to begin operations has been pushed.
Chief Commercial and Procurement Officer for Origis Energy Johan Vanhee told The Dispatch the two west Lowndes farms — located on 4,000 acres near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport — should both be online some time in 2023. A third planned solar farm in Clay County, which will be on 2,000 acres near the Yokohama Tire plant, is still on track for completion in 2024.
The biggest factors keeping Origis from building its first facility is a severe supply chain issue from its solar panel manufacturers in China and the overall shipping and supplies shortages caused in the last two years by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vanhee said.
“Over the last two years, the solar industry has been hit by what I call the Perfect Storm 2.0,” Vanhee said. “COVID represents the first storm, and Perfect Storm 2.0 is a combination of factors that have slowed the industry down. These include supply chain issues, inflation, geopolitical and regulatory factors, and solar module tariffs. All these forces add up to one of the most challenging markets I’ve experienced in the solar industry.”
Once the facilities are complete, they will generate 550 megawatts of power combined that will be sold to the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“Origis has made every effort to keep these projects moving forward, including securing large solar module supply agreements,” Vanhee said. “We appreciate the close working relationship with TVA to ensure the projects meet the clean energy goals envisioned.”
Clearing and site prep has begun for MS Solar Five, Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said. He told The Dispatch that environmental reviews required before construction also delayed the project.
“They (Origis) have to do environmental reviews in accordance with TVA and NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) because they’re the customer, and I think they’ve run into a little bit of delays,” Higgins said. “It’s taken more time to do that environmental process than originally calculated.”
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