EDP Renewables provides construction update on Duff Solar project, discusses potential second phase

Last week, EDP Renewables executives updated county commissioners on the progress of the Duff Solar project, currently under construction and reported that the 100-megawatt facility remains on track for commercial operation by September 2026.

EDP is the largest renewable energy operator in Indiana, having completed similar road restoration work on 20 projects across the state.

Tom LoTurco, executive vice president for EDP Renewables Indianapolis, told commissioners the project’s substation is fully energized and pile driving is nearing completion despite underground challenges from the area’s coal mining history. He pointed out that the majority of the project is not within the limits of the former coalmining area.

The company expects to complete pile driving by the end of January 2026, with racking installation currently 60% complete and solar panel installation 17% complete.

LoTurco emphasized the project uses domestically manufactured components, with solar panels made in Ohio and racking constructed from U.S.-made steel. He said EDP has been working to domesticate its supply chain over the past five years across both wind and solar projects.

The executive also addressed community concerns about road damage during construction, confirming the company’s Road Use Agreement with the county requires EDP to repair any damage at its own cost.

“At the end, if there’s damage to the roads, we have to, on our own, at our own cost, bring them back up to the condition they were previously or better,” LoTurco said.

The company also revealed plans for a potential second 100-megawatt solar project in the same area, tentatively scheduled for commercial operation in 2029. Loturco said EDP has secured leases on approximately 70% of the required land and holds a position in the interconnection queue to connect to the existing Duff substation.

LoTurco explained that the Duff Substation was a major factor in the company’s decision to locate the projects in the area.

The company plans to return to the county for formal discussions once the final land agreements are completed and will provide details about the project layout, neighboring impacts, and other considerations.

LoTurco addressed several technical questions about solar panel safety and environmental impact. He explained that solar panels contain no liquid components and are constructed from solid-state materials, including glass and polysilicon layers.

“Silicon is the same silica you find on beaches. It’s glass, an inert material,” he said, noting that each panel model undergoes a toxic characteristic leaching procedure testing to verify environmental safety.

The testing involves crushing panels and subjecting them to strong hydrochloric acid to simulate landfill conditions and test for seven specific chemicals, including silver, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium. He stated that a system they are considering using from Ohio-based First Solar has undergone this testing, and none of these chemicals were found.

Regarding noise concerns, LoTurco explained that the fixed-tilt solar panels themselves produce no sound, with only minor noise from inverters that convert direct current to alternating current electricity. These inverters are positioned within the array interior, making sound dissipation minimal at the project boundaries.

The executive also addressed radiation concerns, clarifying that solar panels absorb rather than emit radiation and pose no safety risks for aircraft flying overhead.

When asked about battery storage, LoTurco confirmed neither the current Duff project nor the proposed second phase includes battery components. The interconnection agreement covers only solar generation, and adding battery storage would require a new multi-year approval process.

LoTurco emphasized EDP’s long-term commitment to the area as an owner-operator rather than a development-only company, stating the firm will maintain local presence for the project’s 35-year operational life.

Commissioners requested contact information for project personnel to address any future community concerns during construction, with LoTurco promising to provide emergency response contacts and on-site management details.

The meeting concluded with LoTurco agreeing to remain available to answer questions from community members during the public comment period. Questions during that segment asked LoTurco to clarify whether the systems were assembled in the United States from international components or were completely manufactured here.

LoTurco stated that the polysilicate material was sourced from the United States, Germany and South Korea, but domestic supply chains were maturing, and the company was moving toward having panels completely manufactured in the United States. He affirmed the components were not manufactured in China.

Commissioner Chad Blessinger asked about the differing panel configurations across the different areas in Duff. LoTurco said the landscape dictated which panels the company installed. To avoid excessive grading needed for panels that track with the sun, the company installed fixed panels, mainly pointed to the south, to catch the most light.

“We used the fixed tilt to make sure we didn’t have to do a whole lot of bulldozing,” he said. “And [to] make sure that when we’re done, when we pull everything out in 30, 35 years, that essentially looks the same as it did when we started.”