Lightsource bp to build 150 MW fishery solar farm in Taiwan

Lightsource bp, a unit of BP, will build a 150 MW solar park on around 200 fishery ponds in Budai, Chiayi county, in southwestern Taiwan.

The company is co-developing the project with Germany's Green Rock Energy. They plan to start construction on the facility in June 2023. Lightsource said the project will be one of the largest fishery solar farms in Taiwan and will be able to generate 210,000 MWh per year.

“Alongside providing locally generated renewable energy and creating new jobs, Lightsource bp’s fishery solar project has been designed to benefit the local environment and community,” the company said. “Throughout the process, Lightsource bp engaged environmental specialists as well as local fishermen to provide expertise and design a project with multiple benefits.”

It said that other benefits involve the addition of saltwater storage ponds to optimize the water management process for the fish farmers. However, it did not disclose any additional technical or financial details.

Lightsource said the project was made possible by the $1.8 billion credit and trade finance facility it secured last year. The credit facilities were provided by BNP Paribas and Société Générale, Santander, NatWest, Lloyds,Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Toronto-Dominion Bank, and Wells Fargo.