Diode Ventures to Support Google’s Carbon Free Energy Profile Effort in Taiwan

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., January 23, 2019 /3BL Media/ – Diode Ventures, a Black & Veatch company, announce they have been selected to finance and develop a solar farm of up to 10-megawatt (MW) in Tainan City, Taiwan that will help expand Google’s position as the world’s largest purchaser of renewable energy. Black & Veatch, a global provider of renewable energy solutions, will provide owner’s engineering and construction management (OECM) services while New Green Power will provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the 40,000-panel project. Enfinite Capital will support financial assembly and asset management services.

The project was made possible through the efforts of Google, and other companies seeking renewable energy solutions, and the Taiwanese government. Taiwan recently amended its Electricity Act to allow non-utility companies to directly buy renewable energy and decrease their carbon footprints. Google is the first corporate power purchaser to act on this renewables-friendly change to the law. 

"The economics of sustainability and resilience are reshaping how leading companies view investments in renewable energy,” said Brad Hardin, President of Diode Ventures. “We’re proud to work with our partners to help make clean power more accessible in Asia.”

Positive community impact and an effort to maximize land-use efficiency were key factors in determining the design and scope of the project. The project utilizes an innovative solar panel arrangement that elevates each panel several feet above the surface of local fish farm ponds. The approach respects local ecology of fish ponds with negligible impact on the fish, while creating a revenue stream for the fishing community hosting the panels.

“Rising demand for zero-emission renewable energy continues to reshape power markets and traditional approaches to providing electricity services,” said Dave Leligdon, Global Director of Black & Veatch’s renewable energy group. “This project represents a critical first step in how companies operating in Taiwan are approaching sustainability goals as part of their long-term strategic growth plans.”

“Our first renewable energy project in Asia is an encouraging case study of what’s possible when forward-thinking government officials, local stakeholders, and companies work together for a brighter future,” said Marsden Hanna, Senior Lead, Energy & Infrastructure, at Google.

“This innovative project is fresh evidence of renewable energy’s rising prominence in the global power mix,” said Jerome Tan, Chief Investment Officer at New Green Power. “We are excited to bring our established EPC capabilities to delivering solar at a large scale and in Taiwan, with a government that is committed to a sustainable future.”

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Editor’s notes:

• Black & Veatch was selected to explore the installation of floating solar panels at Hong Kong’s 17 impounded reservoirs under a feasibility study being carried out for the Water Supplies Department of the Hong Kong SAR. Development of large scale floating solar farms could help Hong Kong reduce water loss, suppress algae growth and generate power from renewable resources.
• Black & Veatch has provided EPC services on four large-scale solar energy projects for Florida Power Light (FPL), part of an extensive renewable energy program designed to help deliver additional electric supplies to meet increasing population and business growth. Each plant will be capable of generating 74.5 megawatts of electricity.
• This Taiwan solar development project in collaboration with Google is the latest project featuring the innovative turnkey asset development capabilities of Diode Ventures and its partners.
• Diode Ventures and Enfinite Capital jointly announced in 2018 their contract to finance, operate and maintain PointOne Development Corporation’s hyper-scale data center in northern Virginia, a region fast emerging as the United States’ internet hub. Black & Veatch has been hired to provide design-build services on the project.

About Diode Ventures

As a Black & Veatch subsidiary, Diode Ventures provides turnkey asset development solutions for industrial, commercial and technology interests, including those seeking green energy solutions. For more information, see www.diodeventures.com.

About Black & Veatch

Based in Overland Park, Kansas, Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in energy, water, telecommunications and government services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2017 were US$3.4 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.

About Enfinite Capital

Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Enfinite Capital is an investment firm specializing in utility and large-scale renewable energy, infrastructure and real estate assets for commercial and industrial clients. Visit Enfinite Capital at www.enfinite.capital.

About New Green Power

Since 2009, New Green Power has been a pioneer of the Taiwan solar industry with core expertise in development, design, construction and project management. Today, NGP employs a team of over 100 professionals that are committed to delivering and maintaining projects for our clients which produce clean, safe and sustainable solar energy for local communities. For more information, visit www.new-greenpower.com.

Black & Veatch Media Contact Information:

CHRISTOPHER CLARK | +1 913-458-2778 P | +1 816-674-0572 M | clarkca@bv.com 
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