Danish utility Orsted said that after taking a final investment decision, it has started construction on its first utility-scale solar plus battery storage project, the 460MW Permian Energy Center in Texas.

The plant to come online in mid-2021 will consist of a 420MW solar PV array and 40MW in battery storage, and is a legacy project from US developer Lincoln Clean Energy, which Orsted bought last year.

“We're very excited to be moving ahead with the Permian Energy Center and to be adding solar plus storage to our rapidly growing portfolio of US onshore assets,” Orsted chief executive Henrik Poulsen said.

“With the completion of the project, Orsted will have a US portfolio of operating assets that spans the full spectrum of offshore and onshore renewable energy technologies, which we believe is important as we look to offer our customers the most competitive and diverse clean energy solutions into the future."

The Permian project in Andrews County, Texas, is located on a 3,600-acre site alongside existing oil and gas installations and will supply growing West Texas demand for electricity.

The 1.3m solar modules for it will be provided by China’s Jinko solar and JA Solar.