Ørsted has not only built its largest solar power station but also helped establish a nature reserve to preserve rare landscapes.

The Danish company Ørsted has constructed its largest solar power station, the Mockingbird Solar Center, in Lamar County, Texas. According to a press release on the company’s official website, the 468 MW Mockingbird Solar Center will supply electricity to 80,000 homes and businesses in Texas, providing additional power needed to support the ERCOT grid.

Additionally, the company announced the transfer of 385 hectares of land to the global environmental organization The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for conservation purposes. As a result, the Smiley Meadow Preserve will be established, preserving the vital habitat of tallgrass prairies, which include over 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.

David Bezancon, Director of the Land Protection Strategy Program at The Nature Conservancy, emphasized that local prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas. According to him, they are so scarce that many people have never seen them.

“This project and partnership are something that everyone in our community can be proud of. Conserving natural habitats and generating clean energy is a win-win, and we appreciate Ørsted’s efforts to source energy from local businesses and support our local economy,” added Mihir Pankaj, Mayor of Paris, Texas.

The press release also mentions that the construction of the Mockingbird Solar Center created over 550 jobs, and the project will be supported by long-term operations and maintenance staff.

In related news, the Chinese company CHN Energy launched the Mengxi Lanhai solar power station in Ordos, with a capacity of 3 GW, making it the second-largest solar power station in the world.

Additionally, it was reported that the French company Voltalia SA and the Egyptian division of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) have teamed up to replace the outdated Zafarana wind farm in Egypt with a wind-solar hybrid complex with a capacity of around 3 GW.