Babcock Solar Energy Center Hybrid — United States of America

Babcock Solar Energy Center Hybrid is a 74.5 MW solar power plant in Florida, United States of America. It is operated by Florida Power & Light Co. Based on reported annual generation of 160 GWh, it can supply roughly 46k homes. It ranks #3173 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2017, it is around 9 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 8.6% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0059993.

Capacity provenance

The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 74 MW for Babcock Solar Energy Center Hybrid, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000804612; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 74.5 MW, Babcock Solar Energy Center Hybrid is well above the median solar plant in United States of America (3 MW). Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

24%, from 160 GWh of reported generation; the median for 3185 solar plants in United States of America that report generation is 19%

Generation trend

164 GWh in 2017 and 160 GWh in 2019 (−3%)

Highest and lowest year

2018: 165 GWh; 2019: 160 GWh

Share of United States of America solar capacity

0.2% of 38,093 MW across 3,283 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

1,708 of 3,277 dated solar plants in United States of America are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Reported generation trend

Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Florida Power & Light Co. All plants by this company →

Climate zone & how it works

This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 26.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #124 largest solar power plant of 3283 in United States of America by capacity.

United States of America has 3283 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 38,093 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Fort Myers · Gas · 2,682 MW · Florida
• Port Charlotte Energy LLC · Waste · 3 MW · Florida
• Lee County Solid Waste Energy · Waste · 59 MW · Florida
• DeSoto County Plant · Gas · 398.8 MW · Florida
• Hammock Solar · Solar · 74.5 MW · Florida
• Wildflower Solar Energy Center · Solar · 74.5 MW · Florida

Location

Coordinates 26.865, -81.741 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions