Scioto Ridge Solar is a 110 megawatt (MW) solar project with a 20 MW battery energy storage system currently under development in Hardin County, Ohio.
The combined solar and storage project will generate enough clean and affordable electricity to power the equivalent of more than 22,000 average Ohio homes.
Scioto Ridge Solar is expected to enter commercial operations in 2025.
Status: in development
Click on the image to zoom
Click on the image to zoom
solar photovoltaic (PV)
battery energy storage system (BESS)
homes powered¹
in Hardin County, Ohio²
Commercial Operations Date Target
1 Homes powered is calculated using EPA’s Green Power Equivalency Calculator.
2 with portions of the facility proposed in McDonald, Lynn and Taylor Creek Townships
Supporting Communities
Scioto Ridge Solar will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Hardin County and local taxing districts. This new source of public funding can reduce the tax burden on local residents and be used to support essential services including schools, roads, fire departments and first responders.
Supporting Farmers
Farmers who choose to harvest solar power are following a long tradition of using their land responsibly to produce food, fiber, and fuel. Scioto Ridge Solar will be located on private property, offering participating landowners a reliable source of farm income over the 40 year life of the project. Farmers who choose to host solar panels have the opportunity to reinvest in their farming operations, save for retirement and use their increased purchasing power to support local businesses throughout the community.
Support Rural Economies
Hundreds of jobs will be created during construction, offering opportunities for residents to enter the rapidly expanding solar workforce. Local businesses will see an economic boom as demand for lodging, restaurants, supplies, vehicle maintenance, and fuel increases throughout the 9-12 months of construction. During operations, 1-2 permanent positions will be created to operate Scioto Ridge Solar, and the project will continue to source supplies from local businesses.
Solar power paired with batteries has become one of the most affordable and reliable sources of electricity available today. A diversity of solar generation sources increases the resiliency of Ohio’s electric grid while protecting consumers from the volatility and rising costs of traditional energy sources.
Scioto Ridge Solar will be designed to complement existing agricultural land uses, protect the soil, and avoid impacts to wildlife. Solar farms produce electricity without generating any pollution, resulting in cleaner air and water when compared to traditional power plants.
Comprehensive studies are required as part of the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) permitting process to protect public safety and the environment. Solar panels are designed to minimize glare and are often installed at major airports across the world. Scioto Ridge Solar will be virtually silent outside the fence line, while setbacks and vegetative screening will minimize viewshed impacts.
Scioto Ridge Solar will use silicon-based PV panels, which are made of safe, well-tested materials commonly used in building and household products. The panels are fully sealed and extremely durable, preventing trace metals from escaping into the surrounding soil. PV solar panels are so safe that millions of families across the U.S. have put solar panels on their homes and literally sleep beneath them. RWE’s advanced remote operations center will monitor the panels 24/7, 365 days a year while the onsite operations team will be available to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency.
At the end of Scioto Ridge Solar useful life, equipment will be removed and the land can be returned to agricultural use.