LONDON (Reuters) - Lightsource BP, Europe’s biggest solar energy developer, will build a 70 megawatt (MW) solar project for Penn State university in Pennsylvania, the company said on Tuesday. ** The project is expected to be complete by July 2020 and will provide around 25 percent of the university’s state-wide electricity demands for 25 years, Lightsource BP said. ** No financial details were released. ** More than 150,000 solar panels will be installed in total in three locations near the university campus. ** Lightsource has been ramping up investments in the United States and last year bought a 135 MW portfolio of six solar assets in Pennsylvania and Maryland from Orion Renewable Energy Group LLC. [nASA00PRM] ** Oil major BP acquired a 43 percent stake in Lightsource in 2017. Reporting By Susanna Twidale; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise
Lighstource BP will construct a 70 MW solar plant for Pennsylvania 's Penn State University . Estimated to come online next July , the plant will provide 25 % of the school 's power demand over a period of 25 years , according to the company . The plant will consist of more than 150,000 panels located on three sites close to the campus . In 2017 , BP bought a 43 % stake in Lightsource , which increased its investment activities in the facility . That included last year 's acquisition of tech Renewable Energy 's 135 MW solar portfolio , which has grown in Pennsylvania and beyond .