Solar companies are making progress with their projects in California. California’s abundant solar resource has made it one of the top states in terms of installed capacity and its renewable energy policies are also helping attract investments in solar projects in the state. One such policy is California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard Program which requires all of its electric utilities to get 33 percent of their load from renewable energy sources by 2020.
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First Solar to Sell Energy to the City of Roseville, California
Solar-panel maker First Solar Inc. announced that it has agreed to sell power to the City of Roseville, California from the Lost Hills photovoltaic facility under a 10-year power purchase agreement. Construction of the plant may begin in 2014 while the power purchase agreement will take effect the following year.
The city agreed to purchase 325,000 megawatt hours of power for $24 million over the agreement’s duration. Roseville will get all of the solar farm’s output for four years then decrease its share as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. gets the remainder under another power purchase agreement with First Solar.
JinkoSolar to Supply Modules for California Solar Farm
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. announced that it will supply 23 MW of solar photovoltaic modules to Swinerton Builders and Clenera which will be used for the Westlands Solar Farms in Fresno County, California. Deliveries will be completed in the last quarter of 2013 according to the terms of the agreement.
JinkoSolar’s 300W 72 cells high-efficiency PV modules will be used for the project. The power produced by the plant will be sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. after the project is completed.
Bechtel Completes 110 MW Catalina Solar Photovoltaic Generating Facility
Construction firm Bechtel announced that they have completed construction of the 110-MWac Catalina Solar Photovoltaic Generating Facility. The plant is located in Kern County, California and will produce enough power for about 35,000 homes.
The plant is one of the largest photovoltaic facilities in the world and is built on 900 acres of land. Bechtel built the plant for EDF Renewable Energy and the plant’s output will be purchased by San Diego Gas & Electric under the terms of a 25-year power purchase agreement according to a project profile by EDF.
Duke Energy Corp. Acquires 4.5 MW solar farm from Sharp Corp.
Duke Energy Corp.’s Duke Energy Renewables has acquired the 4.5 MW Sunset Reservoir solar farm from Sharp Corp.’s Recurrent Energy unit. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is purchasing the power from the plant under a 25-year agreement.
The power plant more than tripled San Francisco’s municipal solar generating capacity according to the general manager of the SFPUC. He adds that the power plant helps power the San Francisco International Airport and other vital city services.
Last April, Duke Energy Renewables also acquired the 21-MW Highlander solar power projects in Twentynine Palms, California. Duke Energy Rnewables now holds more than 100 MW of generating capacity at 16 U.S. solar farms with the addition of the Sunset Reservoir farm.
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Author bio: G. Castaneda is a freelance writer and solar power enthusiast. When he’s not enjoying the outdoors on his bike or hiking up mountains, he’s updating the world on everything solar at solar power today.
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