30 September 2013

First Solar breaks ground on 150MW Solar Gen 2 project in California’s Imperial Valley

First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which manufactures thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) as well as providing engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) services, says that construction has started on the150MWAC Solar Gen 2 project, which will be the largest solar power plant that it has constructed in Imperial County (and its third project in California’s Imperial Valley).

Solar Gen 2 will provide about 800 jobs during construction (which should be completed by July 2014) and generate about $150,000 in property taxes annually and $4.6m under the Public Benefits Agreement.

“With the support of county officials, IID [Imperial Irrigation District] and SDG&E, we are helping to deliver thousands of green jobs, millions of dollars in economic benefits, and clean, renewable energy for Southern California homes,” says construction director Anthony Perrino.

Under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric Company) and First Solar, the 150MW project will generate enough energy to power more than 60,000 average California homes, displacing more than 115,000 metric tons of CO2 per year (equivalent to taking 22,000 cars off the road) and saving 93,000 metric tons of water per year.

Purchased by First Solar from Energy Power Partners in April, Solar Gen 2 consists of three neighboring sites: Sonora, Arkansas, and Alhambra. The modules used on the project will be installed on a tracking system, which will follow the sun throughout the day to maximize the amount of power generated.

First Solar also developed and is constructing the 139MW Campo Verde Project in El Centro, which should be complete by the end of October. Additionally, the firm is completing construction of the 130MW Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center South project in Calexico for project owner and developer Tenaska.

See related items:

Construction of First Solar’s Campo Verde Solar Project begins

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

Visit: www.firstsolar.com