22 September 2014

First Solar completes Phase 1 of Barilla Solar Project

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA has announced completion of Phase 1 of the Barilla Solar Project in Pecos County, Texas, bringing about 18MWAC of generating capacity to the Texas competitive wholesale market.

First Solar will offer electricity generated by the Barilla plant on a competitive open contract basis, making it the first such solar asset in Texas. The firm developed, constructed and will operate the power plant, which incorporates a suite of controls and capabilities essential to supporting grid stability and reliability within the ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) region. The project is in the final stages of the commissioning process.

“First Solar is a pioneer in bringing West Texas solar into the diverse energy portfolio of Texas,” says Pecos County judge Joe Shuster. “In West Texas we’ve got plenty of land, some with a lot of oil under it, and all of it with sunshine which makes it perfect for solar plants like this. I’m excited to see Barilla as the first project in what I hope will soon be the ‘Texas solar patch’,” he adds.

“This project demonstrates First Solar’s capability to rapidly develop, construct and commission a solar asset offering clean, renewable energy at competitive rates to the grid when and where it is needed,” says Tim Rebhorn, First Solar’s senior VP of business development. The Barilla power plant will contribute to lower electricity prices for Texas consumers, while providing a reliable resource to power providers, he adds.

According to the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Texas has the greatest technical potential for solar development in the USA. The Barilla Solar Project takes advantage of one of the best solar resource geographies in the state, with the added benefit of tying into nearby existing power transmission infrastructure in the West Texas region. The solar power plant uses no water for electricity generation, an important additional benefit in an area where scarce water resources must be preserved.

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

Visit: www.firstsolar.com