Southern California Edison Signs Contracts for More Than 800 Megawatts of Solar Photovoltaic Power

Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed contracts with SunPower Corp. and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, Inc. (FRV) for more than 800 megawatts of electricity created from sunlight that will go directly to the California power grid. The contracts will include one of the country’s largest single solar photovoltaic installations.

Electricity generated as a result of these contracts will total 831 megawatts. Three contracts with SunPower will total 711 megawatts and include one of the largest single solar photovoltaic installations – 325 megawatts – in the United States. Contracts with FRV allow for the delivery of 120 megawatts of solar energy from four projects.

“This is an unprecedented time for solar photovoltaic,” said Marc Ulrich, SCE’s vice president, Renewable and Alternative Power. “We’re seeing growth in technological advances and manufacturing efficiencies that result in competitive prices for green, emission-free energy for our customers.”

The solar photovoltaic projects are located in California’s Kern, Los Angeles and Merced counties. SCE estimates that when the projects all come online, the 831-megawatt capacity will be enough to power more than 540,000 average California homes.

The three contracts with SunPower include:

* 110 megawatts from Solar Star California XIII, LLC, located in Los Banos, scheduled to be operational by Dec. 31, 2014.
* 325 megawatts from Solar Star California XIX, LLC, located in Rosamond, scheduled to be operational by Oct. 31, 2016.
* 276 megawatts from Solar Star California XX, LLC, located in Rosamond, scheduled to be operational by Oct. 31, 2016.

The four contracts with FRV include:

* 60 megawatts from Regulus Solar L.P., located in Lamont, scheduled to be operational by Dec. 31, 2013.
* 20 megawatts from Cygnus Solar L.P., located in Arvin, scheduled to be operational by Sept. 30, 2013.
* 20 megawatts from Mojave Solar L.P., located in Mojave, scheduled to be operational by Dec. 31, 2013.
* 20 megawatts from Mojave Solar 4 L.P., located in Lancaster, scheduled to be operational by Dec. 31, 2013.

The projects will interconnect with existing and forthcoming transmission lines.

These contracts are a result of SCE’s competitive renewables solicitation, and are contingent on approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.