PV project developer NRG Energy has completed the installation of the largest fully operational solar plant in California.
According to the company, the 66MW PV facility in Los Angeles represents the eighth large-scale solar facility in NRG’s ownership portfolio.
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The company has not revealed how much electricity the facility, which was built for the Alpine Solar Generating Station, will generate but it is estimated it will be enough to power around 53,000 homes at peak daytime capacity. All electricity generated by the plant will be sold to utility firm Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
“The Alpine Generating Station is the latest example of our success in developing solar projects that create construction jobs and meet the demands of local utilities for cost-competitive renewable sources of electricity,” said Randy Hickok, Senior Vice President of NRG Solar.
“Large-scale solar generation like Alpine and other NRG solar sites provide clean energy during the hottest part of the day when it’s needed most, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and the resulting carbon emissions.”
Fong Wan, Senior Vice President of Energy Procurement for PG&E adds: “Pacific Gas and Electric Company remains committed to providing our customers with a comprehensive portfolio of energy resources that incorporates all forms of cost-effective clean energy as California marches forward into a clean energy future. PG&E delivers some of the cleanest energy in the nation to our customers, more than half of which comes from sources which are carbon-free. The Alpine Solar Generating Station will help PG&E grow its clean energy portfolio and make progress towards California’s 33 percent renewable energy goal.”
NRG Energy has another project in the pipeline, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California, which is scheduled to complete by the end of 2013.