The proposed 3MW, US$20 million Ponterril solar project has received its final approval from the zoning board of appeals. The project will be developed across 22 acres of what used to be the Pittsfield Family YMCA’s recreation camp overlooking Pontoosuc Lake. The Berkshire Eagle advised that electricity produced by the project would be sold and transported to Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) as part of the power gird on North Street. The report confirmed that project officials want to begin work on the project this year, but actual construction timelines will depend on WMECO since it needs to advise what it would cost CTC Electric to make upgrades to the WMECO system in order for it to accept electricity from the new solar project.
Satcon will supply 30MW of its Equinox Prism Platform to Western Wind and Lord Electric. The inverters will be installed at a solar power park in Puerto Rico, the company has announced.
Trina Solar will supply a 2.1MW off-grid system to Longyuan New Energy in Tibet, the company has announced. The companies have entered into a supply agreement for the system in the Nagu region of Tibet. After installing approximately 40 standalone systems throughout Tibet in 2002, this is the largest off-grid project for Trina in recent times.
The Alamosa Solar Generating plant is being called the world’s largest concentrating PV electric power generating facility and Cogentrix Energy advised that it has finally begun commercial operation. Located in San Luis Valley in Colorado, the 30MW site produces energy for customers of Xcel Energy’s subsidiary, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo).
ET Solar has announced the completion of four rooftop projects, totalling 4MW generating capacity, in partnership with French developer Langa Solar. The projects are expected to begin power production by June, 2012.
SPI Solar has announced that it will enter a engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement with a subsidiary of KDC Solar. As part of the partnership SPI Solar will develop and build three PV projects for KDC Solar at the Grand Cascades Golf Resort and Mountain Creek Resort in New Jersey. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.
Providing around 90% of the school’s energy requirements, SolarWorld has installed 6.1MW of its PV panels on a 30-acre site adjacent to the Lawrenceville School. The boarding school’s ground-mounted system was initially developed by TurtleEnergy and was purchased in 2011 by KDC Solar, which completed the development and constructed the project.
MidAmerican and First Solar have announced the beginning of major construction work on the site of the 550MW Topaz Solar Farm in San Luis Obispo County, California. Both companies congregated about the construction schedule as well as environmental issues and future plans to involve communities and private landowners in the project.
K Road Power has bought the 25MW McHenry solar project in California from SunPower, it has been announced. The project has been designed and is currently being constructed by SunPower in Modesto, California, and it is expected to commence commercial production in September 2012. Modesto Irrigation District (MID) will buy the generated energy under a 25-year PPA.
ESA Renewables, US project developer, has been contracted by Jamaica-based Caribbean Energies Group (CEG) to construct a 24MW PV plant in Jamaica. ESA is responsible for the design and the maintenance of the plant as well as the legal permits and other requirements.
