Posted on 20 June 2014. Tags: Photovoltaic power plant, solar power plant
First Wind finalized four 20-year power purchase agreements with Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp and part of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. As part of the power purchase agreements, Rocky Mountain Power will buy the output of the planned 320 MW (AC) “Four Brothers” solar power development, which includes four, separate fully permitted 80 MW (AC) project sites.
Rocky Mountain Power’s purchase is made in connection with its obligation under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA, and follows seven similar PURPA agreements for First Wind’s 20 MW (AC) “Seven Sisters” projects. These four solar power projects will be located at sites in Beaver and Iron Counties.
The “Four Brothers” solar power portfolio, which combined would be the largest solar development in Utah to date, includes four separate 80 MW (AC) solar photovoltaic projects, three of which are to be sited in Beaver County and one that will be located in Iron County. Once complete, the combined generating capacity of the four projects will be more than 800,000 MWh per year, or equivalent to the electricity use of about 90,000 Utah homes per year.
With the start of major construction slated to begin in 2015 and a target completion date in 2016, the projects will create about 500 construction jobs. In addition, about $66 million in direct property and income taxes will be generated by the project over 20 years. These jobs and property taxes will spur Southern Utah’s economic growth, in particular within the rural communities of Beaver and Iron Counties.
Combined, the “Four Brothers” and “Seven Sisters” solar project portfolio in Utah will be by far the largest collection of solar projects to be developed by First Wind’s new solar division, First Wind Solar Group. Established to explore solar energy opportunities near the company’s wind projects in the West, Hawaii and the Northeast, First Wind Solar Group recently completed construction of a 3 MW (AC) project in Millbury, Mass. and a combined 14 MW (AC) solar project in Warren, Mass. The company is also developing a 20 MW (AC) solar project in Mililani, Hawaii.
Posted in Solar Energy
Posted on 17 June 2014. Tags: Photovoltaic power plant, solar power plant
SOFOS Jamaica Ltd., a Premium Partner of the German PV system integrator IBC SOLAR AG, has unveiled what it calls the largest solar power plant in Jamaica to date. The 1.6 MWp plant intended for own consumption is providing The Grand Palladium Resort & Spa with solar energy. The project represents a total investment of USD 3.4 million by the hotel, which is expected to see a full return on its investments after 4 years and USD 21.9 million in energy savings after 30 years.
The Kingston-based project developer SOFOS Jamaica Ltd. is helping Jamaican businesses become less dependent on the national grid. The plant in Hanover is the first major project for SOFOS in Jamaica and marks a starting point for many other projects in cooperation with different Jamaican companies that will begin soon. IBC SOLAR supported the project developer with its many years of experience in international business and provided solar modules and other components for the construction.
“The Jamaican government welcomes investments in renewable energy solutions,” said Phillip Paulwell, the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, at the unveiling ceremony. He told the gathering that solar power will become the cheapest source of energy by 2030, and that Jamaica can continue to benefit from this market trend.
Her Excellency Celsa Nuño, the Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, agreed, adding that this project makes perfect economic sense for a country like Jamaica with high energy costs.
According to David Pijuan, business development manager for SOFOS Jamaica, the self-consumption solar PV system installed at the Grand Palladium Hotel and Spa is the first in the Caribbean with a blocking system that allows the operator to privately consume the power from the solar plant without feeding excess energy to the grid. The PV power systems used by SOFOS Jamaica were specially developed for the Caribbean and are lightweight, low-maintenance and able to resist up to category 4 hurricanes. The PV systems are also equipped with SOFOS’ customised software, which allows instant access to information via the Internet as well as system error alerts and notifications by e-mail or text message.
Posted in Renewable Energy, Solar Energy
