Lightsource BP, one of the world’s largest owner-operators of solar energy assets, announced two new U.S. collaborations on Wednesday with California’s Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).
The power purchase agreements (PPAs), comprising 25 megawatts (MW), will bring locally-generated solar photovoltaic (PV) power to the utilities’ customers over 20+ year terms.
David Windle, BP head of solar energy, said this announcement demonstrates the real momentum across the U.S., which is an important market for renewables and for Lightsource BP.
Of the two U.S. collaborations, the first is with SMUD, one of the nation's largest municipal utilities, and the second is with Continental Divide Electric Cooperative (CDEC), a member-owned distribution cooperative in New Mexico.
The first collaboration, the 16 MW Wildflower Solar I plant, will be located within SMUD’s territory and will support the district's popular community solar program, SolarShares.
Furthermore, the two companies are currently exploring the addition of energy storage to the PV system.
The second collaboration is in New Mexico where Lightsource BP will develop and construct a solar project with CDEC in which the co-op will serve clean energy to its members through its own distribution system, according to the statement.
These projects, along with Lightsource BP’s Mid-Kansas Electric Company solar development, will serve as models for public power and cooperative utilities to gain more control of power resources and serve members with local, affordable, and clean energy, the statement added.
Lightsource BP is a joint venture, in which the BP, British energy giant, invested $200m for a 43 percent stake. The company is Europe’s largest solar development company, focused on the acquisition, development and long-term management of large-scale solar projects.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr