Dec 28 2009
SunEdison and Southwestern Public Service Company, Xcel Energy’s regional operating company, have signed a 20-year solar power services agreement (SPSA) for five solar installations that are to be installed in New Mexico. The total generating capacity is 50 MW with each installation capable of generating 10 MW of solar power.
The utility-scale solar projects comprise ground-mount systems and all the five sites are to be located in Lea and Eddy counties in southeastern New Mexico. The five projects will be capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 10,000 homes during its first year of operation. The projects are expected to be operational by the end of the year 2011.
New Mexico’s renewable portfolio standard requires that regulated electric utilities by the end 2015, should meet 15% of its electricity needs through renewable energy sources. By the year 2020, the requirement is 20% through renewable energy sources, and these five solar projects will help Xcel Energy to continue to meet this requirement in New Mexico.
SunEdison will build, finance, and operate the five installations and the entire output from these facilities will be purchased by Xcel Energy for 20 years under the solar power services agreement.
Riley Hill, President and CEO of Southwestern Public Service Company, said that this project helps the company to diversify its renewable energy portfolio and happy to utilize New Mexico’s abundant solar resources. Riley Hill further added that the company is delighted in collaborating with SunEdison, given its track record for completing solar projects.
This project once completed will be bigger than the 8.22MW (DC) solar power system built by SunEdison in Alamosa, Colorado and activated for Xcel Energy in December in 2007. In North America, this project will be one of the largest solar projects.
Source: www.sunedison.com