Electrify America signs VPPA with Terra-Gen to build solar energy project

Recurrent Energy solar business

Electrify America has entered into a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with developer Terra-Gen to build a solar photovoltaic renewable energy generation project in San Bernardino County, California.

The solar project is expected to generate 75 Megawatts (MW) at peak solar capacity or an estimated annual production of 225,000 Megawatt hours. It is projected to produce enough 100 percent renewable energy annually to more than offset the energy currently delivered on an annualized basis to Electrify America’s customers charging on its extensive network. The solar project is targeted to be operational by mid-2023.

Electrify America is purchasing and retiring bundled environmental certificates associated with the new solar project over a 15-year period, shifting away from the business-as-usual approach of buying environmental certificates from a third-party supplier on an unbundled basis, which does less to support additional renewable energy generation.

Electrify America’s first solar project in the Southern California Mojave Desert may also be expanded at the option of Terra-Gen to include a co-located battery energy storage system to further increase the delivery of renewable energy to the grid during times when more costly peaking power plants may be used to meet customer needs.