Greentech Lead America: MidAmerican Solar, and First
Solar, a provider of photovoltaic solar systems, have started the installation
of the PV solar panels at Topaz Solar Farms, located in San Luis Obispo
County, Calif.
Topaz Solar Farms will be the largest solar project in
the world. 550-megawattAC project will include nearly 9 million photovoltaic
panels.
“The installation of this first solar panel
represents nearly five months of hard construction work put in by a dedicated
crew of crafts persons and on-site supervision, a large majority of whom live
in the local area. They are helping us achieve our goal of safely and reliably
delivering energy to our customer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company”, said
Paul Caudill, president of MidAmerican Solar.
Te project will employ First Solar’s advanced thin-film PV modules.
First Solar’s pre-funded collection and recycling program provides a
responsible end of life for the PV panels. More than 90 percent of the material
is re-used.
The project is expected to offset approximately 377,000
metric tons of carbon dioxide per year — the equivalent of taking
approximately 73,000 cars off the road.
The Topaz project is owned by MidAmerican Solar and will
be operated and maintained by First Solar.
The Topaz project will provide enough energy to power
approximately 160,000 average California homes. Under a 25-year power purchase
agreement, the power generated by the project will be purchased by PG&E.
Construction of the project has begun in late 2011 and is
expected to be complete by early 2015. The Topaz project will create
approximately 400 construction jobs during its construction period; will
generate nearly $417 million in local economic impact.
“We’re very pleased that Topaz has progressed
rapidly to the module installation phase. We’re proud to be working with an
energy leader like MidAmerican Solar in bringing utility-scale renewable
generation to our country’s power grid,” said Jim Lamon, First Solar
senior vice president of engineering, procurement and construction, and
operations and maintenance.
First Solar dedicates Enbridge’s 50-MW Silver State North solar
project In Nevada
Recently, Enbridge and First Solar completed the
Enbridge’s 50-megawatt (AC) Silver State North Solar Project in Clark County,
Nevada. The photovoltaic plant is expected to produce enough renewable energy
to power about 9,000 Nevada homes, offset 42,000 metric tons of CO2 per year,
and taking the equivalent of about 8,000 cars off the road.
editor@greentechlead.com