Georgia Power has entered into power purchase agreements for 10 proposed solar facilities with a combined capacity of 515 MW, reports PLATTS, McGRAW HILL FINANCIAL.
The company has made deals with two solar projects of 99 MW of total capacity that will be owned by Southern Power.
According to Georgia Power’s solar RFP filing to the Georgia Public Service Commission, the average power price in the four PPAs with projects of less than 20 MW each was less than 6.5 cents/ kWh, which is less than the achievement in 2013.
The four smaller projects have the total capacity to generate 76 MW and are expected to start operation by the end of 2015.
The PPA prices prove both the robust nature of the marketplace and its ability to provide competitive pricing when challenged to do so through a market-based RFP, commented Georgia Power authorities.
The six larger solar projects selected by the utility range in size from 30-101 MW, but considering the economies of scale involved, their power prices have all the chances to be lower than the 6.5 cents/kWh.
Besides, out of the 439 MW; approximately 210 MW will begin commercial operation by the end of 2015 and 229 MW by the end of 2016.
The six larger PPAs include a 101-MW, 30-year deal with White Pine Solar for a project in Butler; a 100-MW, 30-year deal with Butler Solar for a project in Butler; an 80-MW, 25-year deal with Decatur Parkway Solar Project for a project in Bainbridge; a 76-MW, 30-year deal with White Oak Solar for a project in Waynesboro; a 51-MW, 30-year deal with Live Oak Solar for a project in Metter; and a 30-MW, 30-year deal with LS-Pawpaw for a project in Butler.
The four smaller 20-year deals with 18-20 MW each will be developed by Decatur County Solar Project for a project in Bainbridge, Hecate Energy Old Millville Road for a project in Millen, Solar Glynn for a project in Brunswick and Butler Solar Farm for a project in Butler.
Ownership of the 80-MW Decatur Parkway project and the 19-MW Decatur County project in Bainbridge will be transferred to Southern Power.
The utility hopes to secure PSC approval for the PPAs in December.
Sabeena Wahid
[email protected]