sPower, an independent power producer (IPP) in the U.S., and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced the commercial operations of the 107 megawatt (MWdc) Solverde 1 solar farm.
The project is located in the City of Lancaster, Calif., in northern LA County.
sPower installed more than 330,000 solar modules with a peak construction crew of 250 plus workers. The project was developed under an aggressive schedule going from signing the PPA to completing interconnection to building and commissioning the project in just 12 months.
Solverde 1 is the largest solar photovoltaic facility to provide power to the DWR. It is also the biggest solar Contract for Difference (CfD) project in the United States. And it is sPower’s largest individual operating facility in its portfolio.
“In recent years, the California State Water Project has steadily decreased its carbon footprint, and we’re proud to be able to support their needs with reliable, affordable clean energy,” said Jim Howell, sPower SVP of commercial power marketing.
“The Contract for Difference structure of the Solverde 1 PPA lets DWR hedge against wholesale price fluctuations by locking in long-term, predictable and competitive power rates,” Howell added.