First Solar Signs PPA With PG&E For 300MW PV Power Project

Published: 10-Mar-2010

First Solar has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) with renewable electricity from a 300MW (AC) utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.

The Desert Sunlight project, to be located near desert center in eastern Riverside county, California, will have a total capacity of 550MW. The other 250MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison (SCE). First Solar's PPAs with PG&E and SCE are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

First Solar will build the Desert Sunlight project using its thin-film PV solar modules and providing its project development, engineering, procurement and construction capabilities. With construction expected to start by the end of 2010 and completion as early as 2013, the project will displace 300,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.

Rob Gillette, CEO of First Solar, said: "First Solar is one of the few companies that has all the capabilities required to realize very large, utility-scale solar projects like Desert Sunlight, which are important in helping our customers and California reach the state’s renewable energy goals."

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