EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) has reportedly announced a 15-year PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) with Clean Power Alliance (CPA) for the Desert Quartzite Solar-plus-Storage project.

The project comprises a 600 MWh BESS (battery energy storage system) coupled with a 300-megawatt solar project and is expected to commence delivering clean electricity to the consumers of CPA throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties in February 2024. The board of directors of CPA approved the long-tenured contract during its meeting in September.

The project is situated on unincorporated territory in Riverside County, California, managed by the Federal BLM (Bureau of Land Management). The BLM chose this area as an SEZ (Solar Energy Zone) and Development Focus Area, land set apart for utility-scale development of renewable energy. The project will use horizontal single-axis tracking solar PV technology and is predicted to create over 800 construction jobs.

By combining the solar facility with a solution for energy storage, electricity produced during peak solar hours can be dispatched in the latter part of the day, thus creating a balance between electricity demand and generation. Energy storage can smooth electricity prices further and offer grid stability in a method that is environment friendly.

Ted Bardacke, the Executive Director at Clean Power Alliance, commented that the clean reliable energy received from the Desert Quartzite plant will match perfectly with the company’s mission to enhance the environment and lives of its communities as well as customers. He added that the company’s board has recognized solar plus storage as being crucial to its continuous growth and a medium to further enhance reliability for CPA’s millions of consumers. This project will also create more green employment in Southern California, said Bardacke.

Sohinaz Sotoudeh, the Senior Director, Origination & Power Marketing at EDFR, expressed that the company is delighted to collaborate with CPA to provide affordable in-state solar energy to its growing base of consumers through this project.

Source credits:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210902005919/en/EDF-Renewables-North-America-and-Clean-Power-Alliance-Sign-Power-Purchase-Agreement-for-Solar-plus-Storage-Project