French energy giant EDF Renewable Energy, owners of a portfolio containing over 5 GW of developed projects and 2.4 GW of installed capacity, have inaugurated their latest project, the 143 MW Catalina Solar project located near Kern County in California, US, the company’s largest utility-scale solar PV project currently installed.
Construction of the project began in May of last year, and was fully completed in June, 2013. Official dedication for the project was on the 27th of September, celebrating the completion of what Bloomberg New Energy Finance is reporting to be the world’s 8th largest photovoltaic plant.
Location of Catalina Solar project
“Catalina Solar consists of over 1.1 million solar PV panels and is estimated to offset 250,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually,” said Javier De La Garza, Director of Solar Development for EDF Renewable Energy’s West Region.
“The project has been an important source of direct and indirect economic activity in Kern County, including over 500 workers on-site during construction. We are proud to officially dedicate this most recent example of EDF Renewable Energy and San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) long-term partnership in the Kern County communities; to provide steel-in-the-ground toward California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal of 33 percent renewable energy by 2020.”
“The Catalina Solar project has played a vital role for jobs and the economy in my district,” said Republican Senator Jean Fuller, who represents California’s 18th senate district. “The project exemplifies the scientific and technological breakthroughs that have come to define California’s innovative culture. As a representative of the Rosamond community, I’m proud to support initiatives that lead to economic growth.”
Capable of generating enough electricity to power 35,000 homes, the Catalina Solar project will be providing electricity to San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) on a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement.
“SDG&E has been committed from the start to helping get viable, economic renewable resources developed, and today we again stand with our partner, EDF Renewable Energy, to celebrate another step toward reaching our aggressive goal,” said Matt Burkhart, Vice President of Electric and Fuel Procurement for SDG&E. “Catalina Solar is an example of a renewable energy project that has overcome a number of regulatory and commercial challenges in its endeavor to reach the finish line. We applaud EDF Renewable Energy for their efforts, and success.”
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