The third phase, Alamo 3, of the much hyped 400 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic project outside of San Antonio, Texas, is now online and active commercially, according to recent reports. This follows Alamo 4, ironically, which was already completed.
The 5.5 MW phase of the project was built via a partnership between OCI Solar and the local utility company, CPS Energy — with construction having begun last September, and completion being achieved near the end of 2014.
As per previous deals, CPS Energy will purchase electricity generated by the project via a 25-year power purchase agreement. The solar modules used in the project were reportedly supplied by the Texas-based manufacturer Mission Solar. These panels are mounted on dual-axis trackers, each of which features 42 modules — with total solar module numbers for the project totalling more than 21,000.
Engineering, procurement, and construction services for the project were provided by a local firm as well — Mortenson. Now that it’s completed, the project is being operated by ConEdison Development — a division of ConEdison.
Those wondering about the somewhat strange fact that Alamo 4 actually came online nearly a year before Alamo 3, well, there’s not really much to say about it — that’s just how the development process went, with it taking longer to work out the details of phase 3 than phase 4. (Phase 2 actually came online shortly after phase 4, as well, before the first phase though.)
While the project as a whole is expected to total 400 MW of capacity once completed, ~300 MW of that is via phases which are yet to come — details are as of now somewhat hazy regarding when these phases will be completed. Still, this recent completion of phase 3 is good news for Texans, and most especially for those in the San Antonio area.
Image Credit: OCI Energy
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