Suntech, the world’s biggest manufacturer of solar modules, recently announced the company had supplied 150,000 of its solar panels for two utility-scale electricity generation facilities in California.
Constructed by Cupertino Electric, Inc.’s (CEI) Energy Alternatives Division, the 20MW and 15MW solar farm projects in Helm and Five Points were built for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) as part of the utility’s five-year, 500MW clean energy initiative.
Under its 500-MW program, PG&E will ramp up to 250 MW of utility-owned solar PV projects in its service area. Independent developers will also construct up to 250 MW of additional solar-panel based electricity generation plants.
In order to accelerate development, all projects will be 20 MW or less in size. Construction of the two Suntech based projects began in earnest just 6 months ago.
“Solar is one of the fastest generation assets that you can build, as demonstrated by Cupertino Electric with these two well-designed and well-executed projects,” said Mick McDaniel, vice president of Utility Sales Division for Suntech America. “Although the economics will continue to improve, solar technology is ready today to provide cost-effective, large-scale solutions for electricity generation.”
Suntech’s ability to deliver large volumes of high-quality solar panels, backed by meaningful guarantees, helped us to meet PG&E’s fast-paced schedule,” said Tim Jensen, project executive with Cupertino Electric, Inc.
Once PG&E’s program, estimated to cost around USD 1.4 billion, is complete; the combined capacity of the projects will generate enough green electricity to provide for the power needs of around 150,000 homes in the utility’s Northern and Central California service area.
Suntech says it has shipped more than 15,000,000 modules globally to date. Suntech solar panels have been a popular choice in home solar and commercial solar installations in Australia.
In other recent Suntech news, the company was recognised as a “New Sustainability Champion” in a recent report by the World Economic Forum. The report takes into account criteria covering sustainability, innovation, scalability, geography and company size.
