First Solar, Inc. today announced that the Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One project has achieved a peak generating capacity
of 100 megawatts (MW) AC connected to the electrical grid.
The project, which is under construction in northern Los Angeles County, is
currently California's largest operating photovoltaic (PV) power plant
and will have a generating capacity of 230 MWAC upon
completion, expected later this year.
AV Solar Ranch One is California's largest operating PV solar power plant, under construction in LA County. (Photo: Business Wire)
Initial construction on the solar project began in Sept. 2011 and module
installation started in June 2012, providing an average of 400 jobs
during the construction phase. Power from the plant is being purchased
by Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a 25-year contract.
"We are proud to achieve this important clean energy milestone for
California, which was made possible by the tireless efforts of hundreds
of individuals working together. We especially appreciate the support of
LA County's Fifth Supervisorial District staff and the departments of
Regional Planning and Public Works for their contributions to making
this project a success," said Lou Moore, First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) Senior Vice
President of Engineering, Procurement and Construction. "Unlike
traditional power plants, the modular nature of PV power projects
enables us to quickly add substantial volumes of clean energy to the
grid throughout the construction process. This shorter ˜time to energy'
is another key advantage of PV solar electricity."
Dennis Hunter, Deputy Director of Los Angeles County Public Works,
congratulated First Solar on its achievement at Antelope Valley Solar
Ranch One. "We appreciated the opportunity to work with the First Solar
team to reach this operational milestone," he said.
When fully operational, the facility will generate enough power for
75,000 average California homes and will displace about 140,000 tons of
carbon dioxide per year. That's equivalent to taking 30,000 cars off the
road on an annual basis.
