Solar power producer SunPower Corp. (SPWRA) said that it has completed a 19-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Colorado’s Alamosa County. The plant will supply solar power to Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL).
The Greater Sandhill solar power plant commenced operations on December 22, 2010. Capable of generating power sufficient to serve the annual electricity needs of nearly 5,000 homes, the plant is the largest operating PV solar power plant in Colorado.
SunPower said the Greater Sandhill plant uses SunPower Tracker systems, which are capable of tracking the sun throughout the day providing more power, especially in summer days when utilities need it the most. The companies said the instillation of these trackers facilitate the generation of up to 25% more power from the plant compared with conventional systems.
Besides the Greater Sandhill, Xcel Energy and SunPower are also pursuing other solar power projects in the San Luis Valley. SunPower said it is constructing a 30-megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant at the San Luis Valley Solar Ranch in the Alamosa County.
Spread over 216 acres of private, former agricultural land, the plant will be owned and operated by Portland, Oregon-based Iberdrola Renewables. Iberdrola Renewables will sell electricity generated by the plant to Xcel Energy under a long-term contract. The San Luis Valley Solar Ranch is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2011. Construction at the San Luis Valley Solar Ranch began at the end of 2010.
SunPower said construction of both plants created about 100 jobs.
These Colorado projects show Xcel Energy’s commitment to provide clean renewable energy to its customers throughout the state. Xcel Energy partners with SunPower to achieve its renewable energy goals for its customers at a reasonable cost.
SunPower’s high-efficiency solar PV technology is competitively-priced for power plant applications, fast to install and reliably delivers clean power, particularly during peak demand hours.
Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company, with operations in 8 Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy’s operating utilities are engaged in generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity in the United States. These utilities generate electricity using coal, nuclear, hydro, wind and solar energy.
San Jose, California-based SunPower Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells high-performance solar electric power technology products, systems and services worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. The company’s semiconductor-based solar cells and solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, are manufactured using proprietary processes and technologies.
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