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U.S. Army Recruits 22 Solar Contractors Under $7 Billion Renewables Program

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Engineering Support Center in Huntsville, Ala., has selected 22 solar technology contractors to receive Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOCs) under the solar portion of its $7 billion program to create renewable energy generation capabilities at Department of Defense (DOD) installations. The awards do not cover specific projects but grant the named contractors the right to bid on solar projects as they arise.

In issuing the awards, the Huntsville Center is acting in concert with the Army’s Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF) as part of the Army’s Renewable and Alternative Energy Power Production for DOD installations effort announced in August 2012. The program is granting MATOC awards in four batches, of which solar is the second. A geothermal MATOC was awarded May 3. The Army announced awards for wind and biomass contractors in separate MATOCs on Sept. 9 and Sept. 24, respectively.

The Army says the renewable energy contractors that are qualified through this process will be able to compete for future projects within their approved technology area for so-called “task orders” made under the program. The MATOCs will be applicable for up to 30 years, which will enable the DOD to enter into long-term power purchase agreements for renewable energy.

According to Tonju Butler, procuring contracting officer at the Engineering Support Center, the Army’s goal in the solar awards was not to ensure a mix of technical specialties but to qualify solar companies that would be able to meet its specifications.

In order to qualify for a MATOC award, a solar company had to receive a rating of acceptable or better, according to requirements set out in the solicitation. Butler says these requirements included a description of a solar project of 2 MW or greater for which the candidate had responsibility for implementation and then for operations and maintenance for at least two years. Candidates were also evaluated on financial capability and management approach, past performance, small business participation, and price.

The MATOCs are available to all military departments for large-scale renewable energy projects located on military installations and other DOD properties within the U.S., its territories and provinces.

“Overall, the Army has a goal of deploying 1 GW of renewable energy by 2025,” says Kathy Ahsing, director of the EITF’s Planning Directorate. “It is the Army’s strategy to procure renewable energy from projects on or adjacent to U.S. Army installations to enhance energy security for the installation. The MATOC is only one of the contract vehicles and procurement options that will help the Army in its efforts to plan and execute a cost-effective portfolio of renewable energy projects.”

According to Ahsing, the EITF has identified 2 GW of solar potential across 180 Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard installations. To date, the Army has released solicitations for 50 MW of solar, including projects at Fort Detrick, Md.; Fort Irwin, Calif.; and Fort Bliss, Texas.

“In addition, the EITF is actively assessing approximately 500 MW of solar opportunities,” Ahsing says. “Specific projects will be released through the MATOC or other acquisition vehicles as the EITF completes its evaluation process.”

The 22 solar companies receiving MATOC awards are as follows:

• Acciona Energy North America Corp., Chicago;
• Apex Wind Energy Holdings LLC, Charlottesville, Va.;
• Borrego Solar, San Diego;
• Cobra Industrial Services Inc., Houston;
• Dominion Energy Inc., Richmond, Va.;
• Element Power U.S. LLC, Portland, Ore.;
• Emerald Infrastructure, San Antonio;
• Enel Green Power North America, Andover, Mass.;
• Energy Matters LLC, Arlington, Va.;
• Gehrlicher Solar America Corp., Springfield, N.J.;
• Johnson Controls Government Systems, Milwaukee;
• Lend Lease, Nashville, Tenn.;
• LTC Federal LLC, Detroit;
• New Generation Power, Chicago;
• NRG Energy Inc., Princeton, N.J.;
• Photon Finance LLC - SunPower, Mountain View, Calif.;
• Siemens Government Technologies Inc., Arlington, Va.;
• Silverado Power LLC, San Francisco;
• Solar Power Ventures, Arlington, Va.;
• Standard Solar Inc., Rockville, Md.;
• Sunpower Corp., Richmond, Calif.; and
• Washington Gas Energy Systems Inc., McLean, Va. - Michael Puttré

 

Bechtel Finishes 143 MW
Catalina Solar Project

Bechtel has completed construction of the Catalina Solar photovoltaic generating facility. The company designed the 143 MW solar plant located in California’s Mojave Desert for EDF Renewable Energy.

Catalina Solar comprises 82 MW Solar Frontier and 61 MW First Solar PV modules, with a combined total of over 1.1 million panels. The plant was built on 900 acres and includes a 7.2-mile transmission line that connects the facility to the substation. The project’s output is being provided to San Diego Gas and Electric Co. under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

In addition to its work on the Catalina Solar project, Bechtel is building two other solar facilities in California: the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Facility and the California Valley Solar Ranch.

 

Scatec Connects 75 MW
South African Solar Project

Norway-based energy provider Scatec Solar has grid-connected its 75 MW Kalkbult solar photovoltaic plant in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. The company says the project is the first to be connected under the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP).

Scatec Solar was awarded the Kalkbult project under the first round of the REIPPPP. The completed plant consists of more than 312,000 solar panels and is expected to produce 135 million kWh of electricity annually. The power from the PV plant will be sold through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Eskom, the national utility company.

The capital investment for the project is financed through South Africa-based Standard Bank. The consortium providing the equity finance consists of Scatec Solar as the largest owner, Norfund, Simacel, Stanlib/Standard Bank and Old Mutual Life Assurance Co.

 

Abengoa Raises Tower
Of 50 MW CSP Plant

Abengoa has completed construction of the 205-meter tower portion of the Khi Solar One concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in South Africa. Abengoa’s partners in the project are South Africa’s Industrial Development Corp. and the Khi Community Trust.

Khi Solar One is one of two major solar projects Abengoa is building in South Africa - the other being the 100 MW KaXu Solar One parabolic trough CSP plant. Both are under construction in the Northern Cape province.

 

Jinko To Supply 23 MW
Of PV For Calif. Plant

JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. says it will supply 23 MW of photovoltaic modules for the Westland Solar Farm under construction by Swinerton Builders and Clenera, a clean energy finance and management firm.

Swinerton will use JinkoSolar’s 300 W 72-cell modules in its construction of the ground-mounted solar plant in Fresno County, Calif. When completed, the facility will provide electricity to Pacific Gas and Electric.

 

First Solar Sells Canadian
PV Plants To GE-Alterra

First Solar Inc. has sold a 50 MW portfolio of solar projects in Ontario, Canada, to the ABW Partnership of GE Energy Financial Services and Alterra Power Corp. The GE unit is the majority owner. Alterra made an equity investment and will serve as the project’s managing partner. It is the first project transaction between First Solar and GE since their solar technology and commercial partnership was announced Aug. 6. Financial terms were not disclosed.

First Solar has completed construction of the power plants - Amherstburg (10 MW), Belmont (20 MW) and Walpole (20 MW) - and has commissioned them so they are providing power to the grid. First Solar will provide operations and maintenance services under long-term contracts. Output of the power plants will be sold to Ontario Power Authority under its Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program, with 20-year power purchase agreements.

 

Partners To Build 13 MW
Solar Project In N.J.

New Jersey-based Marina Energy, Solops LLC and Gehrlicher Solar America Corp. have started construction on a 13 MW solar plant in Phillipsburg, N.J. The project was developed by Solops LLC and financed in partnership with Marina Energy.

The ground-mounted photovoltaic array system consists of 44,270 modules and 20 inverters that are expected to produce nearly 16.9 GWh of electricity annually, all of which will be purchased by Berry Plastics Corp.

 

Reznick Capital Plans
39.3 MW Solar Portfolio

Reznick Capital Markets Securities (RCMS) has helped facilitate the completion of a funding plan to develop a large portfolio of distributed generation solar plants for asset manager Capital Dynamics.

The 39.3 MW portfolio is located across nine locations in California and four locations in Massachusetts, with multiple off-takers including utilities, schools and municipalities.

RCMS says accounting and tax advisory firm CohnReznick LLP provided financial and tax advisory services. An unnamed financial institutional investor acted as the tax equity partner. The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

 

Duke Energy Expanding
N.C. Utility Solar Project

Duke Energy Renewables has begun construction of a 5 MW utility-scale solar power project in Beaufort County, N.C., adjacent to its 12.5 MW Washington White Post facility.

Duke has contracted with SunEnergy1, a solar design, engineering and construction company based in Mooresville, N.C., to build the 27,450-panel photovoltaic project. It is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

As in the initial project, the solar energy generated from the Washington White Post II site will be sold through a 15-year agreement to North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency.

 

4 MW Solar Array Goes
Online At Delaware Co-op

Delaware Electric Cooperative’s Bruce A. Henry Solar Energy Farm near Georgetown has become fully operational. A portion of the 20-acre solar array began producing power in July.

The 4 MW array has 16,000 solar panels manufactured by Motech Americas, based in Newark, Del. The project was managed by SunEdison.

The project cost $14 million, and co-op officials say the facility could eventually be expanded to 40 acres.

 

Greenskies Begins 5 MW
Solar Project In Conn.

Connecticut-based Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC says construction has begun on a 5 MW solar photovoltaic project in East Lyme, Conn.

The project, which will not be visible to passing pedestrians or vehicular traffic, will consist of more than 16,000 PV modules mounted on a fixed aluminum racking system. Greenskies was awarded the contract through a competitive bidding process by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating Co. will jointly purchase the electricity generated by the project under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Builder Centerplan Cos. is expected to complete construction within six months.

 

Chevron Starts 3.1 MW
Solar Project In Calif.

The City of Lemoore, Calif., and Chevron Energy Solutions have started construction of a 3.1 MW solar installation to power water wells, a wastewater treatment plant, the Cinnamon Municipal Complex, the police department and several other municipal facilities.

The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2014 and is expected to generate close to 100% of the electricity for most of the facilities included. This is the third project Chevron Energy has undertaken for Lemoore in the past five years.

 

Borrego Sells 5.5 MW
Of PV To Greenwood

Borrego Solar Systems Inc. has entered into an agreement to sell 5.5 MW of solar energy projects in Massachusetts to Greenwood Energy. The projects, located in the city of Gardner and the town of Walpole, are just entering the construction phase. Borrego Solar is providing financing and construction services, while Greenwood Energy will own the facilities and power purchase agreement contracts.

The 2.5 MW Gardner installation is being constructed on a town-owned site that had previously been set aside for a cemetery. The city will purchase the electricity generated. The 3 MW Walpole facility, meanwhile, is being built on private land. An interesting aspect of this installation is that the landowner is otherwise not involved in the project, says Sam Chatterjee, director of project finance at Borrego Solar. Massachusetts allows solar power generated on one private site to be sold to another private buyer.

 

Partnership Completes
Municipal Solar Project

A group of solar energy developers has completed a 3 MW solar power project for Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP) in Berkley, Mass.

The Berkley East Solar Power Project is co-owned by Canadian Solar and INDU Solar Holdings - a joint venture between subsidiaries of Duke Energy and of Integrys Energy Services. The ground-mounted installation was developed by Community Energy Solar and constructed by groSolar using 15,624 Canadian Solar modules. TMLP is purchasing the power generated from the project under a 25-year agreement.

 

SolarCity Provides 2.45 MW
PV Plant For Mass. Town

SolarCity has provided the town of East Bridgewater, Mass., with a 2.45 MW photovoltaic power plant. The town pays SolarCity for the electricity at a discount rate.

The array has over 10,000 solar panels and is expected to produce more than 3 million kWh of electricity each year. Electricity generated by the solar field will be sent to National Grid and will result in net energy metering credits.

 

Solectria Inverters Chosen For 2.4 MW Plant

Solectria Renewables LLC says its SGI 500XT 500 kW external transformer-inverters have been chosen by Argand Energy Solutions LLC for the 2.3 MW Franklin County Solar Farm in Louisburg, N.C.

Argand Energy Solutions began construction on the 12-acre site in June and will be completed this month. The power produced from this site will be sold to Duke Energy under a 15-year agreement.

 

ReneSola Supplies 2 MW
Of PV For Calif. Facility

ReneSola Ltd. says San Francisco-based solar developer EcoPlexus Inc. has finished a 2 MW solar facility using its panels in Jamestown, Calif.

The single-axis tracking system incorporates 6,480 ReneSola 300 W panels. The project’s electricity is contracted to Pacific Gas and Electric under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

 

SolarWorld Deploys
PV Array At Water Plant

The cities of Fairfield and Vacaville, Calif., have completed a 1.1 MW solar power system designed, procured and constructed by SolarWorld, and owned and operated by Salt Lake City-based power producer Sustainable Power Group.

The array powers the North Bay Regional Water Treatment Plant, a facility the cities co-own on the Sacramento River delta. The system features over 4,000 SolarWorld photovoltaic panels mounted on single-axis trackers and is expected to generate about 2 million kWh of electricity per year. SolarWorld has a 20-year power purchase agreement with Fairfield.

 

JA Solar Developing
Solar Projects In China

JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. says it plans to develop three solar power projects totaling 300 MW in Xingtai City in China’s Hebei Province. The projects will each have a capacity of 100 MW.

JA Solar says it has obtained approval from the Hebei Provincial Development and Reform Commission to develop the first 50 MW phase of one project in Lincheng County. The company has also signed framework agreements with local authorities pertaining to the projects in Neiqiu and Xingtai counties and expects to receive approval to develop such projects by the end of this year.

 

Jinko To Supply 274 MW
of PV Modules to Acciona

JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. has entered into agreements with Spain-based renewable energy developer Acciona to supply 118 MW of photovoltaic modules for projects in South Africa and Australia.

According to the agreements, JinkoSolar will supply Oakleaf Investment Holdings 86 (Pty.) Ltd., a joint-venture of Acciona and its South African local partner, with 94 MW of solar modules from November through September 2014 for a solar farm in the Northern Cape province in South Africa.

JinkoSolar will also supply 24.07 MW of solar modules starting from this month through December for the Royalla PV Plant located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) of Australia to be built by Acciona Energy Oceania.

The solar farm in the Northern Cape province will use approximately 319,600 JinkoSolar PV modules and is expected to produce approximately 206 GWh of electricity per year. The solar farm in ACT uses approximately 81,600 modules.

JinkoSolar says an agreement with Acciona for 156 MW of modules for other projects is pending.

 

SunEdison Closes $212.5M
For 100 MW Plant In Chile

SunEdison Inc. has closed a $212.5 million non-recourse debt financing arrangement with the World Bank’s International Finance Corp. (IFC) and the Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC), the U.S. government’s development finance institution. The debt proceeds will be used to finance the construction of a SunEdison-owned 100 MW solar power plant in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

The IFC provided $65 million of debt, while the OPIC provided a $147.5 million parallel loan. Netherlands-based Rabobank also provided a local funding worth $45 million, bringing the total value of the transaction to approximately $260.5 million.

The construction of the Amanecer Solar CAP plant began in August, and its interconnection is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2014. The project originated from an agreement signed in January with the mining and steel company CAP.

Located in the town near the city of Copiapo, the project covers about 530 acres and is using more than 300,000 SunEdison Silvantis photovoltaic modules mounted on SunEdison AP90 single-axis solar trackers. Once fully completed, it is expected to generate 270 GWh of electricity per year.

 

Wirsol Starts 64 MW Array
In Dominican Republic

Germany-based Wirsol AG has started construction of a 64.14 MW solar power project in the Monte Plata province of the Dominican Republic. The first 32.14 MW phase of the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Wirsol says in the future, technical management of solar facilities in the region, as well as new projects, will be implemented by Wirsol Caribbean, a local subsidiary.

 

REC Provides 3.8 MW Of PV
For Two Japanese Projects

REC says it is providing a total of 15,324 of its REC Peak Energy series solar panels for two projects owned and operated by C-Energy, a subsidiary of the Japanese electric utility provider Chubu Electric Power Co.

The 2.5 MW Toyobo Mie (Kusu) plant, located in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, started operation in July and is expected to generate 2.5 million kWh of electricity per year.

The 1.3 MW Research Institute solar project in Ohtsu City, Shiga Prefecture, is a ground-mounted installation expected to be finished in December.

REC says 29% of its solar panel shipments in the second quarter of this year were to Japan.

 

Schneider To Supply
Solar Projects In Greece

Schneider Electric has recently been awarded a contract to supply inverters and electrical balance-of-system components for 43 decentralized photovoltaic power plants of 100 kW each in Greece.

The PV power plants will be installed on agriculture farms in central Greece, and each of the 43 decentralized solar power plants contains five Schneider Electric Conext TL 20 kW inverters, as well as Schneider Electric DC and AC boxes.

 

Sol Closes Financing
For 500 kW PV Plant

Sol Systems has secured an investor for a 500 kW solar project in Clayton, N.C., through a multi-megawatt portfolio. Blue Green Energy LLC is the project developer.

Sol Systems says projects in North Carolina are especially challenging because the 35% tax credit is a critical piece of the financing, yet there is limited demand for the state tax credits.

 

SunWize Installs Solar
Canopy For Medical Center

SunWize Technologies Inc., an engineering, procurement and construction company and distributor of alternative energy products, has completed a 255 kW solar canopy installation for the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

According to SunWize, the San Francisco VA Medical Center’s solar canopy comprises 1,022 Samsung modules integrated into a steel structure that was built on top of an existing parking garage. The solar canopy also creates shaded parking for 85 vehicles.

The company says the solar canopy was commissioned and interconnected in August.

 

Montante Solar Installing
Commercial PV Array In N.Y.

Buffalo-based solar installer Montante Solar has started construction of a 250 kW photovoltaic array on the rooftop of Sealing Devices Inc. of Lancaster, N.Y. The system is being built with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative.

The project consists of 1,000 PV modules and a ground-level SMA Sunny Central inverter. It is expected to produce 275 MWh of electricity per year, representing about 25% of the seal and gasket manufacturer’s total usage.

 

Groups Developing Solar
For Electricity Co-ops

The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. (CFC) will soon launch a pilot program with Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange and the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO) that seeks to make solar photovoltaic generation more economical for electric cooperatives and their members.

Through the initiative, NRCO will oversee program management and supporting marketing and legal documents. CFC will provide debt capital as needed for solar projects. Federated has committed up to $6 million as a tax equity investment for the initial solar projects.

 

Green Sun Rising Building
Mobile Solar For Demo

Ontario-based Green Sun Rising Inc. has signed an agreement with the not-for-profit Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) for the purchase of five mobile solar off-grid systems for the Northwest Territories.

The five mobile solar units are equipped with Canadian Solar modules and incorporate inverters, charge controllers and battery backup systems. The units will be shipped to the city of Yellowknife to demonstrate the functionality and advantages of solar systems in the Northwest Territories.

Green Sun Rising President Klaus Dohring says the demonstration project will show how solar off-grid systems are an affordable and effective way of providing electricity, especially in remote areas.

 

Firm Builds 855 kW Solar
Plant For HQ

Orangeburg, N.Y.-based Nice-Pak Products Inc. is installing an 855 kW photovoltaic array on the roof of its headquarters. Lighthouse Solar, based in New Paltz, N.Y., is building the array. Installation began in early this month.

The ballasted roof-mounted system is expected to generate approximately 1 GWh of electricity per year and supply 15% of the building’s total electricity load. The project is supported through various grants, including one from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority under The NY-Sun Competitive PV program.

 

Solar Liberty Builds
Array At College

Buffalo, N.Y.-based Solar Liberty has installed a 94.08 kW solar carport canopy and electric vehicle charging station at Farmingdale State College on Long Island. The photovoltaic array consists of 290 Solar Liberty SLX solar panels and can charge up to 20 electric vehicles at a time.

The project was a collaborative effort between Solar Liberty, Farmingdale State College, the Long Island Power Authority and Stony Brook University. Solar Liberty says the facility is a component of the $24 million Long Island Smart Energy Corridor effort, which includes funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. S