Xcel Energy and SunPower Corp. have signed a power purchase agreement to build a 50 MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Colorado's San Luis Valley. Construction of the solar power plant is contingent on the project securing all required permits, interconnection rights and financing.
At the 320-acre site, SunPower intends to design and build its Oasis power plant system. Oasis is an integrated, modular solar power block design that SunPower says is engineered for rapid and cost-effective deployment of utility-scale PV systems. The company expects to start construction in 2015 and to achieve full commercial operation by the end of 2016.
SunPower has constructed two solar power plants in the San Luis Valley that currently generate power for Xcel. The 19 MW Greater Sandhill plant has been operating since 2010, and the 30 MW San Luis Valley Solar Ranch began delivering energy in 2011.
