Mar 13 2009

PG&E Moves on Pilot Solar PV Project

Posted by: Jonathan Marshall

A couple of weeks ago, PG&E made a splash with its proposal to help develop 500 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) power over five years--250 MW to be built by the utility and 250 MW by independent developers.

Now PG&E is taking its first public step to move the project forward since filing its request with the California Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 24: It has set up a Web link to seek potential suppliers for a 2 MW pilot PV plant to be completed late this year.

The suppliers it recruits (by competitive bid) may also be tapped to build many more such projects in the 1-to-20 MW range if the CPUC approves PG&E's proposal.

The pilot facility will be ground mounted and adjacent to a PG&E substation. PG&E will provide the site (not yet specified), permitting and grid interconnection.

According to PG&E's contract opportunity announcement, the chosen supplier will be required to provide a complete solar generating system, including engineering and procurement of all equipment. The supplier may also choose to build, start-up and commission the pilot facility. 

The utility plans to use the pilot project to help develop its processes for building and operating PV facilities while it seeks regulatory approval for the full 500 MW proposal. If approved and completed, that mega-PV program could meet over 1.3 percent of PG&E's electric demand and deliver as much power as consumed by 150,000 average homes.

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"PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation.