EDF, California Community Group Sign 300 MW Solar+Storage PPA

EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Clean Power Alliance (CPA) have signed a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the Desert Quartzite Solar-plus-Storage project, which consists of of a 300 megawatt (MWac) solar project coupled with a 600 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).

The project is expected to begin delivery of clean electricity to CPA’s customers throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in February 2024. The CPA Board of Directors approved the long-term contract during its September meeting.

The Desert Quartzite Solar-plus-Storage Project is located on unincorporated land in Riverside County, California, administered by the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM designated this area as a Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) and Development Focus Area, land set aside for utility-scale renewable energy development. The project will utilize horizontal single-axis tracking solar photovoltaic (PV) technology and is expected to create more than 800 construction jobs.

By coupling the solar facility with an energy storage solution, electricity produced during peak solar hours can be dispatched later in the day, thereby creating a balance between electricity generation and demand. Energy storage can further smooth electricity prices and provide grid stability in an environmentally friendly way.

“The clean reliable energy we will receive from the Desert Quartzite facility fits perfectly within our mission to improve the lives and environment of our customers and communities,” said Clean Power Alliance Executive Director Ted Bardacke. “Our Board has identified solar-plus-storage as being key to our continued growth and a means to further improve reliability for our millions of customers. This project will also create many more green jobs here in Southern California.”

“EDF Renewables is pleased to partner with Clean Power Alliance to supply affordable in-state solar energy to their growing customer base through the Desert Quartzite Solar-plus-Storage Project,” commented Sohinaz Sotoudeh, Senior Director, Origination & Power Marketing at EDF Renewables. “It is particularly satisfying to work with CPA, whose mission to empower communities with a choice for renewable power aligns with EDF Renewables’ ambition to help build a sustainable energy future. We are committed to helping CPA and other CCAs achieve their clean energy future through projects that also improve grid resiliency.”

The expected electricity generated at full capacity is enough to meet the consumption of more than 163,000 average California homes. This is equivalent to avoiding over 669,000 metric tons of carbon (CO₂) emissions annually which represents the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 145,000 passenger vehicles driven over the course of one year.