Friday, December 23, 2011

USA, California:

Ormat signs 20-year agreement with IID for 10 megawatts of solar energy

A local geothermal company is set to branch out, selling solar power from its Heber-area facility to the Imperial Irrigation District.

The Heber complex (Courtesy of Ormat)
Ormat Technologies Inc. announced Wednesday that it has signed a power purchase agreement with IID for 10 megawatts of solar photovoltaic energy, according to a press release from the company. The project, Ormat’s first independent photovoltaic project in the U.S., will be located near the Heber geothermal complex.

Ormat will develop, own and operate the solar project with IID purchasing the power generated under a 20-year agreement. Construction is anticipated to begin this year and commercial operation is expected within 18 months, subject to timely completion of the interconnection.

The project will generate about 24,500 annual megawatt-hours of energy production.