Public Discussion—SDCP BOD – May 25, 2023
Recommendations for PGE Solar PPAs
05/25/2023 Dave Peterson
[email protected] 1
Strategic Plan recommendations for PGE solar renewables • Assumes either Topaz or Agua Caliente are available (both PGE PPAs) • Today, both Farms were designed to provide Max MWh/year (Spring/Summer peak), their Winter power nosedives
• Inexpensive “Long term” storage capability is still to be demonstrated • Realistically, this requires fossil fuel generation for power makeup during the winter, starting with PPA transfer and running out to the 2040’s Strategic Plan recommendation
• Both farms could be upgraded by removing alternate East to West rows and adjusting panel slope, 58⁰ for Topaz, 54⁰ for Agua Caliente • Slope adjustment provides maximum December MW
• Removed panels would be relocated to a new “Relocated Panels” farm • Construction done over several Spring seasons provides USA jobs • Either site could then be upgraded into a “Hybrid” farm, grid friendly • Available during evening peak price, low CF period
With the slope modification –Both sites could then meet the “100% Renewables by 2035” requirement with minimum overgeneration 05/25/2023 Dave Peterson
[email protected]
2 • Topaz, 690 MW, PGE PPA with Berkshire Hathaway
• 51 miles east of San Luis Obispo
• Expensive, $3.62/W, E-W rows
• Agua Caliente, 370 MW, PGE PPA with NRG Energy
• Located north of Dateland AZ- Southwest Power link
• More Expensive, $4.86/W--Goofy 16⁰ azimuth angle
• Both have Max Annual Energy (MAE) @32⁰ slope
• CdTe Panels were “Made in the USA”
Detailed Wikipedia Monthly data review for both
shows robust power history -25-year refinancing?
PGE PPA Site Details
05/25/2023 3
Repositioning into two farms supports the “100% Renewables” requirement - 20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
JAN FEB MAR APRIL MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Topaz Solar Farm, 1,282 GWh/y, $3.62 per Watt
2015-2021 actuals, 1.282 GWh/y , Wikipedia
PVGIS 1.284 GWh/y @33⁰ slope
PVGIS-58⁰ slope-21% more DEC MWh
Dave Peterson
[email protected] 05/25/2023 4
05/25/2023 Dave Peterson
[email protected] 5
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10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Agua Caliente Dateland AZ Solar Farm
374 MW, 727 MWh/y, $4.81/Watt
Wikipedia 7 year Actuals-731 GWh/y
PVGIS 32⁰ Slope 727 Rated GWh/y
PVGIS DEC 54⁰ Slope, 696 GWh/y