Solar Power World

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SunPower Corp. completed four high-efficiency solar power systems, totaling 3.8 megawatts, at public water agencies and water treatment facilities in California. The systems will significantly reduce electricity costs at each site, relieving strained public budgets.

Two of the SunPower systems serve Rancho California Water District (RCWD) in Riverside County. One of the RCWD systems is a 1.1-megawatt system at the Senga Doherty Pump Station, which uses the SunPower T0 Tracker, a ground-mounted system that rotates the solar panels to follow the sun during the day, increasing energy capture by up to 25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems, while reducing land use requirements. A 612-kilowatt solar parking canopy system was also completed at RCWD headquarters. In 2008, SunPower completed another 1.1-megawatt system at RCWD’s Santa Rosa Water Reclamation Facility.

The purchase of the RCWD systems was financed using low-interest Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs), available as a result of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The solar power generated by the systems is expected to offset an average of 95 percent of the electricity cost at RCWD’s District Headquarters and 55 percent at the Senga Doherty Pump Station, achieving an estimated savings of approximately $4.3 million over the next 20 years.

The other two recently completed systems include a 1-megawatt installation for Castaic Lake Water Agency’s Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant in Santa Clarita, and a 983-kilowatt system for the City of Galt’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Both use the SunPower T0 Tracker, and are expected to generate the equivalent of 90 percent or more of the facilities’ electricity demand. Both were also financed through solar power purchase agreements with SunPower.

PNC Energy Capital LLC, a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, purchased the systems that SunPower designed, built, operates and maintains. The city of Galt and CLWA host the systems, buying the electricity at prices below retail rates, which provides them with a long-term hedge against rising power prices with no initial capital investment.

While CLWA will own the renewable energy credits (RECs) and environmental benefits associated with the system installed at their facility, the city of Galt will sell the RECs and environmental benefits associated with the system they are hosting.