Solar Alliance Energy has partnered with Canadian developer Abundant Solar Power to pursue large-scale utility solar projects in the Southeast.
The projects will range from 1 MW to 10 MW or larger, and will typically involve competitive bids to local and regional utilities.
“There are significant utility-scale solar opportunities in the U.S. Southeast and this partnership will provide a strong, proven platform to put forward competitive bids,” said Myke Clark, CEO of Solar Alliance. “Solar Alliance and Abundant are currently assessing several utility-scale opportunities and this partnership will allow us to provide cost-competitive, turnkey solar systems. We’re thrilled to partner with Abundant and work with them to deliver long-term, recurring revenue streams by targeting power purchase agreements with large utility companies.”
In this partnership, Solar Alliance is responsible for utility communication and relationship management, design and engineering, materials procurement and construction. Abundant will be responsible for identifying and securing sources of tax equity and non-recourse project debt, project design oversight and bid pricing.
“Solar Alliance has a strong presence in the U.S. Southeast, and we are pleased to bring our large-scale project development and finance experience to this partnership,” said Richard Lu, Abundant CEO. “Our two companies have developed a strong relationship and this agreement allows us to provide a strong turnkey solar solution to utilities that are making the switch to renewable energy.”
News item from Solar Alliance
Solarman says
““There are significant utility-scale solar opportunities in the U.S. Southeast and this partnership will provide a strong, proven platform to put forward competitive bids,” said Myke Clark, CEO of Solar Alliance. “Solar Alliance and Abundant are currently assessing several utility-scale opportunities and this partnership will allow us to provide cost-competitive, turnkey solar systems. We’re thrilled to partner with Abundant and work with them to deliver long-term, recurring revenue streams by targeting power purchase agreements with large utility companies.””
I see a caveat in this PPA announcement. I’m sure the electric utilities in the southeastern U.S. know just how much solar PV is needed and how they will reap the benefits of RECs from the State on these projects, also, I would expect that there will be a “curtailment” clause that will allow the electric utilities to use their old inefficient fueled generation as ‘spot market’ capacity to keep electricity prices above $0/MWh during the “duck curve”. Competitive bidding is only as good as the range and scope of “parameters” for the projects that are proposed. One can squeeze the bidding process to include an “apples to apples” comparison of project costs, but, one might find out later on, an oranges to oranges or even an apples and oranges comparison would have had a more cost effective long term project with better overall PPA terms.