EDP Renewables North America today unveiled its Scarlet I Solar Energy Park in Fresno County, California at a ribbon-cutting event attended by dozens of dignitaries and industry partners. The 200 MW project, which also includes a 40 MW battery energy storage system, will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 68,000 average California homes annually.
Scarlet I has two previously announced power purchase agreements with Ava Community Energy (formerly known as East Bay Community Energy) for 100 MW of solar and 30 MW of BESS and with San José Clean Energy for 100 MW of solar and 10 MW of BESS. This newest solar energy storage facility builds on EDPR NA’s existing operating footprint of 248 MW in California.
The Solar Energy Park supported the creation of more than 230 construction jobs and five permanent positions for ongoing operations and routine maintenance. Scarlet I will invest millions of dollars in small businesses and the local economy over the coming decades.
“We are pleased to launch Scarlet I as it plays a key role in achieving our goal of providing 100% carbon-free electricity to all customers by 2030,” said Howard Chang, CEO of Ava Community Energy. “Partnering with EDPR NA has made our investments in renewable energy sources – making it easy for our customers to switch to clean and reliable energy while saving on monthly energy bills – a reality.”
Scarlet I will support the region’s water efficiency goals, with the project estimated to save more than 254 million liters of water each year that would otherwise have been consumed by conventional generation sources for equivalent energy capacity. In a nod to advancing agrivoltaic energy – the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture – the project is actively exploring the potential for on-site sheep grazing following a recent trial run, using locally sourced sheep .
“California remains a priority state for EDPR NA’s development efforts, and we are pleased to complete this important solar and storage project in The Golden State,” said Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America. “Scarlet I will be a benchmark project as we look to develop additional hybrid multi-technology renewable projects in our portfolio and further contribute to the resilience of the electricity grid.”
News item from EDP Renewables North America
