San Isabel Solar Energy Center Explained

San Isabel Solar Energy Center
Coordinates:37.3675°N -104.4678°W
Country:United States
Location:Las Animas County, Colorado
Status:O
Construction Began:March 2016
Commissioned:December 2016
Cost:US$60 million
Owner:PSEG Solar Source
Operator:juwi O&M Group
Solar Type:Flat-panel PV
single-axis tracking
Ps Site Area:250acres
Ps Electrical Capacity:37.9 MWp, 30 MWAC
Ps Electrical Cap Fac:27.4 (average 2017-2019)
Ps Annual Generation:72.0 GW·h, 288 MW·h/acre

The San Isabel Solar Energy Center is a 30 megawatt (MWAC) photovoltaic power station in Las Animas County, Colorado located about 20 miles north of the city of Trinidad. The electricity is being sold to Tri-State Generation and Transmission (aka Tri-State) under a 25-year power purchase agreement.[1] [2] [3] It is the second solar project, following the Cimarron Solar Facility in year 2010, to be added to the utility cooperative's renewables portfolio.

Project details

The facility occupies about 250 acres of semi-arid shortgrass prairie on the Colorado south-eastern plains, about 10 miles east of the base of the Rocky Mountains. It uses 120,960 polycrystalline silicon panels (Model SN-72cell: rated 310 Wp, ~16% efficiency) that the manufacturer, S-Energy, claims are less susceptible to potential-induced degradation.[4] [5] The panels are mounted in rows onto single-axis trackers to optimize electricity production throughout the day.

The project was developed, constructed, and continues to be operated by Boulder-based juwi Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of the German renewable energy company juwi AG.[6] Construction began in March 2016 and employed about 400 workers, with Nesco serving as contractor for the civil structures.[7] Commercial operation began in December 2016, with a dedication ceremony on July 14, 2017.[8] The project was financed, and is owned by PSEG Solar Source, a subsidiary of New Jersey's Public Service Enterprise Group. The completed facility cost about US$60 million.

On January 11, 2019 Tri-State and juwi announced their development plan for the 100 MW Spanish Peaks Solar Project, which would be sited adjacent to San Isabel Solar Energy Center. Under their plan, juwi will continue to develop the project and Tri-State would buy the electricity under a 15-year contract. A construction start is being targeted for year 2022, with completion in 2023. If funded, it may be the fourth solar project, following the Alta Luna Solar Facility in 2017, to be added to Tri-State's renewables portfolio.[9] [10]

Electricity production

Generation (MW·h) of San Isabel [11]
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
20164,2874,287
20172,678 4,172 5,837 6,443 7,596 8,232 7,140 5,975 5,005 5,927 3,781 3,88266,668
20184,262 5,251 7,453 7,157 7,785 8,406 7,710 7,526 6,795 4,630 4,398 4,04475,417
20194,326 5,451 6,380 6,596 7,396 7,830 8,006 7,685 7,433 5,556 3,940 3,45274,051
20204,553 4,415 7,081 7,437 8,465 7,871 7,489 7,738
Average Annual Production (years 2017-2019) : 72,045
Average Capacity Factor (years 2017-2019) : 27.4%

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PSEG Acquires 37.8 MW Solar Project from juwi . pseg.com . March 21, 2016 . February 18, 2019.
  2. Web site: Tri-State seals deal on solar farm in southern Colorado . Denver Post . September 1, 2015 . February 18, 2019.
  3. Web site: Tri-State and juwi Announce Power Purchase Agreement for 30 Megawatt Solar Energy Project . electricenergyonline.com . September 1, 2015 . February 18, 2019.
  4. Web site: S-Energy to Supply 74 MW of Solar Modules for Utility-Scale Projects in Colorado . prnewswire.com . May 11, 2016 . February 18, 2019.
  5. Web site: S-Energy SN-72cell Standard Module . s-energy.com . February 18, 2019.
  6. Web site: juwi Portfolio - San Isabel . juwiamericas.com . February 18, 2019.
  7. Web site: Nesco Projects - San Isabel . nesco-us.com . February 18, 2019.
  8. Web site: San Isabel hosts grand opening of solar project . thechronicle-news.com . July 17, 2017 . February 18, 2019.
  9. Web site: Tri-State and juwi announce 100-megawatt Spanish Peaks Solar Project . juwiamericas.com . February 18, 2019.
  10. Web site: Tri-State announces new 100-megawatt solar project in southern Colorado . Denver Post . January 11, 2019 . February 18, 2019.
  11. Web site: Greater San Isabel, Monthly . Electricity Data Browser . . February 18, 2019.