8minutenergy Renewables announced that its solar subsidiary, 82LV 8ME, has signed a joint development contract with AES Solar, a specialist in utility-scale solar power projects, to develop and construct Mount Signal Solar project in Imperial Valley, California.
The project will supply 200 MW of solar energy to San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) based on the power purchase agreement.
The California-based Mount Signal Solar is a large, utility-scale solar project that is expected to start the supply of clean energy in mid-2013. This clean solar generation facility has a production capacity of nearly 500 million kWhs of electricity per year, which is sufficient to power 72,000 houses in SDG&E's service area. In addition, it will help eliminate about 356,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.
The joint solar generation plant of 8minutenergy Renewables and AES Solar will be linked with the Imperial Valley substation of SDG&E. The energy from the plant will be transferred over the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line that is now under construction.
The solar power system used for the project includes advanced solar photovoltaic modules, power electronics, advanced tracking system and other components. The Mount Signal Solar project will generate clean, renewable energy that advances SDG&E's aim to help California meet its 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) regulation. In addition, the project will offer approximately 450 direct jobs and over 500 indirect jobs in the state.