90 Megawatts: juwi Set to Construct Three Utility-Scale Solar Projects in Colorado
The projects are realized by juwi’s US subsidiary / Two of the three projects are already under construction / juwi will also operate and maintain the projects
"Backyard" projects for juwi Inc.: The Boulder-based US-subsidiary of international renewable energy company juwi plans to build three utility-scale solar projects with a total installed capacity of 90 megawatts DC in its home state Colorado. Two of the three projects are already under construction and are scheduled to achieve commercial operation by the end of this year. juwi Inc. will also operate and maintain the projects once they have been placed in service.
The US solar market is further picking up speed. 7.3 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic power were installed in the United States in 2015, which was a record for the industry. Utility-scale solar projects have significantly contributed to this boom. Via its US subsidiary the juwi group is participating in the growing US solar market.
"We have a proven international track record in developing, constructing and operating utility-scale solar parks. In the US juwi has realized large-scale PV projects in thirteen states. juwi is very well positioned to further participate in the flourishing US-solar market", says juwi-COO Stephan Hansen. Most recently, juwi realized the Pavant Solar Park in Utah with 62 megawatt (DC).
The three new projects are the first ones to be installed in Colorado. They were all developed, designed and permitted by juwi; juwi will also act as engineering, procurement and construction contractor. The largest of them, the PSEG San Isabel Solar Energy Center, is currently under construction in southern Colorado, in Las Animas County, and when completed will have a total capacity of 37.8 megawatts. Roughly 120,000 solar modules will cover an area of 300 acres and convert the power of the sun into clean electricity. The project has a 25-year power purchase agreement with Tri-State Generation and Transmission, a wholesale power supplier owned by 44 electric cooperatives. Earlier this month, PSEG Solar Source acquired the ownership rights to the project from juwi.
As a result of a similar transaction concluded earlier this year with PSEG Solar Source, juwi is currently building another large-scale project in Colorado. 25 miles north of Fort Collins, juwi is building the 36.3 megawatt PSEG Larimer Solar Energy Center. The project will consist of approximately 117,000 modules and will cover an area of 290 acres. Platte River Power Authority, a wholesale power supplier with four member municipal utilities, has agreed to purchase the electricity from the plant for a period of 25 years.
Close to Denver in Adams County, juwi has developed a third solar project, which when completed will be a 15.9 megawatt solar project. Currently named Victory Solar, this project has a long-term power purchase agreement with Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA), an electric distribution cooperative with 140,000 members, and is expected to break ground later this year.
