Gehrlicher to build 58.32 MW of US solar plants for 8minutenergy

Oct 17, 2014 - US solar park developer 8minutenergy Renewables LLC has awarded contracts for the construction of 58.32 MW of solar parks in California to Gehrlicher Solar America Corp, part of German firm M+W Group.

In a statement on Thursday, 8minutenergy said Gehrlicher will serve as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agent for the 16.66-MW Redcrest, 26.66-MW Hayworth and 15-MW Woodmere solar plants in Kern County. The photovoltaic (PV) facilities are part of the Redwood solar complex.

The solar parks will be installed on low-productivity agricultural land and will be equipped with thin-film PV modules and an advanced solar tracking system supplied by First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR). Gehrlicher will launch construction activities in December and hook the facilities to the grid between June and September 2016.

Once operational, the three parks will be able to generate about 152 million kWh of electricity per year, or as much as is needed for almost 30,000 Californians. The generated power will also help save about 176,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, 8minutenergy calculates. The developer has already signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE:PCG), or PG&E, Southern California Edison Co (NYSEMKT:SCE-E) and the City of Palo Alto Utilities.

This week, 8minutenergy received Conditional Use Permits (CUP) for the Redwood park by the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

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