Rocky Mountain Institute seeks 16 MW of community solar in NY

US clean energy think tank Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) on Thursday announced the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RfP) to develop at least 16 MW of community-solar systems in Rochester, New York.

RMI is partnering on the initiative with community organisation Rochester Solar Power Organizational Team (ROCSPOT), which supports pre-development activities, the RfP process and ongoing project operations on behalf of the Rochester community.

The aim is to provide greater access to solar to local residents, including low- and moderate-income households, commercial and industrial users, as well as the City of Rochester, which will consider purchasing up to 7 MW of generation.

Interested parties should express intent to take part in the RfP by August 12. Final bids are due by September 16.

The portfolio will consist of systems of 1 MW-2 MW and is expected to be completed in March 2018.

"Shared, community-scale solar projects offer underserved communities like Rochester access to customizable, clean, renewable energy generation at competitive rates," said RMI’s chief executive Jules Kortenhorst.

RMI said that community solar was a largely untapped market segment sitting between utility-scale and individual installations. It added that the shared solar segment within community-scale solar could be a market worth over 15 GW by 2020.

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