This project will provide economic benefits to the people of Kern County, which has a very high unemployment rate. We take pride in generating jobs and in helping California meet its clean energy goals - Martin Hermann, CEO, 8minutenergy Renewables
California (PRWEB) November 21, 2013
8minutenergy Renewables, LLC and saferay, Inc., today announced the signing of a 20-year contract to sell 15 megawatts-ac (19.7MW-dc) of clean, renewable solar energy from their Woodmere Solar Farm project in Kern County, Calif., to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The transaction was conducted with 67RK 8ME, LLC, a subsidiary of Calif.-based 8minutenergy Renewables, which is the nation's leading independent solar PV developer, and saferay, an independent solar power producer that performs EPC and owns more than 160MW of solar PV around the world. The two companies have a joint development agreement to develop and build the Woodmere Solar Farm project.
The Woodmere Solar Farm project is a utility-scale solar generation facility sited on 80 acres of low-productivity farmland. Construction is projected to begin in 2014, with the site expected to be operational and delivering renewable energy by December 2015. This clean solar generation plant will displace the equivalent of approximately 40,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, which is equal to the amount that roughly 1.65 million trees would displace annually.
"The Woodmere Solar Farm will create approximately 38 direct and 75 indirect jobs during construction, and contribute to the local economy," said Martin Hermann, chief executive officer of 8minutenergy Renewables. "This project will provide economic benefits to the people of Kern County, which has a very high unemployment rate. We take pride in generating jobs and in helping California meet its clean energy goals."
"We are excited by the success of our Woodmere Solar Farm project with 8minutenergy, and we are very appreciative of the strong local support for this project," stated Boris Schubert, chief executive officer, saferay, Inc. "This achievement underscores how saferay’s EPC cost efficiency supports local development partners in delivering clean energy."
"Woodmere Solar Farm's annual production of approximately 36 million kilowatt hours (kWhs) of electricity will produce enough renewable solar energy to serve 6,750 households in California,” said Tom Buttgenbach, president of 8minutenergy Renewables. “We are pleased by the support we have received from state, county and local officials in moving this project along. With our partner, saferay, we look forward to the next step in further developing this solar project."
The solar power system for the Woodmere Solar Farm will be comprised of state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic modules, related power electronics, and other components including an advanced tracking system that follows the sun to maximize energy production. The PPA contract is pending approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.
About saferay, Inc.
saferay is a leader in the field of efficient and fast implementation of large-scale photovoltaic power plants. As an independent solar power producer saferay builds and finances PV plants primarily for its own asset base in order to shape future energy concepts in the world's leading energy markets. The company's EPC experience includes over 250 MW of installed PV capacity, from which it owns more than 160MW. saferay is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and operates in the US via its wholly owned subsidiary saferay, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.saferay.com.
About 8minutenergy Renewables, LLC
8minutenergy develops, finances, engineers, constructs, holds, operates and maintains solar projects. To date, 8minutenergy has closed over $1 billion in solar Power Purchase Agreements; been awarded 325MW in PPAs; secured close to 1,000MW in General Interconnection Agreements (GIA); obtained Conditional Use Permits (CUP) for 7,500 acres; and has 15,000 acres under contract. Most recently, 8minutenergy successfully concluded the development of a 260MW solar plant in Imperial Valley, Calif. - Mount Signal Solar - which is now under construction. It represents the first of three phases of an approximately 800MW-dc (600MW-ac) planned solar PV power project - currently the largest in the world.
8minutenergy's proprietary transmission, land and economic analysis process and tools helps select optimal power plant sites for accelerated permitting with counties and utilities. All 8minutenergy solar projects are located on disturbed, low-value farm land. 8minutenergy strives to ensure that its solar power projects provide low cost, clean renewable energy from the sun with low environmental impacts, particularly when compared with public lands projects on pristine desert wildlands. 8minutenergy has offices in Folsom, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and El Centro, California. For more information, please call (916) 608-9060, send email to info(at)8minutenergy(dot)com or visit http://www.8minutenergy.com.