California Utility Scale Solar Project now Online

Constellation, an Exelon company, has successfully implemented an aggregate 30-megawatt (DC) solar generation project for Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Located across four separate sites in the Sacramento area, near Galt and Elk Grove, the ground-mounted solar arrays will generate more than 45 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year.

The utility scale solar project is part of SMUD’s Feed-In Tariff program which will create an additional 100-megawatts of solar generation in California. SMUD introduced the program in 2010 to offer standard rates and contract terms for renewable power generators.

Constellation’s solar project for SMUD is comprised of 380,250 FirstSolar 80 Watt Cadmium Telluride solar panels ranging from 18- to just 1-megawatt. Annually, the solar project will generate enough electricity to serve approximately 2,685 average American homes and save 21,530 metric tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to the emissions from 4,222 passenger vehicles.

“We’re proud to help SMUD meet its renewable energy goals and provide a long-term source of clean and emissions-free electricity to its more than half a million customers,” said Michael D. Smith, vice president of solar and energy efficiency sales for Constellation. “SMUD’s commitment to solar energy is a great example of the success of public and private partnerships in boosting the development of renewable generation.”

Constellation owns all four installations, with SMUD purchasing all of the electricity generated under 20-year power purchase agreements. Belectric provided engineering, procurement and construction services for this system, as well as a 20-year operations and maintenance contract.

Constellation currently owns and operates nearly 110 megawatts of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for utilities, commercial, and public sector customers throughout the United States.

In California, Constellation currently owns or has developed solar projects for customers such as General Motors, University of San Francisco, Alcoa and the General Services Administration in Sacramento. By structuring projects as power purchase agreements, Constellation offers solar installations that may require no upfront capital from its customers and may provide fixed power costs that are lower than projected market rates.