San Diego Gas & Electric will buy the entire output from the Catalina Solar plant, which features more than 1.1 million thin-film solar panels, under a 25-year power purchase agreement as approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in March 2012.
Equipped with 82MWp Solar Frontier and 61MWp First Solar PV modules, the plant will generate enough electricity to power 35,000 homes and offset 250,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
Earlier in April 2012, EDF Renewable Energy awarded an EPC contract for the project to Bechtel, which began construction in May 2012 and started operations in December 2012, while EDF Renewable Services, a subsidiary of EDF Renewable Energy, will provide O&M services.
EDF Energies Nouvelles CEO Antoine Cahuzac said that the commissioning of the project represents another milestone in its international expansion into very sunny areas where generation conditions and consumption coincide.
"The commissioning of this flagship project in a short space of time bears testimony to the expertise and commitment of our teams," added Cahuzac.
