advanced search

Solar PV Projects Help California Electric Utility Meet Clean Energy Initiative

Nov 22, 2011 5:44 PM, Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor

Solar PV projects help California electric utility meet clean energy initiative

California enjoys a reputation as one of the most environmentally responsible states in the nation. The passage of Senate Bill 2X (SB 2X) last April, which requires California public and private utilities to obtain 33% of their electricity from renewable resources by the year 2020, further cements the state’s role as a leader in the green movement. In an effort to expedite delivery of cleaner energy to its 5.1 million electrical customers, San Francisco-headquartered Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), one of the largest combination natural gas and electric utilities in the United States, recently marked the completion of several solar photovoltaic (PV) stations.

“Our Energy Alternatives Division engineered and built two ground-mount solar farms totaling 35MW as part of the first phase of PG&E’s multi-year 250MW solar initiative,” says Tim Jensen, project executive for San Jose, Calif.-based electrical contractor Cupertino Electric Inc. (CEI). “The farms are located at separate sites in western Fresno County approximately 12 miles apart.”

Situated on 100 acres, the 15MW Westside solar station features 66,240 fixed-tilt polycrystalline 275W and 280W solar modules while the 20MW Stroud location encompasses 123 acres and includes 88,000 fixed-tilt polycrystalline 280W solar modules. Both generation plants employ 500kW inverters and are interconnected to the electric grid — with the approval of California’s Independent System Operator (CAL-ISO) — at local PG&E distribution stations.

“Because PG&E is a utility, we are talking 35MW of AC output, which is roughly 20% less than DC output,” notes Jensen. “In addition, the farms are 1,000VDC, which is a voltage class that is not yet used on a regular basis in the United States.

According to Jensen, obstacles faced by Cupertino Electric included the scale of the projects as well as an extremely tight deadline.

“These are the two largest projects that we have served as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor as far as solar goes, and we had just a six month time span in which to complete them,” he says.

To help finish the solar farm installations on time, Cupertino Electric assembled the project team at its San Jose office to streamline engineering and pre-construction processes before mobilizing on site and beginning actual construction.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to overcome, however, was the extreme weather. During peak construction in June, July, and August, temperatures regularly reached more than 100°F.

“We crunched the numbers and figured out that we used more than 12,000 gallons of drinking water during that time to keep our employees hydrated,” says Jensen. “We brought ice machines to the sites to chill the water and made sure we provided workers with plenty of shade. A dedicated team of safety and medical personnel helped protect our workers’ health.”

During the course of construction, Cupertino Electric employed 200 local workers, many of whom were provided by IBEW Local 1245. Furthermore, the contractor made a concerted effort to use diverse suppliers.

The Westside and Stroud solar station projects were finished on schedule on Sept. 1, 2011, and Sept. 26, 2011, respectively.     

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2012 Penton Business Media, Inc.

---

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus

Browse Back Issues Select an Issue EC&M Magazine | April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 1, 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 1, 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 1, 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 2006 March 1, 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 February 1, 1995 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 December 1, 1996 November 1, 1996 October 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 August 1, 1996 July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996 May 1, 1996 April 1, 1996 March 1, 1996 February 1, 1996 January 1, 1996 December 1, 1995 November 30, 1995 November 1, 1995 October 1, 1995 September 1, 1995 August 1, 1995 July 1, 1995 June 1, 1995 May 1, 1995 April 1, 1995 March 1, 1995

browse e-newsletters