The USD-140-million (EUR 135m) project is the first utility-scale solar and battery…

Read the full article by Plamena Tisheva at Renewables Now.

The post Clearway dedicates 39-MW solar project with battery in Hawaii first appeared on Moss.

O‘AHU, HI – Clearway Energy Group (“Clearway”), in partnership with Hawaiian Electric Company, Kamehameha Schools, Moss Solar, and others, has brought online three grid-scale solar power projects on the island of O‘ahu that will significantly contribute to Hawai‘i’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. Commercial operations at the three projects were launched today following a traditional Hawaiian blessing.

“This successful partnership is helping Hawai‘i become less dependent on fossil fuels while becoming more energy independent, reducing pollution, and driving down the cost of electricity for our businesses and families. These solar projects are helping our state secure its energy future for generations to come,” said Gov. David Ige.

The projects at Kawailoa, Waipi‘o, and Mililani total 110 megawatts (MW) and will generate low-cost, renewable energy equivalent to that used by about 18,000 O‘ahu homes each year. The three projects represent the largest block of grid-scale solar power ever developed in Hawai‘i and together will contribute approximately 3 percent to Hawaiian Electric’s renewable portfolio standards (RPS) goal, which reached 27 percent at the end of 2018.

The projects were originally proposed by SunEdison and were acquired by Clearway’s predecessor at the end of November 2016 during SunEdison’s bankruptcy proceedings. In February 2016, as a result of SunEdison missing contract milestones due to its declining financial condition, Hawaiian Electric terminated the original power purchase agreements for the projects. Clearway and Hawaiian Electric ultimately renegotiated lower prices for the three projects.

“Building Hawaii‘s largest block of solar projects would not have been possible without tremendous teamwork and dedication from all of our local partners,” said Craig Cornelius, CEO of Clearway. “We’re particularly grateful for HECO’s perseverance and commitment to these projects and are thrilled that they will now help power Hawaii with affordable clean energy for decades to come.”

“It’s satisfying to see these projects completed after such a long journey,” said Alan Oshima, President and CEO of Hawaiian Electric. “We were criticized at the time, but we knew we were doing the right thing terminating the original contracts because it allowed us to work with Clearway to ensure these important projects came online and provided better value to our customers.”

With the completion of Kawailoa Solar and in conjunction with Kawailoa Wind, Kamehameha Schools’ lands at Kawailoa are now home to the largest renewable energy operation in Hawai‘i. “This provides opportunities for Kamehameha Schools to steward these lands in a way that reduces Hawaiʻi’s dependence on fossil fuels while bringing ʻāina-based learning to haumāna (students) in the region through collaboration and innovation as we work to fulfill our mission to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians through education,” said Kā‘eo Duarte, Kamehameha Schools’ Vice President for Community Engagement and Resources. “We congratulate Clearway Energy and Hawaiian Electric for reaching this significant milestone.”

“It’s been a pleasure to work with the teams at Clearway Energy Group, Hawaiian Electric Company, and Kamehameha Schools, to bring these projects online,” said Moss Executive Vice President Mike Little. “We are proud to have been part of projects that will not only help Hawaii reach its 100 percent renewable energy goal, but that will impact the state for years to come.”

The three projects are:

• Kawailoa Solar – The 49-MW Kawailoa Solar project uses nearly half a million solar panels and is the largest solar project in the state to date, sited on former sugar cane land owned by Kamehameha Schools. Adjacent to the state’s largest wind farm on the North Shore of Oahu, Kawailoa Solar shares existing roads, substation, and transmission lines with the wind project. Clearway is working with local ranchers to allow them to graze sheep for vegetation management of the project site. And as part of Clearway’s multi-year commitment to community programs, Kawailoa is hosting local and mainland internships and programs for students in renewable energy education in partnership with Blue Planet Foundation and Kamehameha Schools.

• Waipi‘o Solar – The 45.9-MW Waipi‘o Solar project consists of over 160,000 panels on former cattle pasture owned by Clearway in Central O‘ahu. The Waipi‘o project will also use sheep grazing during operations to help to manage vegetation while supporting local agriculture.

• Mililani Solar II – The 14.7-MW Mililani Solar II project consists of over 150,000 solar panels and is constructed on former pineapple land owned by Clearway. Located within the Mililani Agricultural Park, the project operates alongside active farming operations.

All the power generated by the three projects feeds into the Hawaiian Electric grid for the benefit of all customers on O‘ahu.

About Clearway Energy Group:
Clearway Energy Group is accelerating the world’s transformation to a clean energy future. With more than 4.1 gigawatts of solar and wind energy assets in 25 states and a development pipeline across the country, we are offsetting the equivalent of nearly 9 million tons of carbon emissions for our customers. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with offices in Carlsbad, CA; Scottsdale, AZ; Houston, TX; and New York, NY. For more information, visit www.clearwayenergygroup.com.

About Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.:
Since 1891, Hawaiian Electric Company has powered the islands’ development from a Hawaiian kingdom to a modern American state. Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawai‘i Electric Light, serve the islands of O‘ahu, Maui, Lānaʻi, Moloka‘i, and Hawai‘i, home to 95 percent of Hawai‘i’s people. In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are leading in adding renewable energy and developing energy solutions for customers to achieve a clean energy future for Hawai‘i.

About Moss:
Moss (www.mosscm.com) is a national privately held construction firm providing innovative solutions resulting in award-winning projects. With regional offices across the United States, Moss focuses on construction management, design-build and public-private partnerships. The company’s diverse portfolio encompasses a wide range of sectors, including luxury high-rise residential, landmark mixed-use developments, hospitality, K-12 and higher education, justice and solar energy.

The post Clearway Energy Group Completes Construction on Three Hawai‘i Solar Projects first appeared on Moss.

“With Covington online, we now have 12.5-megawatts of solar generation in our portfolio, all of which has been presold to customers who want the benefits of solar power,” said OG&E Chief Operating Officer Keith Mitchell. “Along with our solar facility in Mustang, Oklahoma, Covington helps us continue to learn how solar can complement our other generation sources to provide reliable and low cost power to our customers.”

A SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant system was installed at the 80-acre site by Moss Solar, a division of the construction firm Moss . The Oasis system is a complete power plant solution that installs quickly to maximize value for customers. Product features include 50 percent fewer parts than conventional solar tracking systems, an integrated design that streamlines construction and reduces operations and maintenance costs, and cost-effective, high efficiency SunPower® P-Series solar panels, which produce more energy than conventional solar panels over the lifetime of the system.

“The SunPower Oasis platform and SunPower P-Series solar panels are optimizing the cost-competitive solar power generated for OG&E customers,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “We commend OG&E for its commitment to solar, and for selecting high performance SunPower technology to ensure a long-term return on investment.”

SunPower is now providing operations and maintenance services at the site.

The Covington solar plant is anticipated to generate enough electricity to serve the needs of over 1,000 average Oklahoma homes, based on estimates provided by the Solar Energy Industries Association.

OG&E owns the renewable energy credits associated with the system.

About OG&E
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company, a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), is Oklahoma’s largest electric utility. For more than a century, we have provided customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes at rates below the national average. Our employees are committed to generating and delivering electricity, protecting the environment and providing excellent service to our more than 840,000 customers. OG&E has 6,700 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by low-sulfur coal, natural gas, wind and solar. OG&E is recognized as a leader in smart grid technology, leveraging this platform to provide customers with the award-winning SmartHours® program and setting the stage for an electric vehicle program that will include some level of public charging infrastructure, and advanced LED street and security lighting. OG&E employees live, work and volunteer in the communities we serve. For more information about OG&E, visit us on the Internet at www.oge.com or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ogepower and Twitter: @OGandE.

About SunPower Corp.
As one of the world’s most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower’s more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.

About Moss
Moss (www.mosscm.com) is a national privately held construction firm providing innovative solutions resulting in award-winning projects. With regional offices across the United States, Moss focuses on construction management at-risk, design-build and public-private partnerships. The company’s diverse portfolio encompasses a wide range of sectors, including luxury high-rise residential, landmark mixed-use developments, hospitality, primary and higher education, justice and solar energy. Moss prides itself on a strong entrepreneurial culture that honors safety, quality, client engagement and employee development. Its employees consistently rank Moss as one of the best places to work. Its employees consistently rank Moss as one of the best places to work. For more information about Moss, visit www.mosscm.com.

SunPower’s Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding projected energy output, expected cost savings, and anticipated product performance. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations, and beliefs and involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may cause results, performance, or achievement to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: regulatory changes and the availability of economic incentives promoting use of solar energy, challenges inherent in constructing and maintaining certain of our large projects, competition and market conditions in the solar and general energy industry, and fluctuations or declines in the performance of our solar panels and other products and solutions. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is included in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time, including our most recent report on Form 10-K, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.” Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or on the SEC Filings section of our Investor Relations website at investors.sunpowercorp.com. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.

©2018 SunPower Corporation. All Rights Reserved. SUNPOWER, the SUNPOWER logo, and OASIS are registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S. and other countries as well.

The post New 10-Megawatt SunPower® Solar Plant Generating Power for OG&E first appeared on Moss.

“Hawai‘i is on the front lines of the fight against climate change, and the shift to renewable energy is one of our best weapons,” said Hawai’i Gov. David Ige. “Building solar energy at this scale represents tremendous progress toward our renewable energy goals. I thank all the partners involved for making it happen.”

The projects at Kawailoa, Waipi‘o and Mililani total 110 megawatts (MW) and will produce low-cost, renewable energy equivalent to that used by almost 32,000 O‘ahu homes each year. This is the largest block of grid-scale solar power ever installed in Hawai‘i.

“NRG is very proud to support Hawaiian Electric, the State and citizens of Hawai‘i as they move forward in their efforts to obtain 100 percent of their power from renewable resources,” said Craig Cornelius, president of NRG Renewables. “Using just the plentiful sunlight that O‘ahu receives, these three solar facilities will generate clean energy for decades to come, and are an exciting step forward to help Hawai‘i have the cleanest electrical grid in the nation.”

“This is an important moment in renewable energy progress for O‘ahu and for Hawai‘i,” said Alan Oshima, Hawaiian Electric president and CEO. “These are the first major projects to break ground since our Power Supply Improvement Plan was accepted last year and we appreciate the efforts of NRG to bring an unprecedented amount of new renewable energy resources online. As always, our goal is better value for our customers, who will get the benefits of lower prices for clean, renewable energy over the life of these projects.”

The three projects being built for NRG by Moss & Associates are:

• Kawailoa Solar – The 49-MW Kawailoa Solar will use over a half million solar panels and be the largest solar project in the state, sited on former sugar cane land owned by Kamehameha Schools. Adjacent to the state’s largest wind farm, Kawailoa Solar will share existing roads, switching and transmission lines. NRG will work with local ranchers to allow them to graze sheep at the project site. As part of NRG’s community program, Kawailoa will host students in renewable energy education programs in partnership with Blue Planet Foundation and Kamehameha Schools.

• Waipi‘o Solar – The 45.9-MW Waipi‘o Solar project will consist of over 160,000 panels on former cattle pasture owned by NRG in Central O‘ahu. The Waipi‘o project will also be open to sheep grazing during operations, helping to manage vegetation while supporting local agriculture.

• Mililani Solar II – The 14.7-MW Mililani Solar II project will use over 150,000 solar panels and be constructed on former pineapple land, now owned by NRG. Located within the Mililani Agricultural Park, the project will operate alongside active farming operations.

All the power generated by the Hawai‘i Solar Project sites will go into the Hawaiian Electric grid for the benefit of all customers on O‘ahu. NRG expects to have all three projects completed in 2019.

About NRG
NRG is the premier integrated power company in the U.S., built on the strength of our leading retail platform and competitive electric generation portfolio. A Fortune 500 company, NRG creates value through best-in-class operations, reliable and efficient electric generation, and a retail platform serving residential and commercial businesses. Working with electricity customers, large and small, we deliver energy solutions that power millions of homes and businesses – to protect, enhance and simplify life. More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG Energy on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy.

About Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
Since 1891, Hawaiian Electric Company has powered the islands’ development from a Hawaiian kingdom to a modern American state. Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawai‘i Electric Light, serve the islands of O‘ahu, Maui, Lānaʻi, Moloka‘i, and Hawai‘i, home to 95 percent of Hawai‘i’s people. In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are leading in adding renewable energy and developing energy solutions for customers to achieve a clean energy future for Hawai‘i.

About Moss
Moss (www.mosscm.com) is a national, privately held construction firm providing innovative solutions resulting in award-winning projects. With regional offices across the United States, Moss focuses on construction management at-risk, design-build and public-private partnerships. The company’s diverse portfolio encompasses a wide range of sectors, including luxury high-rise residential, landmark mixed-use developments, hospitality, primary and higher education, justice and solar energy. Moss prides itself on a strong entrepreneurial culture that honors safety, quality, client engagement and employee development. Its employees consistently rank Moss as one of the best places to work.

Information:
NRG – Hawaii: Barbara Tanabe, btanabe@hoakeacomm.com, 808.286.8414
National: David Knox, david.knox@nrg.com, 713.537.5730
Hawaiian Electric – Peter Rosegg, Peter-Rosegg@HawaiianElectric.com, 808.543.7780

The post NRG Energy Breaks Ground on Three Hawai‘i Solar Projects first appeared on Moss.

“I’ve often said that in Oregon, we don’t believe economic development and environmental stewardship are mutually exclusive ideas,” said Oregon Governor Kate Brown. “The approximately 300 jobs expected to be created by the Gala Solar Power Plant are proof we can grow our rural communities and support a vibrant and innovative renewable energy industry.”

SunPower’s third-generation SunPower® Oasis® platform for solar power plants will be installed on the site to maximize the project’s long-term energy production. The Oasis platform is a complete power plant solution that installs quickly and optimizes site utilization to lower the cost of energy for customers. Product features include 50 percent fewer parts than conventional solar plant systems and an integrated solar tracker design that streamlines construction and reduces operations and maintenance costs.

“While solar is cost-competitive today, SunPower is continuing to drive the cost of energy down through innovation and integrated complete solutions such as our Oasis platform,” said Ty Daul, SunPower vice president, Americas Power Plants. “We’re pleased to contribute to economic development in Oregon with the construction of this milestone project.”

“Solar power projects deliver a range of regional benefits, including job creation and affordable emission-free power,” said Ann Beier, assistant planning director, Crook County Community Development. “We are proud that, working in partnership with SunPower on the Gala Solar Power Plant, Crook County is helping lead the way in Oregon in supporting increased solar development.”

SunPower has contracted with Moss, an award-winning national construction firm ranked among the top building and solar contractors, as the general contractor for the project.

“We are excited about the new generation of SunPower’s revolutionary Oasis tracker system,” said Mike Little, executive vice president at Moss. “This system dramatically simplifies utility scale solar. SunPower has optimized every component of the power plant, reducing not only components costs, but construction installation costs.”

At the Gala site, high efficiency SunPower® E-Series panels will be installed on the SunPower Oasis trackers, enabling more megawatt hours per acre to be generated compared to conventional solar technology. SunPower® E-Series panels reliably deliver excellent performance to optimize returns, and are backed by SunPower’s industry-leading 25-year Combined Power and Product Warranty.

There are more than three gigawatts of SunPower solar power plants currently operating worldwide.

About SunPower
As one of the world’s most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower’s more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.

About Moss
Moss & Associates (www.mosscm.com) is a national privately held construction firm providing innovative solutions resulting in award-winning projects. With nine regional offices from Hawai’i to the Caribbean, Moss focuses on construction management at-risk, design-build, and public-private partnerships. The company’s diverse portfolio encompasses a wide range of sectors, including luxury high-rise residential, landmark mixed-use developments, hospitality, primary and higher education, justice and solar energy. Moss prides itself on a strong entrepreneurial culture that honors safety, quality, client engagement and employee development. Its employees consistently rank Moss as one of the best places to work.

SunPower’s Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding expected project timelines, relative generating capacity, projected job creation, and anticipated performance of products under development. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations, and beliefs and involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may cause results, performance, or achievement to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: regulatory changes and the availability of economic incentives promoting use of solar energy, challenges inherent in constructing and maintaining certain of our large projects, and fluctuations or declines in the performance of our solar panels and other products and solutions. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is included in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time, including our most recent report on Form 10-K, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.” Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or on the SEC Filings section of our Investor Relations website at investors.sunpowercorp.com. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.

© 2017 SunPower Corporation. All Rights Reserved. SUNPOWER, the SUNPOWER logo and OASIS are registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S. and other countries as well.

The post SunPower Starts Construction On 56-Megawatt Gala Solar Power Plant in Oregon first appeared on Moss.

Construction company Moss & Associates just became one of the few to complete one locally.

Moss spent about $300,000 to build a canopy of 200 solar-panels to cover about 22 cars at the parking lot of its Fort Lauderdale headquarters. It expects to recoup that investment in about five years, thanks in part to rebates from Florida Power & Light Co. and to federal tax credits, president Scott Moss said.

For full story, click here.

The post Moss Adds Rare Solar Parking Canopy first appeared on Moss.