Platte River Electricity Authority, a U.S.-based power provider, has published a request for proposals for solar and/or co-located battery storage projects totalling 250 MW. As per the company’s statement, it preferred utility-scale projects with a capacity of 100 MW and distribution projects with a capacity of 25 MW. It prefers projects with a capacity of up to 125 MW on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado, as well as projects with a capacity of up to 125 MW on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Up to 25 MW of distribution capacity should be located in the community.
As per the tender guidelines, to participate in the competitive bidding process, the bidders must state whether they have expertise in developing solar and solar-plus-battery-storage projects. They must submit a list of completed solar and solar plus battery storage projects in the United States and the Rocky Mountain region over the previous five years. In addition, the company will accept power purchase agreements for a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 25 years. By November 18, 2022, the PPAs are expected to be signed. The bid submission deadline is February 18, 2022.
The United Stated produces over 23 times as much solar power as it did in 2011, enough to power more than 12 million average American homes. In 2011, solar rooftops and utility-scale solar power plants produced 0.14 per cent of U.S. electricity; in 2020, they produced 2.3 per cent of America’s electricity. In 2019, the 2 millionth solar PV system was installed, and an additional million installations quickly followed by summer 2021.
