Tempe-based First Solar said Thursday it has acquired a portion of
solar development projects from Edison Mission Group, a unit of
Edison International and sister company of Southern California
Edison.
The large-scale solar power plants, which are scheduled to be built
over the next few years, will be located on privately owned land in
California and the Southwest, the company said.
The location on private land is important because many solar
projects on public lands in California have been delayed by
environmental lawsuits. However, the electricity output from the
Edison Mission projects is not yet contracted with utilities, the
company said.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition continues First Solar’s move into large utility-
scale solar energy projects. The company is already one of the
world’s largest makers of thin-film photovoltaic modules, which
produce electricity when exposed to sunlight.
The new solar power plant construction will provide a predictable
source of demand for the company’s modules, said Lisa
Bodensteiner, First Solar’s vice president of North American
business development
First Solar and EMG have worked together since 2008 on the EMG
projects, with First Solar providing engineering, procurement and
construction services while EMG was responsible for land
acquisition and permitting. Now First Solar said it will handle all
development activities for these projects, including permitting.
First Solar completed construction of its first California utility
-scale solar power plant in December, the 21-megawatt Blythe
project, which was sold to NRG Energy and supplies electricity to
Southern California Edison. The Blythe plant is being operated by
First Solar under a long-term contract with NRG.
