The Tennessee Valley Authority is requesting proposals to supply up to 2,000 megawatts of power generation from renewable and clean energy sources to TVA by June 1, 2011.
Up to 1,000 megawatts of generation would be delivered to TVA by June 1, 2009, according to the Renewable Energy and/or Clean Energy Resources request for proposals issued today. The amount would increase to a maximum of 1,500 megawatts a year later and to 2,000 megawatts by June 1, 2011.
TVA is targeting individual companies capable of producing at least 1 megawatt of electricity from renewable or clean energy resources and is interested in proposals that would provide the power supply from 1 to 20 years.
TVA's Environmental Policy approved by the TVA Board forecasts that more than 50 percent of total power generation will come from zero or low carbon-emitting sources such as nuclear and renewable energy by 2020.
"We expect this request for proposals to provide TVA with a variety of options to consider in acquiring efficient, cost-effective renewable and clean energy generation," said Power Supply and Fuels Executive Vice President Van Wardlaw. "This is an important step in helping TVA achieve its goal of having more than half of our generation supplied by zero or low carbon-emitting sources by 2020."
Renewable energy generation technologies that will be considered include solar, wind, hydropower, ocean, tidal, geothermal, biomass and other biologically derived fuels. Clean energy generation technologies include combined heat and power, waste heat recovery and other low-carbon emitting resources.
TVA will contract for the output of renewable and clean energy generation through power purchase agreements.
Companies interested in submitting a proposal may go to www.tva.com to obtain specific RFP guidelines and submission information. Proposals must be received by Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
In addition, as TVA evaluates its renewable and clean energy portfolio, another RFP is being issued to allow others to partner with TVA on the continued operation, study and use of TVA's original three wind turbines on Buffalo Mountain.
TVA installed the wind turbines in 2001 and established the first successful wind farm in the Southeast. Since then, 15 additional wind turbines have been installed on Buffalo Mountain, which TVA supported through a power purchase agreement.
TVA is the nation's largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.
