Meridian switches on California solar plant

State-owned Meridian Energy says its US subsidiary has commissioned its first solar power plant in California and connected it to the local grid.

The 5-megawatt CalRENEW-1 facility is a solar photovoltaic plant in Mendota, California, covering almost 20 hectares and using more than 50,000 individual solar panels.

The project was completed by Meridian subsidiary Cleantech America using Sharp Electronics Corporation solar panels. Meridian bought Cleantech America last August and has been funding its growth and expansion in addition to the construction of CalRENEW-1.

Meridian chief executive Tim Lusk said emission-free electricity from the plant was being sold under a long-term power purchase agreement with local utility Pacific Gas & Electric.

CalRENEW-1 was the first utility-scale photovoltaic solar project to be approved by the California Public Utilities Commission under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standards programme, and was also the first photovoltaic solar power station to be connected to the California grid.

Guy Waipara, the leader of Meridian's international solar programme, said the commissioning of the plant was a major milestone in the company's programme to explore solar power. Waipara said Meridian was looking at solar opportunities in the Pacific Islands, where costly diesel generation is used.

- NZPA