New York Power Authority advances state-wide solar energy project

29 January 2010

US New York Power Authority (NYPA) has launched a solar energy initiative, with 60 interested parties including several solar developers registering and submitting requests for proposals.

The authority’s 100MW Solar Photovoltaic Initiative is an unprecedented clean energy project designed to stimulate the clean energy industry throughout the state, provide renewable energy educational opportunities, support public sustainability efforts and foster the development of solar technologies.

The NYPA said it seeks a public-private partnership for the installation of up to 100MW of photovoltaic systems across the state, including roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar arrays.

The project, which the authority said will be the largest solar project in state history, is aimed at the development of distributed solar photovoltaic generating facilities that will be installed throughout the state primarily at schools, public universities and colleges, state and local government facilities, municipal electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives.

‘A sustainable future for New York requires bold initiatives which will increase the deployment of clean energy,’ said New York State Governor David Paterson. ‘The New York Power Authority’s advancement of this, the largest solar initiative in state history, aligns with the state energy plan’s direction to increase in-state energy supplies. In doing so, this initiative will support growth in the clean energy industry and promote job creation, diversify our energy portfolio and support our energy independence.’

The Power Authority is soliciting proposals from developers to install, own and operate photovoltaic arrays, and to sell all the energy and environmental attributes to NYPA subject to a 20-year power purchase agreement. Installation of the solar photovoltaic projects is expected to begin in 2010 and be completed by the end of 2014.

Tom Key, technical executive at the Electric Power Research Institute said, ‘The scale of NYPA’s initiative could enable New York distribution companies to better understand the future grid integration challenges of high penetration photovoltaic. This project will expand our knowledge base of what’s needed to integrate new technologies such as photovoltaic, and for designing a future electric grid that enable renewable energy, electric vehicles and other distributed energy technologies are deployed.’

The New York Power Authority finances operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned through sales of electricity and said around 75 per cent of the electricity it produces is renewable hydropower.

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Tags: solar

This story was published on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 6:38 pm and is filed under North America, policy, solar. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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