Dive Brief:
- Southern California Edison (SCE) has issued a request for offers (RFO) to independent solar power producers and developers for up to 63 megawatts (DC) of solar photovoltaic solar capacity in installations of between 500 kilowatts and 10 megawatts. Interconnections will be through SCE’s distribution system.
- This is SCE’s fourth RFO in its Solar Photovoltaic Program (SPVP), through which it will eventually procure a total of 125 megawatts (DC) by 2015.
- Would-be developers must register on the SCE website for the RFO and have their offers in by January 6, 2015. A “bidders conference” will be hosted by SCE on October 17. The awarded power purchase agreements will be finalized by March 12, 2015.
Dive Insight:
The SPVP was mandated by the California Public Utilities Commission to drive the growth of distributed solar which imposes less burden and cost on the bulk transmission system than utility scale solar.
RFOs have become the preferred practice in California for both IOUs and developers because the processes, rules, and expectations are well-known and clear.
By the end of 2013, SCE was obtaining 21.6% of its electricity from renewables, on the way to meeting California's 33% renewables by 2020 mandate.
Pacific Gas and Electric and San Diego Gas and Electric, California's other two major IOUs, are making comparable progress toward the state's renewables mandate.
The IOUs' ability to add renewables is the justification advocates offer in calling for a new 40% by 2025 mandate.
