Capital Dynamics, First Solar inaugurate 280 MW solar project in the US

Capital Dynamics and First Solar, Inc. have announced the completion and start of commercial operation of the 280 MWac California Flats Solar Project. The project is located on one of the largest working ranches in the USA - the Jack Ranch owned by Hearst and occupies approximately 2,900 acres of land, near the borders of San Luis Obispo and Monterey County in California.

The solar farm covers approximately three percent of the area of the ranch, and it is an equivalent to the area of 449 football field. It was built in two phases and is fully contracted under two long-term PPAs with Pacific Gas & Electric andApple, Inc., serving both utility and corporate renewable customers. First Solar completed development and constructed the facility after acquiring the project in 2015. Capital Dynamics acquired the project from First Solar in August 2017.

The project partners placed significant emphasis on successfully co-locating the project with the cattle ranch while minimizing and mitigating the environmental impact of constructing the solar plant. Ranch employees worked in tandem with the construction and operation teams, with input from stakeholders, to assess and plan the development; as a result, the facility has a very low visual impact and cannot be seen from any public roads. The project supports and complements the sustainable cattle operation of the ranch, which provides grass-fed beef to Whole Foods Market's Southern Pacific region, reducing pressure to use the ranch land for other commercial purposes.

The facility is powered by First Solar's high-performance thin film technology, including Series 6 modules, which deliver a combination of performance, reliability, and eco-efficiency. The Series 6 modules, manufactured by First Solar in the United States, have approximately half the carbon footprint of conventional crystalline silicon PV panels, delivering the smallest environmental footprint and the fastest energy payback time of any PV technology.

The California Flats Solar Project will generate clean solar energy equivalent to the needs of about 116,000 average California households per year, displacing more than 109,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually based on the PG&E grid – the equivalent of taking about 22,000 cars off the road.

Vice Chair of the Monterey CountyBoard of Supervisors, Chris Lopez, said - "Monterey County is proud to be a part of California's green energy solution. The California Flats Solar Project exemplifies our commitment to an energy independent California. While this project is located in Monterey County, its impacts on job creation and the economy will be felt throughout the state".