APS added 410 MW of solar in 2013

By Jan. 6, 2014


Dive Brief:

  • Arizona Public Service brought online four utility-owned solar projects totaling 62 MW in December, bringing new large-scale and rooftop solar for the utility to 410 MW in 2013. Overall, APS has about 750 MW of solar on its system.
  • The largest chunk of the new solar came from Abengoa's 280-MW Solana generating station near Gila Bend, Arizona, which started operating in October. Power from the plant, which has energy storage capacity, is sold to APS under a long-term contract.
  • APS is on track to adding 200-MW of utility-owned solar under a program approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Dive Insight:

APS and solar developers were recently in a fight over the utility's proposal to charge rooftop solar owners an extra fee. Even so, solar has been soaring on APS's system. It certainly helps that the utility will earn a return on the roughly $975 million its utility-owned solar program.

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