SUSTAINABILITY
PRnewswire | May 16, 2023
Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy), a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, announced it has signed long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. (Shell Energy) and the Regents of the University of California, for a portion of the power from its 3,500+ MW SunZia Wind project. Construction of SunZia Wind is expected to start later this year and be completed in 2026, when it will start delivering power to western energy markets.
"This wind contract represents another milestone achievement for the University of California," said David Phillips, Associate Vice President of Capital Programs, Energy and Sustainability. "Eight years ago, we signed our first utility-scale contracts for solar and today we are adding another important renewable resource to our portfolio – wind. The University is excited to be part of such a significant renewable project that will reduce carbon emissions and provide more resilience to the California grid."
"We welcome these exciting new relationships with Shell Energy and UC Regents on the delivery of New Mexico wind power," said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy. "SunZia is providing access to some of the best wind in the world, which has a powerful generation profile with an evening peak that is a perfect complement to daytime solar. We are committed to harnessing New Mexico's wind to generate clean power for 3 million Americans and continuing to have conversations with interested customers throughout the western region."
SunZia Transmission will open access to the western energy markets to SunZia Wind, the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere, which is comprised of more than 3,500 MW of new wind generation located in Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel Counties in New Mexico. SunZia Transmission is a 550-mile ± 525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona with the capacity to transport 3,000 MW of clean, renewable energy. SunZia Transmission will enable SunZia Wind to supply customers in Arizona and California during the crucial early evening hours when demand is high but the otherwise available renewable energy supply is low.
The SunZia Wind and SunZia Transmission projects have been developed with a deep commitment to local community engagement and environmental stewardship. A key initiative for SunZia has been following through on an extended engagement with local, regional, and national conservation stakeholders. As a result of this commitment and consultation, SunZia Transmission is setting a precedent with a gold standard in environmental mitigation efforts developed hand-in-hand with the environmental community. These range from restoring thousands of acres of wildlife habitat to investing in emerging technology and long-term conservation research. SunZia Wind has established robust environmental best practices to reduce project impacts and study effective habitat restoration strategies in partnership with local and state experts.
Pattern Energy recently announced that the SunZia Transmission and SunZia Wind projects are expected to generate $20.5 billion dollars in total economic benefit, which includes over $8 billion of direct capital investment, at no added cost to ratepayers, according to the results of an independent study conducted by research firm Energy, Economic & Environment Consultants LLC. Together, the projects will generate an expected $1.3 billion in fiscal impacts that will go to governments, communities, and schools. These benefits are generated through sales and use taxes, property taxes, community benefit payments, and land payments to federal and state agencies.
The projects continue to work with federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as well as local jurisdictions and stakeholders, to finalize remaining approvals to allow construction to begin on schedule this year.
About Pattern Energy
Pattern Energy is one of the world's largest privately-owned developers and operators of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects. Its operational portfolio includes 35 renewable energy facilities that use proven, best-in-class technology with an operating capacity of nearly 6,000 MW in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. Pattern Energy is guided by a long-term commitment to serve customers, protect the environment, and strengthen communities.
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ENERGY
businesswire | April 12, 2023
FirstLight Power, a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company, today announced the company completed the planned integration of H2O Power, the third largest provider of hydroelectric power in Ontario. As the majority owner of over 150 Megawatts (MW) of generating capacity with an annual energy production of nearly 900,000 Megawatt hours (MWh), the addition of H2O Power brings the combined FirstLight portfolio to over 1,650 MW of operating capacity, with a development pipeline of over 2,000 MW. The integration represents FirstLight’s first venture into the Canadian market and scales FirstLight Power to one of the largest energy storage and clean energy generation platforms in North America.
“We are proud to expand our operations into Canada and welcome the 43 talented members of the H2O Power team to our growing company,” said Alicia Barton, President and CEO of FirstLight. “2022 was a transformative year for FirstLight, and we anticipate that 2023 will be no different as we kick the year off with this exciting integration and renewed momentum to support our mission to build and optimize diversified, reliable, and cost-competitive clean energy assets to decarbonize electrical grids across North America.”
The H2O Power portfolio is comprised of eight hydroelectric facilities, three control dams, and 140 km of transmission lines that operate to deliver clean, reliable, and flexible power to Ontario, making it the province’s third largest hydropower provider. Over the last ten years, H2O Power has completed significant upgrades to its fleet of hydroelectric facilities. The more than $100 million upgrade program consisted of turbine refurbishments, runner replacements, generator rewinds, and transformer replacements. The addition of the H2O Power portfolio follows FirstLight Power’s integration of two hydroelectric facilities in Western Pennsylvania last year from H2O Power, which represented an additional 31.5 MW of baseload capacity.
“We are pleased to join forces with FirstLight Power to become one of the leading clean energy operators in North America,” said Marc Mantha, who has been appointed Vice President & General Manager, Canadian Operations. “We have made significant investments to upgrade our fleet to enhance operations and increase capacity, bolstering our ability to provide more clean and flexible power to the region and the people of Ontario. Our talented workforce has vast experience operating renewable assets, which will be a tremendous benefit as FirstLight continues its expansion efforts across North America.”
FirstLight believes that the H2O Power assets are ideally positioned to help the province of Ontario meet its growing clean energy needs in the decades ahead. By providing high-capacity factor hydroelectric power, along with considerable storage capabilities in the associated river systems, the company anticipates that the assets will assist Ontario in integrating significant planned new additions of wind and solar capacity.
Substantial new intermittent renewable generation is being planned to meet Ontario’s goal of decarbonizing the electric sector by 2050, as outlined in the recent Pathways to Decarbonization report issued by the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). Further, Ontario Power Generation’s recently released Northern Hydro Report identified that 3,000 – 4,000 MW of new hydro development opportunities are available and can make a significantly increased contribution to meeting the province’s emergent electricity needs and help achieve decarbonization objectives. Following the completion of this integration, FirstLight will be exploring potential expansions or upgrades of these facilities as well as considering new hydro development projects to meet the forecasted increased clean electricity needs outlined in the Pathways to Decarbonization report.
“Combining FirstLight Power with H2O Power brings together two industry leading teams that have a track record of operational excellence and advancing clean technologies and solutions,” said Stephan Rupert, Managing Director and Head of Americas, Infrastructure Investments at PSP Investments. “This integration represents an important development for the North American clean energy sector, and it comes at an important time in the global response to climate change. It is also particularly exciting for our team at PSP as it advances our climate strategy and our intention to be a leading investor in assets that enable economy-wide decarbonization.”
The integration of H2O Power follows a number of strategic partnerships that have solidified FirstLight as a leading owner, operator, and developer of critical energy storage and renewable energy assets. Last year, FirstLight was part of a successful investment consortium that secured a lease in the recent NY Bight Offshore Wind auction. The company also completed the acquisitions of two hydroelectric facilities in Western Pennsylvania that expanded the company’s footprint into the PJM and New York electricity market. In addition, FirstLight announced a new partnership in Connecticut to advance new hybrid renewable energy projects at the company’s existing Connecticut properties. FirstLight also announced a strategic partnership with New Leaf Energy (formerly Borrego) to develop new solar and storage generation at FirstLight’s existing hydropower facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut. These collaborations will advance the company’s mission to help accelerate the Northeast’s path to a fully decarbonized electric grid.
About FirstLight Power
FirstLight Poweris a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company serving North America. With a diversified portfolio that includes over 1,650 MW of operating renewable energy and energy storage technologies and a development pipeline with 2,000+ MW of solar, battery, and offshore wind projects, FirstLight specializes in hybrid solutions that pair hydroelectric, pumped-hydro storage, utility-scale solar, large-scale battery, and offshore wind assets. The company’s mission is to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid by supporting the development, operation, and integration of renewable energy and storage to meet the world’s growing clean energy needs and deliver an electric system that is clean, reliable, affordable, and equitable. Based in Burlington, MA, with operating offices in Northfield, MA, and New Milford, CT, FirstLight is a steward of more than 14,000 acres and hundreds of miles of shoreline along some of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in North America. FirstLight is wholly owned by PSP Investments since 2016.
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ENERGY, INDUSTRY UPDATES
Businesswire | May 10, 2023
Apex Clean Energy and Powin LLC a global energy storage platform provider, announced two new battery storage projects in Texas. Apex developed and will construct, own, and operate the projects; Powin is providing its Centipede™ Platform and StackOS™ battery management system.
Angelo Storage, co-located with the 195 MW Angelo Solar Project, and Great Kiskadee Storage will each deliver 100MW/200 MWh of capacity to the Texas grid with a 2-hour battery duration. The battery systems will use Powin’s StackOS platform to provide energy arbitrage and ancillary grid services to the ERCOT market, which are critical for maintaining grid reliability. The storage systems will absorb excess solar or wind generation when demand is low and discharge when energy usage is high, ensuring adequate power supply while allowing the grid to operate more efficiently and flexibly.
“As Texas experiences more extreme weather conditions in both summer and winter months, there’s a growing need for cleaner and more reliable energy,” said Geoff Brown, CEO of Powin. “With visibility and control down to the battery cell level, our platform can respond to changing grid conditions in real-time. As these new storage projects are deployed, ERCOT customers in the region will have the assurance of a climate-resilient grid backed by Powin’s technology.”
“Texas already leads the nation in operating wind and solar capacity; adding battery storage will support ERCOT with grid reliability, encouraging additional renewable development in the Lone Star State,” said Mark Goodwin, president and CEO of Apex. “Battery storage is a crucial component of our nation’s energy transition, and Apex is investing accordingly, with 11.6 GW of utility-scale storage in our development portfolio—gigawatts of clean energy potential that is only realized alongside experienced partners like Powin.”
Together, the projects will generate more than $24.4 million in tax revenue and approximately 100 jobs during construction. The Angelo and Great Kiskadee storage projects are expected to begin commercial operations in late 2023 and 2024.
About Powin, LLC
At Powin, we are advancing the next frontier of energy and changing the way we power our daily lives by ensuring access to clean, resilient, and affordable power. As a global energy platform provider, we offer fully integrated battery storage solutions, software, and services to optimize grid performance and enable the transition to cleaner energy sources. Powin has over 6,000 MWh of energy storage systems that have been deployed or are under construction with an additional 11,000 MWh in contracting worldwide.
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