EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA) has inaugurated its Scarlet I Solar Energy Park in Fresno County, California. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries and industry partners, celebrating the 200 MW solar project, which includes a 40 MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
The Scarlet I facility has secured power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy) for 100 MW of solar and 30 MW of BESS, and with San José Clean Energy (SJCE) for 100 MW of solar and 10 MW of BESS. This project expands EDPR NA's operational footprint in California, which currently stands at 248 MW.
“We're excited for the commencement of Scarlet I as it plays a key role in Ava achieving our goal of providing 100% carbon-free electricity to all customers by 2030,” said Howard Chang, CEO of Ava Community Energy. “Working with EDPR NA ensured that our investment in renewables, and making it easy for our customers to transition to clean and reliable energy while saving on monthly energy bills, is happening.”
The project supported the creation of over 230 construction jobs and five permanent positions for ongoing operations and maintenance. Scarlet I is expected to invest millions of dollars in local businesses and the economy over the coming decades.
“This project will help us keep our commitment to providing clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local control, and more transparency and accessibility,” said Lori Mitchell, director of San José Clean Energy. “In sourcing and building clean and affordable renewables, we're committed to advancing a more reliable and sustainable power grid for California.”
Scarlet I aims to contribute to regional water efficiency, potentially saving over 254 million gallons of water annually, compared to conventional generation sources. The project is also exploring agrivoltaics, which involves the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture. Following a successful trial run, the site is considering using locally sourced sheep for grazing.
EDPR NA's involvement in Fresno County is ongoing, with the company being an active member of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation. EDPR NA has also sponsored local events, including the 2023 State of the County event and the 2023 Fresno County Fair.
“California remains a priority state for EDPR NA's development efforts, and we are pleased to finalize this significant solar + storage project in The Golden State,” said Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America. “Scarlet I will be a benchmark project as we look to develop additional hybrid multi-technology renewable projects across our portfolio and contribute further to grid resiliency.”
EDPR NA is a key renewable energy player in California. The company's operational footprint includes three phases of the Rising Tree Wind Farm in Kern County, two phases of the Lone Valley Solar Park in San Bernardino County, and the Windhub A Solar Park in Kern County. EDPR NA has additional projects in late-stage development, including the 200 MW Scarlet II Solar Energy Park, which includes 150 MW of BESS, and the 300 MW Sandrini Solar Park in Kern County.
