EBCE Expands Its Renewable Energy and Storage Portfolio with Two New Contracts and Memorandum of Understanding
Sep 27, 2019
Oakland, Calif. (September 27, 2019) – At the last public board meeting, the East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) board of directors approved an additional two agreements totaling 225 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity, along with 80 MW/160 MWh (megawatt-hour) of battery energy storage, to be built in Southern California. Additional storage may be added to one of the projects. Additionally, the board discussed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 80 MW of wind power in Alameda County. The projects build upon agreements approved by the EBCE board in June and July of this year. All approved projects combined total 550 MW of new renewable energy generation and at least 137.5 MW/390 MWh of energy storage. EBCE is a Community Choice Energy provider that serves most of Alameda County and is committed to increasing clean power within its local communities.
The two new power purchase agreements for solar in southern California are both expected to be operational in December 2022. Each contract includes a contribution to a Community Investment Fund and a commitment to use union and/or prevailing wage labor. Below is a summary of the agreement terms:
- sPower Solar + Storage Project: 20-year agreement for 125 MW of solar power and 80 MW/160 MWh of battery storage in southern California, developed by Salt Lake City-based sPower
- Edwards Solar Project: 15-year agreement for 100 MW of solar power and virtual storage in Kern County, developed by San Diego-based Terra-Gen
The sPower Solar + Storage Project is a 125 MW solar project with 80 MW/160 MWh of battery storage. EBCE is purchasing all output from the project including energy, renewable energy credits, and resource adequacy. In addition, EBCE will have full control to charge and discharge the battery to help bring energy into the evening hours when the solar is not generating due to the sun setting. The project is being developed by sPower, a national leader in the development, construction, and operation of solar power facilities.
The Edwards Solar Project is a 100 MW solar project on land that is part of Edwards Airforce Base. Terra-Gen was selected by Edwards Airforce Base as sole developer of solar on their lands for approximately 600 MW of total solar development. In addition, this project is a solar plus virtual storage contract that allows Terra-Gen the option to install battery storage and manage the charge and discharge, providing EBCE with negative pricing protection. EBCE has the right to procure resource adequacy in the event storage is added.
EBCE’s Board also discussed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Brookfield Renewable Partners regarding an 80 MW wind project in Alameda County. The project is in Livermore and is a repower of a former wind project that has been fully decommissioned. The expected date of operation is December 2021.
These new approved agreements supplement a growing portfolio of renewable energy and storage projects across California, which are the result of a competitive solicitation run by EBCE to deliver on its promise to increase the use of renewable energy. The portfolio has a mix of 10 to 20-year contracts along with a variety of pricing structures and contract provisions to help EBCE diversify its risk related to geographic or technology concentration. On a portfolio basis the solar projects will cost EBCE approximately $22/MWh, with a 2% inflation adjustment over time. Pricing for individual projects is confidential. Additionally, solar developers have agreed to contribute over $1,000,000 towards EBCE’s Community Investment Fund plus additional volunteer and education-related training hours.
Below is a summary of all new long-term agreements signed in 2019.
Portfolio Summary
| Developer | Technology | Nameplate MW | Storage MW | County | Expected Completion | Term (years) | |
| Contracted | Altamont Winds | Wind | 57.5 | N/A | Alameda | 12/1/2020 | 20 |
| Clearway Energy Group | Solar | 112 | N/A | Kern | 12/31/2020 | 15 | |
| Solar Frontier Americas | Solar | 56 | N/A | Tulare | 12/31/2021 | 15 | |
| EDPR Renewables North America | Solar + Storage | 100 | 30 | Fresno | 12/31/2022 | 20 | |
| sPower | Solar + Storage | 125 | 80 | SoCal | 12/31/2022 | 20 | |
| Terra-Gen | Solar + Virtual Storage | 100 | TBD | Kern | 12/31/2022 | 15 | |
| Evaluating | Clearway Energy Group | Wind | 43 | N/A | Alameda | 12/31/2021 | 15 |
| Brookfield Renewable Partners | Wind | 80 | N/A | Alameda | 12/31/2021 | 20 | |
| OCEI* | Vistra Energy | In front of meter storage and resource adequacy | 20 | 20 | Alameda | 1/1/2022 | 10 |
| esVolta | In front of meter storage and resource adequacy | 7 | 7 | Alameda | 12/1/2021 | 13 | |
| SunRun | Behind the meter storage and resource adequacy | 0.5 | 0.5 | Alameda | 1/1/2022 | 10 |
*OCEI – Oakland Clean Energy Initiative
Additional information from previous press releases can be found at these links:
- 6/5 Press Release: EBCE Approves Resource Adequacy Contract with Vistra Energy for New Battery Energy Storage Project, Paving Way for Shut Down of Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plant in Oakland
- 6/19 Press Release: EBCE Green Lights Over 155 MW of New Renewable Energy Projects and 30 MW of Energy Storage
- 6/25 Press Release: EBCE Signs over 200 MW of New Renewable Energy Generation and 50 MW of Energy Storage, All Located in California
###
About East Bay Community Energy (EBCE)
EBCE is a not-for-profit public agency that operates a Community Choice Energy program for Alameda County and eleven incorporated cities, serving more than 550,000 residential and commercial customers throughout the county. EBCE initiated service in June 2018 and is one of 19 community choice aggregation (CCA) programs operating in California. CCAs are expediting the climate action goals of their communities and those of California. EBCE is committed to providing clean power at competitive rates while reinvesting in our local communities. For more information about East Bay Community Energy, visit https://ebce.org/.
About sPower
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, sPower is one of the fastest-growing utility-scale renewable energy companies in the United States. sPower owns and operates more than 155 utility and commercial distribution electrical generation systems and has a portfolio of solar and wind assets exceeding 13.0 GW between operation, construction, and development. As a vertically integrated platform, with technology neutrality, sPower develops projects at the lowest cost; funds projects from development through operations; and provides access to a mature, highly viable pipeline of projects. sPower is owned by a joint venture partnership between The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation. For more information, visit www.spower.com.
About Terra-Gen
Terra-Gen, LLC is a leading U.S. developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects in North America. Terra-Gen owns approximately 1,180 MWs of wind, geothermal and solar generating capacity in operation across 33 renewable power facilities throughout the United States. Terra-Gen was formed in 2007 and is wholly owned by Energy Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.terra-gen.com.
About Brookfield
Brookfield Renewable Partners (Brookfield) operates one of the world’s largest publicly traded, pure-play renewable power platforms. Brookfield’s portfolio consists of hydroelectric, wind, solar and storage facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, and totals over 17,000 megawatts of installed capacity and an 8,000-megawatt development pipeline. Brookfield Renewable is listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. For more information, visit https://bep.brookfield.com.