RFP Interview: California CCAs discuss Sundown RFO and why standalone solar is out
Related Documents:
RFP website, including attachments
California community choice aggregators (CCA) Peninsula Clean Energy and San Jose Clean Energy have partnered in a 1 TWh RFO for “sundown” renewables.
The CCAs are seeking 10 year PPAs for projects to begin operation by the end of 2024 as part of larger clean energy goals. Siobhan Doherty, Director of Power Resources at Peninsula, said that while the RFO is for all types of renewables, the CCAs are particularly looking for resources such as energy storage for use during non-duck curve hours.
Project proposals are due 4 September by 5pm PST.
Doherty said the CCAs are looking for projects that can meet load requirements at all hours of the day.
“We’re looking for renewable energy that can complement the solar shape,” Doherty said.
The CCAs will ultimately be looking at the least-cost, least-risk projects when determining which proposals to take on, but Doherty added that solar actually may not fit the overall bill of procurement needs. The RFO states that the joint CCAs do not anticipate standalone solar projects being cost-competitive, and thus they will not be accepted.
“Generally we’ve found that solar is the cheapest from a dollars per MW perspective, but given the duck curve in California, and how much solar is already on the system, it’s not always the most valuable,” Doherty said.
The state requires the entities procure 33 percent renewable energy, but both San Jose and Peninsula have surpassed that goal already serving at least 45 percent and 50 percent clean energy, respectively, for their combined 1.7m customers. Since launching in 2019, San Jose has contracted 262 MW of solar and 10 MW of storage, and Peninsula has invested in 550 MW of clean energy.
Peninsula hopes this RFO will help meet its goal of 100 percent renewables by 2025.
“Peninsula Clean Energy is in the vanguard of providing reliable, affordable and around the clock renewable power in both homes and businesses,” said Dave Pine, who serves on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Peninsula Clean Energy in a statement. “With these renewable energy and storage contracts, Peninsula Clean Energy continues to demonstrate the innovation and leadership of community choice energy providers.”