SunPower Corp. has completed a 13.78 MW solar photovoltaic power system at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS China Lake) in Calif. Using SunPower's modules, the plant is generating the equivalent of more than 30% of NAWS China Lake's annual energy load, the company says.
Using a long-term energy procurement authority (US Code Section 2922A), the power plant is the first federal agency project to be financed through a 20-year term solar power purchase agreement (PPA), SunPower adds. The 20-year PPA allows the Navy to secure electricity at up to 30% below the rate available through shorter duration 10-year PPAs.
An affiliate of MetLife Inc. purchased the system, which SunPower designed and built. The company installed its SunPower Oasis Power Plant product, a fully integrated, modular solar power block integrating the SunPower T0 Tracker with solar panels, pre-manufactured system cabling, the Oasis inverter and the Oasis operating system.
