World’s Largest Co-located Solar Projects Generating 579 Megawatts
The Solar Star projects are now generating 579-megawatts of new, clean renewables energy to the California ISO controlled grid. Construction started in January 2013 on the Solar Star projects, which are co-located developments in Kern and Los Angeles counties in California.
“The final panel was installed in March 2015 for the projects and we are excited to announce that the projects are now sending 579 megawatts to the California ISO grid,” said Rick Weech, president, BHE Renewables International.
The projects use approximately 1.7 million SunPower monocrystalline silicon modules and single axis tracking technology, which generate electricity with no emissions or waste. The first phase of the projects was synchronized to the California ISO grid in October 2013.
The Solar Star projects are owned by BHE Renewables, an industry leader in solar energy generation and owner of two of the world’s largest solar plants in operation. The company introduced its new name – BHE Renewables – in January 2015. Formerly doing business as MidAmerican Renewables and MidAmerican Solar, the name change more clearly reflects the benefits of Berkshire Hathaway Energy ownership and particularly the company’s ability to reinvest in its businesses and take a long-term view of energy needs.
About BHE Renewables
BHE Renewables is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2012, BHE Renewables has invested extensively in solar, wind, geothermal and hydro projects. As a long-term owner of assets, the company’s photovoltaic solar projects include the 550-megawatt Topaz Solar Farms in San Luis Obispo County, Calif.; the 579-megawatt Solar Star projects, two projects co-located in Kern and Los Angeles counties in California; and a 49 percent ownership interest in the 290-megawatt Agua Caliente project in Yuma County, Ariz.
