First Solar unveiled the completion of Phase 1 of the Barilla Solar Project in Pecos County, Texas, bringing approximately 18 MWAC of generating capacity to the Texas competitive wholesale market.
First Solar will offer electricity generated by the Barilla plant on a competitive open contract basis, making it the first such solar asset in Texas. First Solar developed, constructed and will operate the power plant, which incorporates a suite of advanced controls and capabilities essential to supporting grid stability and reliability within the ERCOT region. The project is in the final stages of the commissioning process.
"It is exciting to enter the Texas market with a clean, renewable energy source that is competitively priced against traditional high-cost peak resources," said Tim Rebhorn, Senior Vice President of Business Development for First Solar. He additionally noted that the Barilla power plant will contribute to lower electricity prices for Texas consumers, while providing a reliable resource to power providers.
According to the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Texas has the greatest technical potential for solar development in the U.S. The Barilla Solar Project takes advantage of one of the best solar resource geographies in the state, with the added benefit of tying into nearby existing power transmission infrastructure in the West Texas region. The solar power plant utilizes no water for electricity generation, an important additional benefit in an area where scarce water resources must be preserved.