Xcel Energy and SunPower jointly commenced operation of the 50MW Hooper Solar PV power plant in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The PV plant utilizes SunPower’s Oasis® Power Plant system for increasing average power generation throughout the lifetime, and Xcel Energy will purchase electricity generated from the facility.
"We are adding large scale solar that competes with and surpasses other forms of generation alternatives, in terms of price, over the life of the project. This benefits all of our customers - both environmentally and economically," commented David Eves, president of Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company.
SunPower and Xcel Energy has partnered in building three solar power plants in the San Luis Vallay. The first plant, the 19MW Greater Sandhill plant, has been operating since 2010, while the second one, the 30MW San Luis Valley Solar Ranch, has been operating since 2011. The latest PV plant generates enough electricity for powering approximately 13,500 average Colorado homes starting from the date.
SunPower designed and constructed the plant, and will offer O&M services as well as monitor power production from remote operations control center in Austin, Texas. SunPower applied the patterned Oasis® solution on the plant. The solution is a fully integrated, modular solar power block that helps reduce power costs through simple installation steps and robotic panel cleaning capability.