Solar Power Partners (SPP) announced recently that five more new solar energy projects have been completed. This includes the second phase of 1.2 MW solar installations at UC San Diego, along with grocery stores in California, which are a part of a worldwide chain.

The grocery stores are among the 18 total solar systems that have been completed by SPP in the past two years and they are located in Soquel (248 kW), Upland (201 kW), Mira Loma (237 kW) and Pasadena (108 kW). About 41 solar systems generating nearly 14 MW of green energy at schools, universities, medical centers, and business, are owned and operated by SPP. The largest solar installations of their type are found at the Fresno-Yosemite Airport and West County Wastewater District in Richmond, California.

Power Purchase Agreements have been used to fund and construct the five new solar systems. This way SPP customers are able take on solar energy without facing upfront costs and face fewer risks owning and operating a power plant. Project investors and SPP maintain ownership, and the solar power generated is sold by the systems to the host customers at lower rates than what is found on the grid.

SPP's current portfolio includes 41 projects with a total power of 14 MW. Annually, it is estimated that nearly 895,495 metric tons of carbon dioxide would be offset by the energy produced by these projects, the equivalent to the emissions produced by 164,010 vehicles or the power needed for 124,202 homes.