SunPower has won a contract to provide solar technology for generating up to 200 MW or 80% of the solar power capacity needed for Southern California Edison's (SCE) large solar PV installation program.

During the next five years, the utility plans to install, own and operate 250 MW of solar generating capacity, most of it on otherwise unused large warehouse rooftops. The large 1-2 MW solar installations will be connected directly to neighborhood distribution circuits where the leased rooftops are located.

For the purpose, SCE is purchasing the SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile product, which integrates into a single unit a solar panel, frame and roof mounting system, thereby reducing installation time and costs. In addition, it produces more power per installation.

In a related development, on January 21, 2010, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the process to be used for a second track of solar installations that will double the size of SCE's PV program. Previously, regulators directed the company to conduct a competitive solicitation, offering long-term power contracts to independent solar power providers willing to install an additional 250 MW of PV generation. SCE hopes to launch the solicitation later this month. Eventually, the two installation tracks will add a total of 500 MW to the solar generating capacity of Southern California's power resources – the largest U.S. PV program ever undertaken.

[source: SCE, SunPower]