Value chain · CLM-1261
In plain terms
In 2009 California's largest utility signed a deal to buy up to 200 megawatts of power from a space solar company for 15 years, starting in June 2016, from a receiving station in central California. It agreed to pay more than the usual benchmark price, and the details were kept confidential.
The claim as recorded
PG&E's 2009 power purchase agreement with Solaren, as summarised in its filing to the CPUC of 10 April 2009, was for up to 200 MW of renewable energy from a space solar project in geosynchronous orbit with a ground receiving station in Fresno County, California, for a 15-year term from a contract delivery start date of 1 June 2016. The filing gives a capacity factor of 97 per cent, expected deliveries of 850 GWh in the first year and 1,700 GWh a year after, delivery to the CAISO grid at the Helm or Los Banos substation, and a price "Above the MPR" (the market price referent), with the price and contract in confidential appendices. PG&E asked for a resolution by 29 October 2009 and states that either party may terminate if CPUC approval is not obtained before that date.
Evidence behind this: A utility's filing to its regulator summarising its own signed contract; terms as filed, the contract itself confidential and not held.
Scope and limits
CONTRACT TERMS AS FILED, NOT DELIVERIES. 1 June 2016 is the contract delivery start date, not an achieved one; no held source shows a delivery, a satellite or a station (CLM-1231 reports completion expected by 2016; CLM-1260 records the regulatory steps only). The price is confidential, stated only as above the market price referent. PDF p.10-12 describe the technology, partly attributed to Solaren, and are not carried here: p.12 gives a "1974" JPL Goldstone test of 34 kW over 1.5 km at over 80 per cent, against Brown's 1977 report of the 1975 test, 30 kW over 1.6 km at over 82 per cent (CLM-1097), and, "According to Solaren", a 2008 Hawaii test over 148 km at over 90 per cent RF-to-DC, where the held review gives beam collection under 0.001 per cent (CLM-1134).
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
PDF p.2: approval would let PG&E accept deliveries "for up to 200 megawatts" from a project with a ground receiving station in Fresno County, "for a term of 15 years"; if completed by 2016, 850 GWh in the first year and 1,700 GWh per year over the remaining term (paraphrase). PDF p.3-4, contract summary table: capacity 200 MW, capacity factor 97%, online date (contract delivery start date) June 1, 2016, term 15 years, new facility, price relative to MPR "Above the MPR" (paraphrase except the quoted span). PDF p.3: resolution requested by October 29, 2009; if CPUC approval is not obtained before that date either party may terminate (paraphrase). PDF p.10: point of delivery the CAISO grid at the Helm or Los Banos substation (paraphrase). Arithmetic check (drafter's): 200 MW x 8,760 h x 0.97 = 1,699 GWh, consistent with 1,700 GWh a year.
Basis: MW of capacity; GWh per year; years of term; calendar dates
Related records
- Answers question
- QST-027 not published in this releaseQST-031 not published in this release
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1261
CLM-1261, Energy Aperture, as of 2009-04-10.