PSEG Lawrence Livermore Solar Center Dedicated Renowned Research Facility Taps the Sun’s Energy
Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Christine Harada today joined with PSEG Solar Source, the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and juwi solar Inc. (JSI) to dedicate the PSEG Lawrence Livermore Solar Center.The solar center occupies 10 acres in the northwest corner of the Laboratory site, which is about 40 miles east of San Francisco. It has 12,720 solar panels with a capacity of 3.9-megawatts-dc (3.3-megawatt-ac). The Western Area Power Administration has a 20-year contract to purchase the electricity the solar farm produces. At its peak, the solar facility provides about 5 percent of the electricity used by the Laboratory – a premier research institution with the mission of applying science and technology to national security.
“I congratulate the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration for their commitment to increase renewable energy generation on America’s public lands,” said Christine Harada, Federal Chief Sustainability Officer for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.“This effort is a great example of the federal government leading by example. The Lawrence Livermore Solar Center will provide the DOE with cost-effective solar power for years to come, a great accomplishment in support of the Administration’s climate vision for our country.” PSEG Solar Source operates 13 facilities in nine states with a total capacity of 152 MWs and has another four solar facilities under construction, which will expand its portfolio to 315 MWs.
“We are delighted to be part of a project that will provide clean energy to one of world’s leading research and development institutions,” said Diana Drysdale, president of PSEG Solar Source. “By investing in solar projects like this one, we are doing our part to lay the foundation for a clean, green and economically vibrant energy future for everyone.”Dozens of Laboratory employees attended the dedication and were given tours of the solar farm.
“LLNL is proud to be the majority end user of this clean, green energy and is proud to be the first NNSA facility to employ solar power onsite in the western region,” said Mark Martinez, the Lab’s Principal Associate Director, Operations & Business Directorate. “This project is a large contributor for the Lab in its efforts to meet the DOE goal for renewables for this year.”
JSI was the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Livermore project and operates the facility for PSEG Solar Source.“Our partnership with PSEG Solar Source has been tremendously successful in developing resources that will provide emission-free energy for decades,” said Mike Martin, juwi’s president and CEO.The solar farm is expected to generate approximately 6,300 MWh annually and represents the DOE/NNSA’s largest purchase of solar energy from an onsite facility.
