The 35-megawatt DC (29-megawatt AC) system will feature SunPower’s Performance Series solar panels and deliver low-carbon electricity to Chevron's Lost Hills oil field in Kern County, California, under a power purchase agreement. Over the project's term of up to 20 years, it is estimated to produce more than 1.4 billion kilowatt hours of clean solar energy, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1 million metric tons. This is equivalent to offsetting the CO2 emissions produced by the energy use of 118,550 homes for one year.
"As global demand for energy continues to grow, we are committed to supporting affordable, reliable, ever-cleaner energy and to exploring increased use of renewables in support of our business,” said Allen Satterwhite, President, Chevron Pipeline & Power. “Advancing economically viable renewable energy projects which scale is part of the equation and this project represents a meaningful step in our energy journey."
80 per cent of energy demand
The Lost Hills Oil Field has been a source of energy since it was discovered in 1910, producing more than 460 million barrels of oil equivalent over the past 40 years. Once complete in early 2020, the solar project is expected to provide power to the Lost Hills production and processing facilities and offices, meeting approximately 80 percent of its energy needs. Goldman Sachs Renewable Power will own the system and Chevron will receive environmental credits under the state of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard programme.
"Companies across industries are looking for solutions to a low carbon footprint, and the Chevron project is one more example of how organisations and influencers across industries and geographies are moving the world toward a new energy future," said Nam Nguyen, SunPower executive vice president, commercial solar. "We commend Chevron for its vision and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and look forward to partnering with Chevron to deploy SunPower's solar solutions to this unique project." (mfo)
