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Southern California Edison buys 45MW of modules from Trina Solar

Southern California Edison is installing solar systems across 65 million square feet of roofspace in California

The utility Southern California Edison is buying 45 megawatts of solar photovoltaic modules from the Chinese manufacturer Trina Solar.

Initial shipments under the deal began last month, with SCE expecting deliveries through to the first quarter of 2011.

The utility, one of the largest in the States, is to use the Trina Solar modules in its large solar PV installation program, the SCE Solar PV Program.

The entire program aims to use up to 65 million square feet of unused commercial roofspace in Southern California for a total of 250MW of solar generating capacity – enough power to supply 162,000 homes.

Some 40% of the roofspace will be provided by warehouse company ProLogis (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

“Innovative”

Commenting on the Trina Solar deal, SCE director for Generation, Planning and Strategy Mark Nelson said: “We look to innovative companies like Trina Solar for solutions that benefit the environment and our customers. We’re glad Trina Solar can be a part of California’s clean energy future.”

Trina Solar, which carries out manufacturing activities including all stages of the photovoltaic production process from the production of silicon ingots to wafers, cells and modules, said it was “excited” to provide 20% of the solar capacity for SCE’s “milestone” solar program.

Jifan Gao, Chairman and CEO of Trina Solar, said: “This is a major commitment by SCE towards clean power generation, and the fact that they have chosen Trina Solar to supply them with premium performance modules is expected to further increase the Company’s global reach and reputation for high quality products and raise brand awareness among key customers in the commercial and utility PV segment.”

SCE serves a population of nearly 14 million people in 50,000 square miles of Central, Coastal and Southern California.
Like other utilities in the state, it is aiming to source 33% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.