EDPR NA Distributed Generation LLC (EDPR NA DG), the distributed generation business of EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA), and California Water Service (Cal Water) have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 1.75 MWac/2.35 MWdc onsite solar photovoltaic (PV) array at Cal Water’s Northeast Bakersfield Treatment Plant. The partnership is designed to reduce the utility’s long-term environmental footprint.
Cal Water and EDPR NA DG expect the system to generate approximately 3,800 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually. The renewable energy generated by the solar array is anticipated to reduce grid energy costs by approximately $1.7 million over the term of the agreement, based on current electric rates for customers in the Bakersfield District, one of Cal Water’s largest service areas.
“At Cal Water, we are dedicated to being a responsible environmental steward, and partnering with EDPR NA DG will help us reduce traditional power costs, reach our science-aligned greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, and increase sustainability,” said Marty Kropelnicki, Cal Water Chairman and CEO. “We look forward to bringing this new onsite solar array online, which is an important step for us to continue providing safe, reliable, and affordable water service to our customers for decades to come.”
“California is a national clean energy leader because of organizations like Cal Water, which prioritize supporting renewable energy investments,” said João Barreto, EDPR NA Distributed Generation CEO. “This partnership demonstrates the ever-increasing convergence of the water-energy nexus and the importance of investment in vital infrastructure throughout California.”
EDPR NA and EDPR NA DG have been actively engaged in California for more than two decades, developing utility-scale and distributed-scale solar projects to support the state’s growing energy demand. EDPR NA operates 1,138 MW of clean energy assets in California, powering the equivalent of 451,000 homes. EDPR NA DG’s portfolio in California spans more than 180 projects, including 75 MWac/81 MWdc in operation. In May 2024, EDPR NA announced the completion of the 200 MW Scarlet II Solar Energy Park in Fresno County, California. Scarlet II follows EDPR NA’s Scarlet I Solar Energy Park (Scarlet I), consisting of 200 MW of solar and 40 MW/160 MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS), which achieved commercial operation in 2024.
