SDG&E signs new contracts with Soitec for 125 megawatts of solar power in San Diego

These new agreements are separate from the three San Diego contracts the two companies signed in April for 30 MW of CPV-generated solar power. Combined, the five contracts SDG&E recently signed with Soitec represent five separate projects capable of generating a combined total of 155 megawatts of clean, renewable solar power, or enough energy to supply more than 60,000 homes. Both of the new proposed projects will be located in San Diego County and will be situated near SDG&E electric substations.



“Our projects with Soitec will bring local jobs to the community and will help us to meet our renewable energy goals,” said James P. Avery, SDG&E’s senior vice president of power supply. “We are very confident in our choice of technology and in Soitec’s plans for a solar panel manufacturing facility in the San Diego region.”



Today’s announcement confirms the attractiveness of Soitec’s renewable energy technology – which generates large amounts of power with industry-leading efficiency and low environmental impact – in areas such as Southern California with abundant sunshine.



“These new contracts with SDG&E reinforce Soitec’s decision to build its new manufacturing site in the San Diego area, and confirms the importance of the U.S. market for our company,” said André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Soitec. “We are very pleased to have a direct role in bringing ‘home grown’ solar energy to the people of San Diego.”



Soitec’s new manufacturing facility will have an annual production capacity of 200 MW and will supply all of SDG&E’s projects with Soitec’s exclusive Concentrix CPV technology, which produces power at a much higher efficiency relative to standard solar panels. At full capacity, Soitec’s San Diego operations facility will generate up to 450 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs. The factory location is expected to be announced this summer, with completion within 18 months of construction start.



The power contracts require approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.