First of 3.8 million First Solar CdTe PV panels installed at Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One in Los Angeles County
First Solar Inc of Tempe,AZ,USA,which manufactures thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride(CdTe)as well as providing engineering,procurement and construction(EPC)services,has announced the installation of the first of 3.8 million solar modules at the 230MWAC Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One power plant in Los Angeles County.
Picture:Jacob Williams,LA County assistant director of Public Works(right),installs first PV module at AV Solar Ranch One,with Jim Woodruff,First Solar's VP for government affairs.
Representatives from Los Angeles County's departments of Public Works and Regional Planning joined First Solar senior management and project workers in installing the 2-foot by 4-foot module,marking the start of installation,which the county approved on 21 June.
First Solar and Public Works worked to achieve agreement on code certifications to ensure that all applicable building codes were met by the project."This process has paved the way for future projects in a region with enormous potential for solar energy development,"says Tony Perrino,First Solar's director of engineering,procurement&construction.
Located on 2100 acres of former farmland,Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One is one of the largest construction projects under way in Los Angeles County.More than 385 workers are now being employed on the 2100-acre site.When complete in 2013,the PV power plant will generate enough electricity for about 75,000 average California homes,while displacing 140,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually(equivalent to taking 30,000 cars off the road each year).