US Utility Seeking Solar Power Purchase Agreements

• FirstEnergy has launched an RFP for long-term solar PPAs for up to 20 MW capacity
• These facilities will need to be located within Pennsylvania and enter PPAs for a duration of 4 years to 10 years
• The PPAs will enable the participating utilities to meet their electricity generation and supply obligations, at a fixed price

US based electricity utility FirstEnergy Corp is seeking long-term solar power purchase agreements (PPA) for up to 20 MW capacity from new and in-development solar projects for energy and Solar Photovoltaic Alternative Energy Credits (SPAEC).

The request for proposal (RFP) round has been launched by FirstEnergy on behalf of Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power), Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), West Penn Power Company (West Penn) and Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed).

Through these PPAs, the utilities intend to use the procured energy and SPAECs to satisfy their obligations and enter into fixed price agreements with successful bidders.

Participating utilities will need to enter PPAs for between 7 MW AC and 20 MW AC of total capacity across all PPA proposals, with a duration of over 4 years and up to 10 years from utility scale and grid connected solar power projects located in Pennsylvania. Bids for virtual PPAs will not be entertained.

Interested bidders can submit their proposals to sell energy and SPAECs from solar power facilities that can come online by May 31, 2024. Projects with a later commissioning date will also be considered, provided certain conditions are met.

Launched on October 17, 2022, the utility will accept pre-qualifying applications by November 7, 2022, and bids by December 5, 2022, for this RFP round. Further details are available on FirstEnergy's website.