First Solar buys share of California projects

TEMPE, ARIZONA - Tempe-based First Solar said it has acquired a portion of solar development projects from Edison Mission Group, a unit of Edison International and sister company of Southern California Edison.

The large-scale solar power plants, which are scheduled to be built over the next few years, will be located on privately owned land in California and the Southwest, the company said.

The location on private land is important because many solar projects on public lands in California have been delayed by environmental lawsuits. However, the electricity output from the Edison Mission projects is not yet contracted with utilities, the company said.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition continues First SolarÂ’s move into large utility-scale solar energy projects. The company is already one of the worldÂ’s largest makers of thin-film photovoltaic modules, which produce electricity when exposed to sunlight.

The new solar power plant construction will provide a predictable source of demand for the companyÂ’s modules, said Lisa Bodensteiner, First SolarÂ’s vice president of North American business development.

First Solar and EMG have worked together since 2008 on the EMG projects, with First Solar providing engineering, procurement and construction services while EMG was responsible for land acquisition and permitting. Now First Solar said it will handle all development activities for these projects, including permitting.

First Solar completed construction of its first California utility-scale solar power plant in December, the 21-megawatt Blythe project, which was sold to NRG Energy and supplies electricity to Southern California Edison. The Blythe plant is being operated by First Solar under a long-term contract with NRG.