UAE based energy company Masdar has achieved the first close on an acquisition of a clean energy portfolio from EDF Renewables North America. The transaction involves the acquisition of 50 per cent of a total 1.6 GW project portfolio in the United States. This follows a decision made by the companies last year to partner for eight renewable energy projects in the United States.
The eight renewable energy projects include three utility-scale wind projects in Nebraska and Texas with a total capacity of 815 MW and five solar PV projects in California with a total capacity of 689 MW. Clean power from these projects will be sold to a variety of offtakers, including utilities, hedge providers and community choice aggregators under long-term contracts.
The three utility-scale wind projects are Coyote wind project in Scurry County, Texas (243 MW); Las Majadas wind project in Willacy County, Texas (273 MW); and Milligan 1 wind project in Saline County, Nebraska (300 MW). These projects have reached the final stage of construction and are expected to come online in the first quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, four out of five solar PV projects became operational in December 2020. All of these projects are located in Riverside County and include Desert Harvest 1 and Desert Harvest 2 with a total of 213 MWdc capacity as well as the Maverick 1 and Maverick 4 with a total 309 MWdc capacity. The fifth project is the Big Beau with 128 MWdc solar PV and 40 MW/160 MWh battery energy-storage system. It is located in Kern County and will reach commercial operation in December 2021.
