News & Press

Borrego Solar Systems Announces Milestone For Solar Consulting & Development Services Division

Borrego Solar's Consulting Division Leverages Industry Expertise to Advise On More Than 180 Megawatts of Utility-Scale Solar Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Diego, CA—June 7, 2011

El Cajon, Calif.—June 7, 2011—Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., a leading designer, installer and financier of grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, today announced its Solar Consulting & Development Services division has advised on more than 180 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar projects for independent power producers (IPPs) and private landowners. This comprehensive service offering helps IPPs, as well as landowners looking to develop solar farms independently, and evaluate the many utility-scale solar opportunities available in the U.S.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, currently there are 16,688 MW’s of utility-scale solar PV in development in the U.S., but only 296 MW are operational. Opportunities continue to emerge – 25 states have adopted aggressive renewable energy portfolio standards (RPS) – but the challenges to get a project from development to operational are immense. As IPPs and landowners pursue solar projects, they are at risk of wasting millions of dollars on speculative projects that will never see the light of day. Borrego established its Consulting & Development Services to provide upfront analysis of a project’s viability, potentially saving millions of dollars for an organization pursuing utility-scale solar.

“There has never been a better time to go solar, but not all projects are created equal, and many will never move forward,” said Mike Hall, CEO of Borrego Solar. “For IPPs and land owners seeking to take advantage of the generous incentives to develop solar projects, up-front analysis of all elements is paramount before investing serious time and resources. We’re thrilled to leverage our vast experience and strategic partnerships along the solar value chain to offer this service and help organizations avoid impractical projects so they can capitalize on the projects truly poised for success and long-term financial viability.“

The program helps IPPs and landowners through Borrego’s solar power installation feasibility studies. The studies provide the quickest and most cost-effective way to determine whether a project is viable before proceeding, by utilizing Borrego’s more than 30 years of solar power installation, design and financing experience. If an organization does decide to proceed with a viable project, Borrego also provides end-to-end management services, helping organizations reduce development risk and project cost throughout the entire process.

“Understanding the interplay of environmental, technical and regulatory influences that determine the financial viability of a solar power plant is crucial for utility-scale solar project development in the U.S.,” said James Hines, Research Director at Gartner. “IPPs and landowners may have many choices for pursuing solar projects, but not all of them will have the right elements to be viable. Relying on an experienced partner to conduct an upfront analysis before investing the time and resources to develop a utility-scale solar project can greatly reduce the risk of chasing a deal that will never see the light of day.”

On top of its feasibility studies, Borrego also offers other corresponding services through its Consulting & Development Services Division, including:

• RFP Creation & Advisory Services—Borrego can help create and manage a formal procurement process with comprehensive Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for solar projects. With the establishment of project specifications, quality standards, and evaluation criteria, Borrego helps organizations as they pursue solar projects to comply with increasing renewable energy mandates.

• Market Intelligence—Borrego is leveraging its vast technology experience and long-standing relationships with technology vendors to advise international vendors looking to expand into the US market.

Organizations interested in learning more about how Borrego Solar’s Consulting & Development Services can help analyze potential multi-megawatt solar projects, and save significant time and financial resources, can contact TJ Morton, Project Manager at Borrego Solar, at (619) 792-1161 or tjmorton@borregosolar.com.