Washington, 20 May (Argus) — A new 800MW gas-fired power plant in southern California has come on line three months earlier than expected – just in time to help the region cope with a second summer without either unit at the 2.3GW San Onofre nuclear generating station.
Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) said its Sentinel Energy Project near Desert Hot Springs in Riverside County has synchronized with the California Independent System Operator electricity grid and started commercial operations late last week. The plant was originally slated to begin servicein August.
“With California's San Onofre nuclear plant off line and power reserve margins expected to be tight, it is more important than ever that the CPV Sentinel Energy Project be available to support electric reliability this summer,” CPV senior vice president John Murphy said.
Sentinel's output will initially be sold through short-term sales agreements, but starting in August, Southern California Edison will take supply from the plant under a long-term power purchase agreement.
Despite its relatively large capacity for a gas-fired facility, Sentinel is designed to serve primarily as a load-following and peaking plant capable of responding to power needs in a region subject to triple-digit summer temperatures, as well as firming up output from the increasing number of solar and wind farms east of Los Angeles. The facility consists of eight separate quick-starting and fast-ramping generating units.
The plant is jointly owned by CPV, Diamond Generating and GE Energy Financial Services. CPV will manage operations at the plant.
Send comments to feedback@argusmedia.com
rm/ee 3.0
If you would like to review other ArgusMedia.com content options, request more information about Argus' energy news, data and analysis services.
Copyright © 2013 Argus Media Ltd - www.ArgusMedia.com - All rights reserved.
