EDP Renewables Brings Second Phase of California Solar Farm Online

EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) has inaugurated the company’s 200-MW Scarlet II Solar Energy Park, in Fresno County, California. Scarlet II follows EDPR NA’s Scarlet I Solar Energy Park—a 200-MW solar farm with and 40 MW/160 MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS)—which achieved commercial operation in 2024. This second phase of the Scarlet Solar Energy Park includes a co-located 150-MW/600-MWh BESS, increasing the project’s resilience.

The full output of the solar energy is contracted through a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA), with resource adequacy associated with the 150-MW BESS contracted under long-term Resource Adequacy (RA) agreements with Ava Community Energy and San José Clean Energy. California’s Resource Adequacy Program ensures that load-serving entities, known as LSEs, have sufficient capacity to meet their customers’ demand and maintain grid reliability.

Through further expansion into the state’s Central Valley, EDPR NA has more than 1.1 GW of operational solar, wind, and storage projects throughout California, cementing its status as a leading renewable energy developer in the state.

Scarlet II will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 68,000 California homes each year. Local institutions such as schools, emergency services, road maintenance, and infrastructure will benefit from the project’s economic boost. The park supported the creation of more than 140 construction jobs and accounted for more than $1,537,000 of spending in-state.

“After our successful launch of Scarlet I, we are thrilled to add Scarlet II to our portfolio and build on our record of delivering energy reliability and resiliency for Fresno County and the Golden State,” said Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America. “We are proud that our meaningful partnerships and investments in the community helped generate strong local support for the expansion of Scarlet Solar Energy Park.”

Scarlet II continued the environmental stewardship commitment EDPR NA has made under its Close the Loop Program, recycling more than 1,700 tons of material over the course of construction, through EPC Rosendin and various materials recyclers, leading to nearly 62% of total reported construction material recycled.

EDPR NA is a key renewable energy leader in California. The company’s operational footprint of 1,138 MW is spread across two phases of the Scarlet Solar Energy Park, three phases of the Rising Tree Wind Farm in Kern County, two phases of the Lone Valley Solar Park in San Bernardino County, two phases of the Sandrini I & II Solar Energy Park in Kern County, and the Windhub A Solar Park in Kern County.

—POWER edited this content, which was supplied by EDP Renewables North America.