Centinela Solar Energy
Imperial County
Overview
- Reported capacity
- 174.8 MW
- EIA-reported nameplate capacity; other nameplate and seasonal ratings may differ.
- Technology
- Solar Photovoltaic
- Primary generation technology.
- Registry anchor
- Plant 58430
- Imperial County · CAISO
- Operating status
- Operating
- Grid connection
- Imperial Valley Substation
- 230 kV
Equipment
- More than 875,000 panels
- Project-wide PV module count; the two-inverter specification describes one modular power platform.
- Commercial operation
- August 2014
- Best-supported operating milestone.
- Project financing
- $275M
Infrastructure record
- Operator
- Centinela Solar Energy LLC
- Mapped facility footprint
- Mapped infrastructure footprint
Mapped infrastructure geometry associated with this asset.
- In service
- 2013-07
Profile
- Operating status
- EIA lists operating generators. The 2023 retired-REC disclosure does not describe a plant retirement.
- Grid role
- Utility-scale solar photovoltaic generation under long-term power-purchase agreements.
- Grid connection
- Imperial Valley Substation · 230 kV.
- Context
- Fluor describes Centinela as LS Power’s largest solar project at the time of development. The facility occupies approximately 1,600 acres, contains more than 875,000 photovoltaic panels, and was contracted to supply enough electricity for more than 60,000 homes.
- Physical build
Structured profile
- Reported capacity
- 174.8 MW
Solar Photovoltaic
- Commercial operation
- August 2014
- Operating status
- operating
Operating generators; the 2023 disclosure concerns retired renewable-energy credits.
- Interconnection
- Imperial Valley Substation
230 kV
- Location
Generation and physical site
EIA plant 58430 · Inventory for Sep 2026.
Reported operating nameplate by technology
- Solar
- 174.8 MW
Generator records (6)
| Generator | Technology | Status | Power (MW) | Energy (MWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSE1 | Solar Photovoltaic | Operating | 34.2 | Unknown |
| CSE2 | Solar Photovoltaic | Operating | 26.6 | Unknown |
| CSE3 | Solar Photovoltaic | Operating | 34.2 | Unknown |
| CSE4 | Solar Photovoltaic | Operating | 34.2 | Unknown |
| CSE5 | Solar Photovoltaic | Operating |
Questions answered by the public record
What is SDG&E’s relationship to Centinela Solar Energy?
SDG&E is the buyer under two 20-year solar power purchase agreements approved by the CPUC in January 2011. The resolution lists separate minimum contractual capacities of 110 MW and 30 MW; those minimums are distinct from the plant’s 174.8 MW EIA nameplate rating.
Did Centinela Solar Energy retire in 2023?
The cited 2023 power-source disclosure concerns retired unbundled renewable-energy credits, rather than retirement of the generating equipment. EIA’s inventory continues to list operating generators for plant 58430.
Related assets
Similar plants ranked by technology, capacity, and distance.
Units and generators
Current generator records and technology attributes reported through EIA-860.
| Generator | Capacity | Technology | Operation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSE1 | 34.2 MW 33.4 MW summer | Solar Photovoltaic PV | Jul 2013 | Operating |
| CSE2 | 26.6 MW 25.6 MW summer | Solar Photovoltaic PV | Aug 2013 | Operating |
| CSE3 | 34.2 MW 33.4 MW summer | Solar Photovoltaic PV | Oct 2013 | Operating |
| CSE4 | 34.2 MW 33.4 MW summer | Solar Photovoltaic PV | Dec 2013 | Operating |
| CSE5 | 19 MW 18.6 MW summer | |||
Performance
Monthly EIA generation history and recent market-resource behavior where linked telemetry is available.
Peer context
- Technology capacity
- 174.8 MW
- Solar Photovoltaic
- National rank
- #247
- of 7,597 operating peers
- CA rank
- #40
- of 972 operating peers
Monthly generation
Download CSVLatest 12 months
352.7 GWh
Reported net generation
Latest report
Dec 2024
EIA-923 monthly filing
2024 capacity factor
23.0%
Using current reported nameplate capacity
Grid and market context
Deterministic links to ERCOT market resources, price records, outage disclosures, queue records, and nearby infrastructure. Candidate joins remain labeled until corroborated.
Market registration
CAISO resource registrySettlement point
Commercial, land, and environmental record
Source-backed project transactions, agreements, land records, permits, and environmental disclosures. Portfolio and adjacent-project facts remain explicitly scoped.
Transactions and agreements
PPA Regulatory Approval
Jan 13, 2011
California Public Utilities Commission approval of SDG&E's PPA with Centinela Solar Energy, LLC. The underlying agreement resulted from SDG&E's 2009 RPS solicitation; its execution date was not disclosed in the cited public record. The PPA covered 110 MW and 235.1 GWh/year.
110 MW contracted20 yearsSan Diego Gas & Electric Company · Centinela Solar Energy, LLC
Expansion PPA Regulatory Approval
Jan 13, 2011
California Public Utilities Commission approval of the expansion PPA between SDG&E and Centinela Solar Energy, LLC. The expansion agreement resulted from bilateral negotiations and covered additional generation from the Centinela facility; its execution date was not disclosed in the cited public record. The PPA covered 30 MW and 62.3 GWh/year.
30 MW contracted20 yearsSan Diego Gas & Electric Company · Centinela Solar Energy, LLC
EPC Contract Award
Sep 2012
Centinela Solar Energy, LLC awarded Fluor Corporation a lump-sum engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the nominal 170 MW solar PV facility.
Centinela Solar Energy, LLC · Fluor Corporation
O&M Contract Commencement
2014
Fluor Corporation provided ongoing operations and maintenance services. Fluor's project record states that a five-year O&M contract began after completion of the facility in August 2014.
5 yearsCentinela Solar Energy, LLC · Fluor Corporation
Acquisition Closing
Nov 2020
Capital Dynamics completed its acquisition from LS Power of a 100% interest in Centinela Solar Energy. LS Power separately described the asset as 252 MWdc / 170 MWac. The separately announced portfolio financing of over USD 400 million was not allocated to this exact asset and is excluded.
Capital Dynamics · LS Power
Land and environmental record
Conditional Use Permit
Dec 2011
CUP #10-0017
Imperial County's official renewable-project inventory identifies Conditional Use Permit CUP #10-0017 for the Centinela Solar Energy Project.
Environmental Review
Oct 13, 2011
SCH Number 2010111056
The California CEQA record identifies SCH Number 2010111056 for the Centinela Solar Energy Project, a 175 MW/275 MW solar facility with a gen-tie line and supporting infrastructure.
Nearby Water Resource
Oct 13, 2011
Greeson Wash
Greeson Wash is the waterway identified in the CEQA location record for the project site.
Parcel Record
Dec 2011
APN 052-170-018-000
Imperial County's renewable-project inventory identifies this assessor parcel for the Centinela Solar project and lists 2,067 project acres.
Section 401 Water Quality Certification
Jun 26, 2012
WDID 7A133101001
The Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board's Section 401 certification table lists Centinela Solar Energy, LLC's Centinela Solar Energy Project with this water-quality identifier; the order date shown is June 26, 2012.
Site Acreage
Oct 13, 2011
2,067-acre project site
The CEQA record identifies the site at SR 98 and Brockman Road, near Seeley, with various parcels and Greeson Wash nearby.
Related parties and identifiers
Parties, market resources, and identifiers tied to this asset, with owner, operator, developer, EPC, compliance provider, and interconnecting entity roles kept separate.
Relationship graph
Drag organizations to explore the network. Select a node to pin its details and available page link.
AssetOwner / operatorContractorOfftaker
Timeline and sources
Project milestones and public references behind the asset profile.
Project timeline
- Power Purchase AgreementE-4388 (Red...
California Public Utilities Commission approval of SDG&E's PPA with Centinela Solar Energy, LLC. The underlying agreement resulted from SDG&E's 2009 RPS solicitation; its execution date was not disclosed in the cited public record. The PPA covered 110 MW and 235.1 GWh/year.