# Desert Sunlight 300, LLC

CAISO Solar Photovoltaic · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/desert-sunlight-300-llc

Desert Sunlight 300, LLC is a solar power facility with 313.7 MW of EIA-reported operating capacity in Riverside County, California, registered as EIA Plant ID 57993. Project filings list 4,854,545 solar panels for the facility. Commercial operation began in January 2015. The facility interconnects at Red Bluff Substation at 230 kV.

## Key facts

- Technology: Solar Photovoltaic
- Power capacity: 313.69999999999993 MW
- Operating status: operating

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: CAISO
- Balancing authority: CISO
- Substation: Red Bluff Substation
- Point of interconnection: Red Bluff Substation
- Transmission owner: Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Interconnection voltage: 230 kV

## Source-backed facts

- Identifiers: [{"value":"57993","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"DSL1–DSL11","system":"EIA generator IDs"},{"value":"CISO","system":"ISO/RTO balancing authority"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO power market"},{"value":"Desert Sunlight 300","system":"CAISO resource name"},{"value":"ER13-1992-000","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"2013-18262","system":"Federal Register document"}] — Resource category and phase · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.4: {"value":"Desert Sunlight 300","system":"CAISO resource name"} — Resource category and phase · confidence: medium
- Parties.8: {"relationship":"Federal land and right-of-way agency","name":"Bureau of Land Management","official_url":"https://www.blm.gov/"} — Secretary Jewell, Director Kornze "Flip the Switch" on Desert Sunlight Solar Farm | Bureau of Land Management · confidence: high
- Commercial operation date: 2015-01 — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Product url: https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF — First Solar® FS Series 3™ Black PV Module · confidence: high
- Manufacturer domain: firstsolar.com — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Equipment models: [{"manufacturer_domain":"firstsolar.com","product_url":"https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF","count":4854545,"unit_mw":null,"name":"First Solar Series 3 thin-film CdTe PV module"}] — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Product family: First Solar Series 3 thin-film CdTe PV modules — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Manufacturer name: First Solar — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Equipment models.0: {"manufacturer_domain":"firstsolar.com","product_url":"https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF","count":4854545,"unit_mw":null,"name":"First Solar Series 3 thin-film CdTe PV module"} — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Product url: https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF — First Solar® FS Series 3™ Black PV Module · confidence: medium
- Product url: https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Equipment models: [{"manufacturer_domain":"firstsolar.com","product_url":"https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF","count":4854545,"unit_mw":null,"name":"First Solar Series 3 thin-film CdTe PV module"}] — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Product family: First Solar Series 3 thin-film CdTe PV modules — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Manufacturer name: First Solar — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Equipment models.0: {"manufacturer_domain":"firstsolar.com","product_url":"https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF","count":4854545,"unit_mw":null,"name":"First Solar Series 3 thin-film CdTe PV module"} — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["The exact EIA plant is a 313.7-MW, 11-unit entity, whereas the related Desert Sunlight project is commonly reported at 550 MW and includes separate Desert Sunlight 250 and Desert Sunlight 300 entities.","The original September 2011 sale consideration was not disclosed. The $285 million NRG Yield amount and the $218 million NextEra Energy Partners amount are ownership-transaction values, not the original project-financing amount; the latter was announced as an acquisition expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.","Commercial-operation dating differs by source: the DOE project summary states full commercial operations in January 2015, while an NRG Yield announcement refers to commercial operation for the entire farm in December 2014. The plant record separately reports the first unit online in November 2013.","The cited records identify the plant as operational at 313.7 MW but do not document a separate expansion, repowering, or retirement milestone for this exact EIA plant."] — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy issued two partial loan guarantees totaling $1.5 billion under the Financial Institution Partnership Program for the broader 550-MW Desert Sunlight project. First Solar described the underlying financing as approximately $1.46 billion of private loans from a syndicate led by Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC and Citigroup; the DOE guarantee was not a government cash payment. Separately, the June 2015 NRG Yield transaction involved $285 million of sale consideration plus the assumption of $287.4 million of non-recourse project-level debt. In September 2016, NextEra Energy Partners announced a separate agreement with a $218 million purchase price that accounted for approximately $258 million of existing non-recourse project debt and was expected to be funded through common-unit proceeds. — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Timeline.2: {"event":"Construction began","date":"2011-09","detail":"Construction of the broader Desert Sunlight project began in September 2011."} — First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among · confidence: high
- Timeline.3: {"event":"Initial project financing","date":"2011-09-29","detail":"The DOE Loan Programs Office approved a partial loan guarantee for approximately $1.46 billion of project loans; the DOE project summary records the issuance date as September 2011."} — First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among · confidence: high
- Timeline.3: {"event":"Initial project financing","date":"2011-09-29","detail":"The DOE Loan Programs Office approved a partial loan guarantee for approximately $1.46 billion of project loans; the DOE project summary records the issuance date as September 2011."} — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Timeline.7: {"event":"Full commercial operation","date":"2015-01","detail":"The DOE project summary states that the broader Desert Sunlight facility reached full commercial operations in January 2015."} — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium
- Timeline.9: {"event":"CalPERS-linked ownership transaction reported","date":"2016-03-28","detail":"A contemporaneous report said CalPERS would acquire a stake through Gulf Power Pacific, a Harbert-managed vehicle backed by CalPERS. The retrieved record does not disclose the seller, exact percentage, or consideration."} — CalPERS acquires stake in Desert Sunlight · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.4: {"relationship":"Owner and investment vehicle manager","name":"Harbert Power Fund V","detail":"The plant ownership record lists Harbert Power Fund V at 24.9%. A March 2016 report identified Gulf Power Pacific as a Harbert-managed vehicle backed by CalPERS for an acquisition of a Desert Sunlight stake.","official_url":"https://www.harbert.net/"} — CalPERS acquires stake in Desert Sunlight · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.5: {"relationship":"Investor","name":"California Public Employees' Retirement System","detail":"CalPERS was reported in March 2016 as acquiring a Desert Sunlight stake through Gulf Power Pacific, a Harbert-managed vehicle. — CalPERS acquires stake in Desert Sunlight · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.10: {"relationship":"Loan-guarantee financier","name":"U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office","detail":"Issued two partial loan guarantees totaling $1.5 billion in September 2011 under the Financial Institution Partnership Program for the broader Desert Sunlight project.","official_url":"https://www.energy.gov/"} — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.10: {"relationship":"Loan-guarantee financier","name":"U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office","detail":"Issued two partial loan guarantees totaling $1.5 billion in September 2011 under the Financial Institution Partnership Program for the broader Desert Sunlight project.","official_url":"https://www.energy.gov/"} — First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.11: {"relationship":"Lead project lenders","name":"Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC and Citigroup","detail":"First Solar identified these institutions as the lead lenders for the approximately $1.46 billion private loan syndicate supported by the DOE partial guarantee.","official_url":"https://www.goldmansachs.com/"} — First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.14: {"relationship":"Federal land and right-of-way agency","name":"Bureau of Land Management","detail":"Issued the project's right-of-way grant in August 2011; the facility is located on federal land managed by the agency in Riverside County.","official_url":"https://www.blm.gov/"} — Secretary Jewell, Director Kornze "Flip the Switch" on... · confidence: high
- Quality notes.2: Commercial-operation dating differs by source: the DOE project summary states full commercial operations in January 2015, while an NRG Yield announcement refers to commercial operation for the entire farm in December 2014. The plant record separately reports the first unit online in November 2013. — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: high
- Substation: Red Bluff Substation — Project Home Page · confidence: medium
- Interconnection voltage kv: 230 — Project Home Page · confidence: medium
- Transmission owner: Southern California Edison (SCE) — Project Home Page · confidence: high
- Grid role: Utility-scale photovoltaic generation serving contracted utility offtakers under long-term power-purchase agreements. — Exhibit 99.1 Desert Sunlight Press Release · confidence: high
- Operating status: operating — DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy · confidence: medium

## Timeline

- 2008 — Project development began
  Development of the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm began.
  Source: NextEra Energy Newsroom - News Releases (https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/One-of-the-worlds-largest-solar-projects-starts-commercial-operation?l=12)
- 2011-08 — Federal right-of-way grant
  The Bureau of Land Management issued the project's right-of-way grant in August 2011.
  Source: NextEra Energy Newsroom - News Releases (https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/One-of-the-worlds-largest-solar-projects-starts-commercial-operation?l=12)
- 2011-09 — Acquisition closed
  First Solar completed the sale of the Desert Sunlight project including Desert Sunlight 300, LLC to affiliates of NextEra Energy Resources and GE Energy Financial Services on September 30, 2011. First Solar sold a 50% interest to each buyer. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
  Source: Source (https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1274494/000127449411000047/exhibit991desertsunlightpr.htm)
- 2011-09 — Construction began
  Construction of the broader Desert Sunlight project began in September 2011.
  Source: First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among (https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/news-releases?item=123425&l=12)
- 2011-09-29 — Initial project financing
  The DOE Loan Programs Office approved a partial loan guarantee for approximately $1.46 billion of project loans; the DOE project summary records the issuance date as September 2011.
  Source: First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among (https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/news-releases?item=123425&l=12)
- 2011-09-30 — Original project sale
  First Solar announced completion of the sale of the 550-MW Desert Sunlight project to affiliates of NextEra Energy Resources and GE Energy Financial Services. Each buyer acquired 50%; financial details were not disclosed. First Solar retained construction and subsequent operation-and-maintenance roles under separate agreements.
  Source: First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among (https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/news-releases?item=123425&l=12)
- 2015-01 — Full commercial operation
  The DOE project summary states that the broader Desert Sunlight facility reached full commercial operations in January 2015.
  Source: DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy (https://www.energy.gov/edf/desert-sunlight)
- 2015-06-17 — NRG Yield purchase agreement
  EFS Desert Sun, LLC and NRG Yield Operating LLC executed a purchase and sale agreement under which NRG Yield would acquire GE's remaining 25% interest. The announced consideration was $285 million plus assumption of $287.4 million of non-recourse project debt; the transaction was expected to close by June 30, 2015.
  Source: NRG Yield Enters into Agreement to Acquire Interest in Largest Operating Solar Farm in North America | Clearway Energy, Inc. (https://investor.clearwayenergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/nrg-yield-enters-agreement-acquire-interest-largest-operating)
- 2016-03-28 — CalPERS-linked ownership transaction reported
  A contemporaneous report said CalPERS would acquire a stake through Gulf Power Pacific, a Harbert-managed vehicle backed by CalPERS. The retrieved record does not disclose the seller, exact percentage, or consideration.
  Source: CalPERS acquires stake in Desert Sunlight (https://www.infrastructureinvestor.com/calpers-acquires-stake-in-desert-sunlight/)
- 2016-09-08 — NextEra Energy Partners acquisition agreement
  NextEra Energy Partners announced an agreement to acquire an indirect 24% interest in Desert Sunlight Investment Holdings from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources for a $218 million purchase price, subject to customary closing conditions and expected fourth-quarter 2016 completion. The price accounted for approximately $258 million of existing non-recourse project debt.
  Source: NextEra Energy Partners, LP announces agreement to acquire indirect 24 percent interest in Desert Sunlight Investment Holdings, LLC – XPLR Infrastructure, LP (https://www.investor.xplrinfrastructure.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2016/09-08-2016-220825321)

## Sources

- [NextEra Energy Newsroom - News Releases](https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/One-of-the-worlds-largest-solar-projects-starts-commercial-operation?l=12) — newsroom.nexteraenergy.com · tier other
- [Resource category and phase](https://www.caiso.com/documents/resourcecategoryandphaseallparticipatingresourceids.xlsx) — caiso.com · tier other
- [DESERT SUNLIGHT | Department of Energy](https://www.energy.gov/edf/desert-sunlight) — energy.gov · tier regulatory
- [Secretary Jewell, Director Kornze "Flip the Switch" on ...](https://www.blm.gov/press-release/secretary-jewell-director-kornze-flip-switch-desert-sunlight-solar-farm) — blm.gov · tier regulatory
- [E-4357 Final Redacted Resolution (This approves cost recovery for a PG&E Company renewable energy power purchase agreement with Desert Sunlight Holdings, LLC)](https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/FINAL_RESOLUTION/124050.htm) — docs.cpuc.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1603145/000160314517000074/nep3q2017ex2109302017.htm) — sec.gov · tier regulatory
- [First Solar® FS Series 3™ Black PV Module](https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-3-Datasheets/Series-3-Black-Datasheet---North-America.PDF) — firstsolar.com · tier other
- [First Solar Sells 550-Megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Among](https://newsroom.nexteraenergy.com/news-releases?item=123425&l=12) — newsroom.nexteraenergy.com · tier other
- [NRG Yield Enters into Agreement to Acquire Interest in Largest Operating Solar Farm in North America | Clearway Energy, Inc.](https://investor.clearwayenergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/nrg-yield-enters-agreement-acquire-interest-largest-operating) — investor.clearwayenergy.com · tier other
- [NextEra Energy Partners, LP announces agreement to acquire indirect 24 percent interest in Desert Sunlight Investment Holdings, LLC – XPLR Infrastructure, LP](https://www.investor.xplrinfrastructure.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2016/09-08-2016-220825321) — investor.xplrinfrastructure.com · tier other
- [CalPERS acquires stake in Desert Sunlight](https://www.infrastructureinvestor.com/calpers-acquires-stake-in-desert-sunlight/) — infrastructureinvestor.com · tier other
- [Exhibit 99.1 Desert Sunlight Press Release](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1274494/000127449411000047/exhibit991desertsunlightpr.htm) — sec.gov · tier regulatory
- [Project Home Page](https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=b668a393-a7f2-f011-8407-001dd80c29f3) — eplanning.blm.gov · tier regulatory

## Data quality

- The exact EIA plant is a 313.7-MW, 11-unit entity, whereas the related Desert Sunlight project is commonly reported at 550 MW and includes separate Desert Sunlight 250 and Desert Sunlight 300 entities. The original September 2011 sale consideration was not disclosed. The $285 million NRG Yield amount and the $218 million NextEra Energy Partners amount are ownership-transaction values, not the original project-financing amount; the latter was announced as an acquisition expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. Commercial-operation dating differs by source: the DOE project summary states full commercial operations in January 2015, while an NRG Yield announcement refers to commercial operation for the entire farm in December 2014. The plant record separately reports the first unit online in November 2013. The cited records identify the plant as operational at 313.7 MW but do not document a separate expansion, repowering, or retirement milestone for this exact EIA plant.

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