# Mesquite Solar 3, LLC

CAISO Solar Photovoltaic · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/mesquite-solar-3-llc

Mesquite Solar 3, LLC is a solar power facility with 150 MW of EIA-reported operating capacity in Maricopa County, Arizona, registered as EIA Plant ID 60308. RWE Clean Energy owns and operates the plant, a subsidiary of RWE Renewables Americas, LLC. Project filings list 672,000 solar panels for the facility. The facility interconnects at Mesquite 230/500 kV Switchyard at 500 kV.

## Key facts

- Technology: Solar Photovoltaic
- Power capacity: 150 MW
- Operating status: operating

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: CAISO
- Balancing authority: California Independent System Operator (CISO)
- Substation: Mesquite 230/500 kV Switchyard
- Point of interconnection: Mesquite 230/500 kV Switchyard
- Transmission owner: San Diego Gas & Electric Co.
- Interconnection voltage: 500 kV

## Source-backed facts

- Owner logo domain: rwe.com — RWE Americas, LLC · confidence: medium
- Owner logo domain: rwe.com — Mesquite Solar Complex | RWE in the Americas · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"60308","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO power market"},{"value":"CISO","system":"EIA balancing authority"},{"value":"MSOLAR_2_SOLAR3","system":"CAISO LMP node / EIA wholesale-sales location"},{"value":"MSOLAR_2_SOLAR3","system":"CAISO resource ID"},{"value":"ER16-1548-000","system":"FERC/CAISO LGIA docket"},{"value":"15-127","system":"FERC exempt-wholesale-generator docket"}] — FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426 OFFICE OF ENERGY MARKET REGULATION California Independent System Operator Corporation Docket No. ER16-1548-000 · confidence: medium
- Official project url: https://americas.rwe.com/our-energy/solar-energy/solar-projects-and-locations/mesquite-solar-complex/ — Mesquite Solar Complex | RWE in the Americas · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.6: {"value":"ER16-1548-000","system":"FERC/CAISO LGIA docket"} — FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426 OFFICE OF ENERGY MARKET REGULATION California Independent System Operator Corporation Docket No. ER16-1548-000 · confidence: high
- Parties.4: {"relationship":"Original developer and project sponsor","name":"Sempra U.S. Gas & Power","official_url":"https://www.sempra.com/"} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity > United States Navy > display-pressreleases · confidence: medium
- Parties.5: {"relationship":"Offtaker and project beneficiary","name":"Department of the Navy","official_url":"https://www.navy.mil/"} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity > United States Navy > display-pressreleases · confidence: medium
- Parties.6: {"relationship":"Federal procurement and power-marketing partner","name":"Western Area Power Administration","official_url":"https://www.wapa.gov/"} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity > United States Navy > display-pressreleases · confidence: high
- Product url: https://www.jinkosolar.com/en/site/tigerneo — Power plant profile: Mesquite Solar 3 PV Park, US · confidence: medium
- Product url: https://www.jinkosolar.com/en/site/tigerneo — Jinko Solar-Tiger Neo · confidence: medium
- Manufacturer domain: jinkosolar.com — Jinko Solar-Tiger Neo · confidence: medium
- Equipment models.2: {"manufacturer_domain":"arraytechinc.com","product_url":"https://arraytechinc.com/products/","count":null,"unit_mw":null,"name":"Array Technologies single-axis trackers — exact model not specified"} — Products · confidence: medium
- Description: Mesquite Solar 3, LLC is an operating 150 MW-ac solar photovoltaic plant in Maricopa County, Arizona, with one generating unit that entered service on December 1, 2016. The facility uses crystalline-silicon modules on single-axis trackers and participates in the CAISO market. Sempra U.S. Gas & Power developed and sponsored the project for a Navy and Western Area Power Administration procurement benefiting 14 installations. Sempra sold Mesquite Solar 3 to Consolidated Edison in December 2018 as part of a broader U.S. solar-asset portfolio transaction; RWE subsequently acquired the Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses portfolio in March 2023, and RWE Clean Energy is the current operator. — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: medium
- Description: Mesquite Solar 3, LLC is an operating 150 MW-ac solar photovoltaic plant in Maricopa County, Arizona, with one generating unit that entered service on December 1, 2016. The facility uses crystalline-silicon modules on single-axis trackers and participates in the CAISO market. Sempra U.S. Gas & Power developed and sponsored the project for a Navy and Western Area Power Administration procurement benefiting 14 installations. Sempra sold Mesquite Solar 3 to Consolidated Edison in December 2018 as part of a broader U.S. solar-asset portfolio transaction; RWE subsequently acquired the Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses portfolio in March 2023, and RWE Clean Energy is the current operator. — RWE becomes a top tier renewable energy company in the United States · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["The Navy procurement was stated at 210 MW DC, while EIA-derived plant records report 150 MW nameplate capacity; they are therefore excluded from the plant timeline.","No plant-specific retirement or repowering milestone was identified; the plant is reported as operational."] — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["The Navy procurement was stated at 210 MW DC, while EIA-derived plant records report 150 MW nameplate capacity; they are therefore excluded from the plant timeline.","No plant-specific retirement or repowering milestone was identified; the plant is reported as operational."] — Source · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: No plant-specific debt, tax-equity, or construction-financing amount is disclosed in the identified sources. Separately, Sempra completed the December 2018 sale of a portfolio including Mesquite Solar 3 to Consolidated Edison for approximately $1.6 billion in cash. RWE's March 2023 acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses was based on a $6.8 billion enterprise value and was funded through debt instruments plus a mandatory convertible bond issued to a Qatar Investment Authority subsidiary; the bond had an aggregate principal amount of EUR 2.4276 billion. — RWE agrees to acquire Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc. and to become one of the top leading renewable energy companies in the United States · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: No plant-specific debt, tax-equity, or construction-financing amount is disclosed in the identified sources. Separately, Sempra completed the December 2018 sale of a portfolio including Mesquite Solar 3 to Consolidated Edison for approximately $1.6 billion in cash. RWE's March 2023 acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses was based on a $6.8 billion enterprise value and was funded through debt instruments plus a mandatory convertible bond issued to a Qatar Investment Authority subsidiary; the bond had an aggregate principal amount of EUR 2.4276 billion. — RWE becomes a top tier renewable energy company in the United States · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Federal procurement and project selection","date":"2014-05","detail":"The Department of the Navy and Western Area Power Administration signed an interagency agreement that enabled Western to issue an RFP and select Sempra U.S. Gas & Power's Mesquite Solar 3 project."},{"event":"Navy renewable-energy agreement","date":"2015-07-16","detail":"The Navy signed a 25-year public-private agreement to procure 210 MW DC of renewable power from the Mesquite Solar 3 facility."},{"event":"Construction start","date":"2015-08","detail":"The Navy announced that construction would begin in August 2015, with Sempra expecting completion by the end of 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-12-01","detail":"The plant's single 150 MW photovoltaic generating unit entered operation."},{"event":"Sale from Sempra to Consolidated Edison","date":"2018-12-13","detail":"Sempra completed the sale of its U.S. operating solar assets to Consolidated Edison for approximately $1.6 billion in cash; the included assets specifically comprised Mesquite Solar 2 and 3 in Arizona."},{"event":"RWE acquisition agreement","date":"2022-10-01","detail":"RWE agreed to acquire all shares of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses from Consolidated Edison under a transaction based on a $6.8 billion enterprise value."},{"event":"RWE acquisition closing and operating transition","date":"2023-03-01","detail":"RWE closed the acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses. RWE Clean Energy was created by combining RWE Renewables Americas with the acquired Con Edison business and became the current operator of the acquired portfolio."}] — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Federal procurement and project selection","date":"2014-05","detail":"The Department of the Navy and Western Area Power Administration signed an interagency agreement that enabled Western to issue an RFP and select Sempra U.S. Gas & Power's Mesquite Solar 3 project."},{"event":"Navy renewable-energy agreement","date":"2015-07-16","detail":"The Navy signed a 25-year public-private agreement to procure 210 MW DC of renewable power from the Mesquite Solar 3 facility."},{"event":"Construction start","date":"2015-08","detail":"The Navy announced that construction would begin in August 2015, with Sempra expecting completion by the end of 2016."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2016-12-01","detail":"The plant's single 150 MW photovoltaic generating unit entered operation."},{"event":"Sale from Sempra to Consolidated Edison","date":"2018-12-13","detail":"Sempra completed the sale of its U.S. operating solar assets to Consolidated Edison for approximately $1.6 billion in cash; the included assets specifically comprised Mesquite Solar 2 and 3 in Arizona."},{"event":"RWE acquisition agreement","date":"2022-10-01","detail":"RWE agreed to acquire all shares of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses from Consolidated Edison under a transaction based on a $6.8 billion enterprise value."},{"event":"RWE acquisition closing and operating transition","date":"2023-03-01","detail":"RWE closed the acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses. RWE Clean Energy was created by combining RWE Renewables Americas with the acquired Con Edison business and became the current operator of the acquired portfolio."}] — Department of the Navy: Mesquite 3 Solar PPA · confidence: medium
- Timeline.0: {"event":"Federal procurement and project selection","date":"2014-05","detail":"The Department of the Navy and Western Area Power Administration signed an interagency agreement that enabled Western to issue an RFP and select Sempra U.S. Gas & Power's Mesquite Solar 3 project."} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: high
- Timeline.1: {"event":"Navy renewable-energy agreement","date":"2015-07-16","detail":"The Navy signed a 25-year public-private agreement to procure 210 MW DC of renewable power from the Mesquite Solar 3 facility."} — Department of the Navy: Mesquite 3 Solar PPA · confidence: medium
- Timeline.2: {"event":"Construction start","date":"2015-08","detail":"The Navy announced that construction would begin in August 2015, with Sempra expecting completion by the end of 2016."} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.3: {"relationship":"Original developer and project sponsor","name":"Sempra U.S. Gas & Power","detail":"Developed and sponsored Mesquite Solar 3 and was the seller in the December 2018 portfolio transaction with Consolidated Edison.","official_url":"https://www.sempra.com/"} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.5: {"relationship":"Offtaker and project beneficiary","name":"Department of the Navy","detail":"Entered the long-term renewable-energy procurement arrangement benefiting 14 Navy and Marine Corps installations.","official_url":"https://www.navy.mil/"} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.6: {"relationship":"Federal procurement and power-marketing partner","name":"Western Area Power Administration","detail":"Worked with the Navy under an interagency agreement, issued the project RFP, and selected Sempra's Mesquite Solar 3 project.","official_url":"https://www.wapa.gov/"} — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.8: {"relationship":"Acquisition financing provider","name":"Qatar Investment Authority","detail":"A QIA subsidiary subscribed for RWE's mandatory convertible bond used, together with debt instruments, to fund the Con Edison acquisition and additional growth.","official_url":"https://www.qia.qa/"} — RWE agrees to acquire Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc. and to become one of the top leading renewable energy companies in the United States · confidence: medium
- Quality notes.0: The Navy procurement was stated at 210 MW DC, while EIA-derived plant records report 150 MW nameplate capacity; these are different rating bases and should not be treated as contradictory plant-capacity figures. — Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity · confidence: high
- Quality notes.2: they are therefore excluded from the plant timeline. — Source · confidence: medium
- Quality notes.3: No plant-specific retirement or repowering milestone was identified; the plant is reported as operational. — Source · confidence: medium
- Operating status: operating — Mesquite Solar Complex | RWE in the Americas · confidence: high

## Timeline

- 2015-07-16 — Navy renewable-energy agreement
  The Navy signed a 25-year public-private agreement to procure 210 MW DC of renewable power from the Mesquite Solar 3 facility.
  Source: Department of the Navy: Mesquite 3 Solar PPA (https://provost.gwu.edu/department-navy-mesquite-3-solar-ppa)
- 2022-10-01 — RWE acquisition agreement
  RWE agreed to acquire all shares of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses from Consolidated Edison under a transaction based on a $6.8 billion enterprise value.
  Source: RWE agrees to acquire Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc. and to become one of the top leading renewable energy companies in the United States (https://www.rwe.com/en/press/rwe-ag/2022-10-01-rwe-acquire-con-edison-clean-energy/)

## Sources

- [RWE Americas, LLC](https://www.rwe.com/en/the-group/rwe-americas/) — rwe.com · tier other
- [Mesquite Solar Complex | RWE in the Americas](https://americas.rwe.com/our-energy/solar-energy/solar-projects-and-locations/mesquite-solar-complex/) — americas.rwe.com · tier other
- [federal energy regulatory commission](https://www.caiso.com/documents/jun23_2016_letterorder_lgia-mesquitesolar3_er16-1584.pdf) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity > United States Navy > display-pressreleases](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2262920/navy-signs-agreement-for-largest-purchase-of-renewable-energy-by-federal-entity/) — navy.mil · tier other
- [RWE agrees to acquire Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc. and to become one of the top leading renewable energy companies in the United States](https://www.rwe.com/en/press/rwe-ag/2022-10-01-rwe-acquire-con-edison-clean-energy/) — rwe.com · tier other
- [Power plant profile: Mesquite Solar 3 PV Park, US](https://www.power-technology.com/marketdata/power-plant-profile-mesquite-solar-3-pv-park-us/) — power-technology.com · tier other
- [Source](https://americas.rwe.com/our-energy/solar-energy/solar-projects-and-locations/mesquite-solar-complex) — americas.rwe.com · tier other
- [Department of the Navy: Mesquite 3 Solar PPA | Office of the Provost | The George Washington University](https://provost.gwu.edu/department-navy-mesquite-3-solar-ppa/) — provost.gwu.edu · tier other
- [Jinko Solar-Tiger Neo](https://www.jinkosolar.com/en/site/tigerneo) — jinkosolar.com · tier other
- [PV Inverters](https://www.tmeic.com/product-category/pv-inverters/) — tmeic.com · tier other
- [Products](https://arraytechinc.com/products/) — arraytechinc.com · tier other
- [Navy Signs Agreement for Largest Purchase of Renewable Energy by Federal Entity](https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&ModuleId=685&Article=2262920) — navy.mil · tier other
- [RWE becomes a top tier renewable energy company in the United States](https://www.rwe.com/en/press/rwe-ag/2023-03-01-rwe-becomes-a-top-tier-renewable-energy-company-in-the-united-states/) — rwe.com · tier other
- [Department of the Navy: Mesquite 3 Solar PPA](https://provost.gwu.edu/department-navy-mesquite-3-solar-ppa) — provost.gwu.edu · tier other
- [Source](https://navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2262920/navy-signs-agreement-for-largest-purchase-of-renewable-energy-by-federal-entity) — navy.mil · tier other

## Data quality

- The Navy procurement was stated at 210 MW DC, while EIA-derived plant records report 150 MW nameplate capacity; these are different rating bases and should not be treated as contradictory plant-capacity figures. The approximately $1.6 billion Sempra-Con Edison consideration and $6.8 billion RWE-Con Edison enterprise value were portfolio transaction values, not disclosed project-level sale prices for Mesquite Solar 3. they are therefore excluded from the plant timeline. No plant-specific retirement or repowering milestone was identified; the plant is reported as operational.

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