# Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility

CAISO Solar Photovoltaic · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/solar-gen-2-solar-facility

Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility is a solar power facility with 163.2 MW of EIA-reported nameplate capacity in Imperial County, California, registered as EIA Plant ID 58592. Southern Power owns and operates the plant. Southern Power Company, through SRP and SG2 Holdings acquired a 100% interest in the plant from First Solar, Inc., through a wholly owned subsidiary in 2014.

## Key facts

- Technology: Solar Photovoltaic
- Power capacity: 163.2 MW
- Operating status: operating

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: CAISO
- Balancing authority: CISO / California Independent System Operator
- Substation: Imperial Valley substation
- Point of interconnection: Imperial Valley substation
- Transmission owner: Imperial Irrigation District (IID)

## Source-backed facts

- Owner logo domain: southernpowercompany.com — Source · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"58592","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"ALHM","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"},{"value":"ARK","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"},{"value":"SONR","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"},{"value":"19260 (ALHM)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"},{"value":"19261 (ARK)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"},{"value":"19262 (SONR)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"},{"value":"CISO","system":"Balancing authority"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"Power market"},{"value":"W4479","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Alhambra"},{"value":"W4480","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Arkansas"},{"value":"W4481","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Sonora"},{"value":"EG14-21-000","system":"FERC Exempt Wholesale Generator docket"}] — Lookup Data - MBR · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"58592","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"ALHM","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"},{"value":"ARK","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"},{"value":"SONR","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"},{"value":"19260 (ALHM)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"},{"value":"19261 (ARK)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"},{"value":"19262 (SONR)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"},{"value":"CISO","system":"Balancing authority"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"Power market"},{"value":"W4479","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Alhambra"},{"value":"W4480","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Arkansas"},{"value":"W4481","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Sonora"},{"value":"EG14-21-000","system":"FERC Exempt Wholesale Generator docket"}] — SOUTHERN.._\ · confidence: medium
- Owner name: Southern Power and Capital Dynamics — Source · confidence: high
- Identifiers.1: {"value":"ALHM","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"} — Lookup Data - MBR · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.2: {"value":"ARK","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"} — Lookup Data - MBR · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.3: {"value":"SONR","system":"EIA generator ID / unit code"} — Lookup Data - MBR · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.4: {"value":"19260 (ALHM)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"} — Lookup Data - MBR · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.5: {"value":"19261 (ARK)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"} — Lookup Data - MBR · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.6: {"value":"19262 (SONR)","system":"FERC/MBR generator record"} — Lookup Data - MBR Portal - FERC · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.9: {"value":"W4479","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Alhambra"} — SOUTHERN.._\ · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.10: {"value":"W4480","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Arkansas"} — SOUTHERN.._\ · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.11: {"value":"W4481","system":"California Energy Commission project identifier — Sonora"} — SOUTHERN.._\ · confidence: medium
- Parties.0: {"relationship":"Owner","name":"Southern Power","official_url":"https://www.southernpowercompany.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Parties.1: {"relationship":"Co-owner","name":"Capital Dynamics","official_url":"https://www.capdyn.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Parties.3: {"relationship":"Developer; EPC contractor; O&M contractor; thin-film module supplier","name":"First Solar","official_url":"https://www.firstsolar.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Parties.5: {"relationship":"Power purchaser / PPA counterparty","name":"San Diego Gas & Electric","official_url":"https://www.sdge.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Site acres: 1451 — Source · confidence: high
- Unit configuration: Three solar photovoltaic generating units using thin-film PV modules on single-axis tracking tables — Source · confidence: high
- Commercial operation date: 2014-11 — Source · confidence: high
- Construction scope: Operational 163.2 MW solar photovoltaic facility in Imperial County, California, comprising the Arkansas, Alhambra, and Sonora projects across three sites totaling 1,451 acres. Commercial operation began in November 2014. First Solar developed, engineered, constructed, and provides O&M services for the facility. The plant uses more than one million First Solar thin-film PV modules on single-axis tracking tables; an SEC filing identifies 154 MWdc of First Solar modules in differentiated 410-watt and 435-watt classes. Exact installed module and inverter counts are not disclosed. — Source · 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
- 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":null,"unit_mw":0.00041,"name":"First Solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module, 410-watt class"},{"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":null,"unit_mw":0.000435,"name":"First Solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module, 435-watt class"}] — Source · confidence: medium
- Product family: First Solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules — Source · confidence: medium
- Manufacturer name: First Solar — Source · 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":null,"unit_mw":0.00041,"name":"First Solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module, 410-watt class"} — Source · confidence: medium
- Construction scope: Operational 163.2 MW solar photovoltaic facility in Imperial County, California, comprising the Arkansas, Alhambra, and Sonora projects across three sites totaling 1,451 acres. Commercial operation began in November 2014. First Solar developed, engineered, constructed, and provides O&M services for the facility. The plant uses more than one million First Solar thin-film PV modules on single-axis tracking tables; an SEC filing identifies 154 MWdc of First Solar modules in differentiated 410-watt and 435-watt classes. Exact installed module and inverter counts are not disclosed. — Source · confidence: medium
- Construction scope: Operational 163.2 MW solar photovoltaic facility in Imperial County, California, comprising the Arkansas, Alhambra, and Sonora projects across three sites totaling 1,451 acres. Commercial operation began in November 2014. First Solar developed, engineered, constructed, and provides O&M services for the facility. The plant uses more than one million First Solar thin-film PV modules on single-axis tracking tables; an SEC filing identifies 154 MWdc of First Solar modules in differentiated 410-watt and 435-watt classes. Exact installed module and inverter counts are not disclosed. — Source · 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 — Source · confidence: medium
- Manufacturer domain: firstsolar.com — Source · confidence: high
- Manufacturer domain: firstsolar.com — First Solar® FS Series 3™ Black PV Module · confidence: high
- Product family: First Solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules — Source · confidence: high
- Manufacturer name: First Solar — Source · confidence: high
- Description: Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility is an operational solar photovoltaic plant in Imperial County, California, with three generating units totaling 163.2 MW of EIA nameplate capacity. It consists of the Arkansas, Alhambra, and Sonora projects on three sites totaling 1,451 acres, using more than one million First Solar thin-film modules on single-axis tracking tables. Southern Power and Capital Dynamics own the facility, while Southern Power operates it. First Solar developed the project, provided engineering, procurement, and construction services, and serves as the operations and maintenance contractor; San Diego Gas & Electric purchases its output under a 25-year power purchase agreement. First Solar acquired the project in April 2013, Southern Power acquired it from First Solar on October 23, 2014, and commercial operation began in November 2014. — Source · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["Capacity is reported differently by source and measurement convention: 150 MW in 2014 transaction materials, 163 MW in owner materials, and 163.2 MW of EIA nameplate capacity; the difference does not by itself establish an expansion.","No expansion, retirement, or repowering milestone is reported for the facility; the EIA record remains operational at 163.2 MW."] — Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Predecessor acquisition","date":"2013-04","detail":"First Solar acquired the Solar Gen 2 project from Energy Power Partners, an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group, and another equity partner."},{"event":"Construction","date":"2013","detail":"Construction of the Solar Gen 2 project began; the project comprised the neighboring Sonora, Arkansas, and Alhambra sites."},{"event":"Acquisition by Southern Power","date":"2014-10-23","detail":"Southern Power, through wholly owned SG2 Holdings, LLC, acquired all outstanding membership interests of SG2 Imperial Valley, LLC from a wholly owned First Solar subsidiary. The SEC reported an initial approximately $128 million payment and an aggregate purchase price of approximately $508 million after related capital contributions and construction obligations."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2014-11","detail":"The facility entered commercial operation and was placed in service."},{"event":"Green-bond project funding","date":"2015-11","detail":"Southern Power allocated $495 million from its Series 2015C and 2015D green-bond proceeds to Solar Gen 2."},{"event":"Operating status","date":"2026-08-02","detail":"The EIA plant record lists Solar Gen 2 as operational, with three operational solar generators totaling 163.2 MW of nameplate capacity."}] — First Solar starts construction on 150MWac Solar Gen 2... · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Predecessor acquisition","date":"2013-04","detail":"First Solar acquired the Solar Gen 2 project from Energy Power Partners, an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group, and another equity partner."},{"event":"Construction","date":"2013","detail":"Construction of the Solar Gen 2 project began; the project comprised the neighboring Sonora, Arkansas, and Alhambra sites."},{"event":"Acquisition by Southern Power","date":"2014-10-23","detail":"Southern Power, through wholly owned SG2 Holdings, LLC, acquired all outstanding membership interests of SG2 Imperial Valley, LLC from a wholly owned First Solar subsidiary. The SEC reported an initial approximately $128 million payment and an aggregate purchase price of approximately $508 million after related capital contributions and construction obligations."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2014-11","detail":"The facility entered commercial operation and was placed in service."},{"event":"Green-bond project funding","date":"2015-11","detail":"Southern Power allocated $495 million from its Series 2015C and 2015D green-bond proceeds to Solar Gen 2."},{"event":"Operating status","date":"2026-08-02","detail":"The EIA plant record lists Solar Gen 2 as operational, with three operational solar generators totaling 163.2 MW of nameplate capacity."}] — Southern Company subsidiary to top 300 MW of total solar generating capacity with acquisition of new California facility · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Predecessor acquisition","date":"2013-04","detail":"First Solar acquired the Solar Gen 2 project from Energy Power Partners, an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group, and another equity partner."},{"event":"Construction","date":"2013","detail":"Construction of the Solar Gen 2 project began; the project comprised the neighboring Sonora, Arkansas, and Alhambra sites."},{"event":"Acquisition by Southern Power","date":"2014-10-23","detail":"Southern Power, through wholly owned SG2 Holdings, LLC, acquired all outstanding membership interests of SG2 Imperial Valley, LLC from a wholly owned First Solar subsidiary. The SEC reported an initial approximately $128 million payment and an aggregate purchase price of approximately $508 million after related capital contributions and construction obligations."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2014-11","detail":"The facility entered commercial operation and was placed in service."},{"event":"Green-bond project funding","date":"2015-11","detail":"Southern Power allocated $495 million from its Series 2015C and 2015D green-bond proceeds to Solar Gen 2."},{"event":"Operating status","date":"2026-08-02","detail":"The EIA plant record lists Solar Gen 2 as operational, with three operational solar generators totaling 163.2 MW of nameplate capacity."}] — Southern Company - Fixed Income - Sustainable Financing - Southern Power Green Bonds - November 2015 Issuance · confidence: medium
- Quality notes.1: No expansion, retirement, or repowering milestone is reported for the facility; the EIA record remains operational at 163.2 MW. — Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility · confidence: medium
- Timeline.0: {"event":"Predecessor acquisition","date":"2013-04","detail":"First Solar acquired the Solar Gen 2 project from Energy Power Partners, an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group, and another equity partner."} — First Solar starts construction on 150MWac Solar Gen 2... · confidence: high
- Timeline.1: {"event":"Construction","date":"2013","detail":"Construction of the Solar Gen 2 project began; the project comprised the neighboring Sonora, Arkansas, and Alhambra sites."} — Southern Company subsidiary to top 300 MW of total solar generating capacity with acquisition of new California facility · confidence: high
- Timeline.3: {"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2014-11","detail":"The facility entered commercial operation and was placed in service."} — Southern Company - Fixed Income - Sustainable Financing - Southern Power Green Bonds - November 2015 Issuance · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.0: {"relationship":"Owner; operator","name":"Southern Power","detail":"Acquired the project on October 23, 2014 through SG2 Holdings, LLC and operates the facility.","official_url":"https://www.southernpowercompany.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.1: {"relationship":"Co-owner","name":"Capital Dynamics","detail":"Identified by Southern Power as a co-owner of the 163 MW Solar Gen 2 facility.","official_url":"https://www.capdyn.com/"} — Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.2: {"relationship":"Developer; EPC contractor; O&M contractor; module supplier","name":"First Solar","detail":"Acquired the project in April 2013, developed it, provided engineering, procurement, and construction services, supplies the thin-film PV modules, and operates and maintains the facility.","official_url":"https://www.firstsolar.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.5: {"relationship":"Predecessor project owner; seller to First Solar","name":"Energy Power Partners","detail":"An affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group that sold the project to First Solar in April 2013; the transaction also involved another equity partner.","official_url":null} — First Solar starts construction on 150MWac Solar Gen 2... · confidence: medium
- Substation: Imperial Valley substation — Source · confidence: medium

## Timeline

- 2014-11 — Commercial operation
  The facility entered commercial operation and was placed in service.
  Source: Southern Company - Fixed Income - Sustainable Financing - Southern Power Green Bonds - November 2015 Issuance (https://investor.southerncompany.com/fixed-income/sustainable-financing/southern-power-green-bonds/november-2015-issuance/default.aspx)
- 2015-11 — Green-bond project funding
  Southern Power allocated $495 million from its Series 2015C and 2015D green-bond proceeds to Solar Gen 2.
  Source: Southern Company - Fixed Income - Sustainable Financing - Southern Power Green Bonds - November 2015 Issuance (https://investor.southerncompany.com/fixed-income/sustainable-financing/southern-power-green-bonds/november-2015-issuance/default.aspx)

## Sources

- [Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility](https://www.southernpowercompany.com/content/dam/southernpower/pdfs/fact-sheets/SolarGEN2_Solar_Facility_factsheet.pdf) — southernpowercompany.com · tier other
- [Lookup Data - MBR](https://mbrweb.ferc.gov/LookupData/Index/entities_to_genassets?page=246) — mbrweb.ferc.gov · tier regulatory
- [SOUTHERN.._\](https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=76128) — efiling.energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Lookup Data - MBR Portal - FERC](https://mbrweb.ferc.gov/LookupData/Index/entities_to_genassets?page=362) — mbrweb.ferc.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://southernpowercompany.com/content/dam/southernpower/pdfs/fact-sheets/SolarGEN2_Solar_Facility_factsheet.pdf) — southernpowercompany.com · tier other
- [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
- [Source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1635581/000156459016012046/cafd-10kt_20151130.htm) — sec.gov · tier regulatory
- [Solar Equipment Lists Program | California Energy Commission](https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/solar-equipment-lists) — energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Southern Company subsidiary to top 300 MW of total solar generating capacity with acquisition of new California facility](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-company-subsidiary-to-top-300-mw-of-total-solar-generating-capacity-with-acquisition-of-new-california-facility-510071403.html) — prnewswire.com · tier other
- [Southern Company - Fixed Income - Sustainable Financing - Southern Power Green Bonds - November 2015 Issuance](https://investor.southerncompany.com/fixed-income/sustainable-financing/southern-power-green-bonds/november-2015-issuance/default.aspx) — investor.southerncompany.com · tier other
- [First Solar starts construction on 150MWac Solar Gen 2 ...](https://www.powerinfotoday.com/solar-energy/first-solar-starts-construction-on-150mwac-solar-gen-2-project-in-california/) — powerinfotoday.com · tier other
- [db113_source_and_sink](https://www.caiso.com/documents/crrfnmdb113sourceandsinkapnodes2023annualprocess.xlsx) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Source](https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/word_pdf/FINAL_RESOLUTION/154747.pdf) — docs.cpuc.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://caiso.com/notices/announced-resource-retirement-and-mothball-list-posted-4) — caiso.com · tier other

## Data quality

- Capacity is reported differently by source and measurement convention: 150 MW in 2014 transaction materials, 163 MW in owner materials, and 163.2 MW of EIA nameplate capacity; the difference does not by itself establish an expansion. No expansion, retirement, or repowering milestone is reported for the facility; the EIA record remains operational at 163.2 MW.

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Canonical page: https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/solar-gen-2-solar-facility

Source: Ask the Grid — https://askthegrid.com/